Alternate Fuels for Vehicles

Presentation on theme: "Alternate Fuels for Vehicles"— Presentation transcript:

1 Alternate Fuels for Vehicles

2 Overview Why Use Alternative Fuels?
Available Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technologies Alternative Fuel Vehicles for Military Applications

3 Alternative Fuel Vehicle
An alternative fuel vehicle is a vehicle that runs on a fuel other than "traditional" petroleum fuels; and also refers to any technology of powering an engine that does not involve solely petroleum (e.g. electric car, hybrid electric vehicles, solar powered). A converted vehicle is one that was originally designed to operate on gasoline or diesel and has been altered to run on an alternative fuel. Altering vehicles to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are the two most common types of alternative fuel vehicle conversions.

4 Why Alternative Fuels? Cost of conventional fuels.
In some cases, alternative fuels are more environmentally friendly. Some alternative fuels are more energy efficient.

5 Transportation Share of Emissions
CO 79% NOx 53% VOCs 44% CO2 33% Particulates 25% Lead 13% SO2 7% Still a major contributor, despite reductions in new vehicle emissions achieved over the last decade

6 Alternative Fuels Alcohol Fuels –Ethanol and Methanol LPG
Natural Gas (CNG) Biogas Biodiesel Hydrogen fuel cell Electricity Hybrid Solar powered Synthetic Fuels

7 Ethanol Ethanol is also known as ethyl alcohol. It’s the alcohol in beer, wine, rum, vodka, etc. Ethanol was used to fuel some of the first automobiles. Here's fuel ethanol. It's the same alcohol that's found in beverages. But when it's used in fuel, it's denatured so that it won't be drinkable and it won't be subject to the alcohol beverage taxes. It's been used in automobiles since automobiles were invented.

8 Ethanol Alcohol-based alternative fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops or cellulose Most commonly used to increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline. Can be blended with gasoline to create E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. An excellent, clean-burning fuel, has a higher octane rating (over 100) and burns cooler than gasoline.

9 Ethanol Vehicles Low GHGs Less Reactive
Subsidy Required to be Cost Competitive Ford Taurus Ford Ranger Chrysler Minivan

10 Ethanol-based Alternative Fuel: E85
Gasoline with ethanol is still gasoline. It's not an alternative fuel. An increasing number of new vehicles can use E85 (15% gasoline, 85% ethanol), which is an alternative fuel. Gasoline with ethanol is still gasoline. It's not an alternative fuel. According to an editorial in a Madison newspaper, about 25% of new vehicles can use E85, a blend of 85% ethanol with 15% gasoline. These are flexible-fuel vehicles, and have been sold as standard equipment to individuals and fleets since 1998. You may have one and not even know it! &PAG=461&rfi=9

11 Methanol Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, can be used as an alternative fuel in flexible fuel vehicles that run on M85 The benefits include lower emissions, higher performance, and lower risk of flammability than gasoline Methanol can easily be made into hydrogen for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the future. Methanol is extremely corrosive, requiring special materials for delivery and storage.

12 Propane (LPG)

13 Propane Propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a
popular alternative fuel choice for vehicles because there is already an infrastructure of pipelines, processing facilities, and storage for its efficient distribution. LPG produces fewer vehicle emissions than gasoline. Propane is produced as a by-product of natural gas processing and crude oil refining. The cost of a gasoline-litre equivalent of propane is generally less than that of gasoline.

14 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
CNG is made by compressing natural gas (which is mainly composed of methane, to less than 1% of the volume it occupies at standard atmospheric pressure. It is stored and distributed in hard containers at a pressure of 200–248 bar (2900–3600 psi), usually in cylindrical or spherical shapes. Can be used in both SI and CI engines.

15 CNG Vehicles in India

16 CNG vs LPG CNG More economical Kit more expensive
More wear and tear on engine Safer in case of leakage-lighter than air Does not contaminate and dilute the crankcase oil LPG Higher Calorific Value Easily Available Wears out piston heads with heavy loads Stored at lower pressures Non-corrosive and free of tetra-ethyl lead or any additives

17 Biogas Biogas is produced by anaerobic digestion or fermentation of biodegradable materials such as biomass, manure, sewage, municipal waste, green waste, plant material and energy crops. This type of biogas comprises primarily methane and carbon dioxide. Biogas can be compressed, much like natural gas, and used to power motor vehicles. Biogas is completely odourless and the risk of fire or explosion is less than for other fuels. Sweden, Denmark and Germany are the biggest users of biogas for cars, buses and trains.

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19 Biodiesel Biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases. Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable, and reduces air pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air toxics. Biodiesel can also be used in its pure form but it may require certain engine modifications to avoid maintenance and performance problems and may not be suitable for wintertime use. Need to heat storage tanks in colder climates to prevent the fuel from gelling

20 Electricity Vehicles that operate only on electricity require no warm-up, run almost silently and have excellent performance up to the limit of their range. Pure electric cars still have limited range. Batteries have a limited storage capacity and their electricity must be replenished by plugging the vehicle into an electrical source. Electric Vehicles have lower "fuel" and maintenance costs than gasoline-powered vehicles.

21 Electric Vehicles Electricity is unique among the alternative fuels in that mechanical power is derived directly from it, whereas the other alternative fuels release stored chemical energy through combustion to provide mechanical power. Batteries commonly provide electricity used to power vehicles, but fuel cells are also being explored. Batteries are energy storage devices, but unlike batteries, fuel cells convert chemical energy to electricity. The maintenance costs for EVs is less-EVs have fewer moving parts to service and replace.

