Abstract |
A study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using methanol as a substitute fuel for gasoline to reduce exhaust pollutants emitted from automotive engines. Work was performed in two phases encompassing both automotive and single cylinder laboratory engine tests. It was concluded that methanol displays significant potential as a pollution control substitute fuel for gasoline. In the automotive tests conducted with a slightly modified, non-optimized engine system, methanol was shown to be a satisfactory fuel from the standpoint of engine operation and to produce methanol emissions as low as 1900 PPM (317 PPM-hexane equivalent). Vehicle mileage was low (7 to 9 mpg) as expected. Suspected high aldehyde emissions were confirmed. It is believed that optimization of the fuel-air ratio, the mixture distribution to the cylinders, and heating of the fuel or fuel-air mixture, will result in improved performance and substantially reduced emissions of all pollutants, except NOx. Laboratory engine operation with blends of reform gases (CO + 2H2) and methanol was shown to be successful in improving engine performance (subject to engine knock limitations) and providing major reductions in methanol and formaldehyde emissions. If the reforming technique can be economically implemented in an automotive system, it is highly probable that emission levels can be achieved which are well below those possible with gasoline. (Author) |