22 Toyota Prius

23 Chevrolet Volt

24 Honda CR-Z

25 Toyota Tesla

26 Ford Focus-E

27 Audi E-tron

28 What is a Fuel Cell? A Fuel Cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water and heat as its by-product. It is a clean, quiet and highly efficient process- two to three times more efficient than fuel burning. It operates similarly to a battery, but it does not run down nor does it require recharging. As long as fuel is supplied, a Fuel Cell will produce both energy and heat.

29 How does a Fuel Cell work?

30 How can Fuel Cell technology be used?
Individual fuel cells can be placed in a series to form a fuel cell stack The stack can be used in a system to power a vehicle. Automakers and experts speculate that a fuel cell vehicle will be commercialized soon. Fuel cell buses are currently in use in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Trains, planes, boats, scooters, forklifts and even bicycles are utilizing fuel cell technology as well.

31 Main challenge-hydrogen
Fuel Cells require highly purified hydrogen as a fuel. Need to produce hydrogen economically from a variety of resources in environmentally friendly ways. Developing safe, reliable, compact and cost-effective hydrogen storage is one of the biggest challenges to widespread use of fuel cell technology. If the hydrogen is compressed and stored at room temperature under moderate pressure, too large a fuel tank would be required. Liquid hydrogen could be kept in a smaller tank than gaseous hydrogen, but liquefying hydrogen is complicated and not energy efficient. Liquid hydrogen is also extremely sensitive to heat and expands significantly when warmed by even a few degrees, thus the tank insulation required affects the weight and volume that can be stored. If the hydrogen is compressed and cryogenically frozen it will take up a very small amount of space requiring a smaller tank, but it must be kept super- cold (around -120 to degrees Celsius).

32 Chevrolet Equinox

33 What is a Hybrid Car? A hybrid car is a vehicle that runs on not only gasoline but a rechargeable battery. A petrol-electric hybrid car has both an electric motor and a gasoline motor, it also consists of a rechargeable battery for the electric engine. The fuel in the car is used to power the petrol engine and the electric batteries supply power to the car’s electric motors. Some of the new hybrids are now converting kinetic energy into electric energy to power than batteries.

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35 Features Saving of fuel
When the car is stopped the kinetic energy gained is stored in the battery and used later Less exhaust therefore environment friendly High cost Heavy because of heavy batteries used in these cars Risky in accidents because of the high voltage electric circuits

36 Solar Cars A solar car is an electric vehicle powered by solar energy obtained from solar panels on the car. The solar array consists of hundreds of photovoltaic solar cells converting sunlight into electricity. Photovoltaic (PV) cells convert the sun's energy directly into electrical energy. Some solar cars use gallium arsenide solar cells, with efficiencies around thirty percent. Other solar cars use silicon solar cells, with efficiencies around twenty percent.

37 Solar panels

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40 Multi-mode Cars French car company Venturi has made one of the most publicized efforts with its unveiling of the Eclectic model prototype at the 2006 Paris Auto Show. The Eclectic combines solar, wind and battery power to run a three-passenger car specifically for city driving. Solar panels cover its roof, and a wind turbine can also catch energy on windy days.

41 Venturi Eclectic

42 Military Applications

43 Issues - Fuels for Military Vehicles
Strategic . Implies reduced reliance on foreign energy resources. Operational. Requires developing efficient technologies that can support combat capability needed for future operations without increased fuel consumption or logistics and support limitations. Fiscal. Efficient energy consumption. Inability to control increased energy costs from fuel and supporting infrastructure diverts resources. Environmental . Ability to conduct military operations and activities in a manner that protects the environment while supporting national security objectives and maintaining operational readiness.

44 Shadow RST-V

45 4x4 hybrid electric drive vehicle with integrated stealth and survivability features.
The diesel engine powers a 110kW permanent magnet generator that drives four 50kW ors permanent magnetic hub motors, mounted one in each of the Shadow's four wheel hubs. The power generation system also includes twin Li-Ion battery packs with total rated output of 20kW hours and a peak power output of 80kW. In stealth mode the Shadow can be powered by battery only which provides a significant reduction in acoustic and thermal signatures. During rapid acceleration or maximum torque for steep gradients or to recharge the battery pack, operated in hybrid mode using power from the diesel engine and taking energy from or returning it to the batteries as needed. The elimination of the conventional mechanical drive train allows the vehicle interior to have the same cubic storage as a HMMWV and still fit within the V-22 envelope. Built-in redundancy in the motor design allows the Shadow's commander the option to continue a maneuver or return to a place of safety on a single wheel motor.

46 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Modification
The U.S. Army is trying to use hydrogen fuel-cell technology on the M1 Abrams battle tank Fuel cells can power a significant portion of the tank’s computing equipment, battle command technologies, sensors and other electronic equipment. The ultimate goal would be to figure out a way to power entire fleets of military vehicles with fuel cells that use non-petroleum sources.

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48 Synthetic Fuels Since only liquid fossil fuel can power the military's vehicles for the foreseeable future, the US is focused on using bio-fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel and synthetic fuels as potential replacements. The use of biodiesel in military ground combat vehicles is doubtful due to questions over the long-term stability of the fuel, its tendency to gel in cold weather, and other concerns. Synthetic fuel is generally designed to behave much like conventional fuel—requiring little or no change in the equipment that uses it or the infrastructure for storing and distributing it—which makes it highly desirable. Even as syn-fuels could reduce reliance on foreign sources of oil, they are worse for the environment. Although syn-fuels burn cleaner, emit no SO2, and pollute much less than conventional jet fuel, yet the full conversion process from coal to liquid creates 1.8 times more carbon than simply refining petroleum. The base cost of this fuel is up to 10 times that of conventional fuel.

49 Discussion Best Options for India Military Applications

50 Questions Please? Thank you for your attention!
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