3. Alternative fuel Technology
3.1 Introduction:
It has been proven consistently that acquiring more efficient technologies and progressing to increase in usage of AFVs will slow the increasing demand for gasoline in comparison to past years. A recent study has also suggested that AFV 's will decrease energy consumption from 26.7 quadrillions Btu in 2012 to 25.5 quadrillion Btu by 2040.This gives positive attitude when another research suggests that the no of vehicle usage on roads is going to double by 2040.Since not all alternative fuels are well suited for all modes of transport, and not for all sectors within a specific mode of transport i.e. Automotive and Aviation. The needs for these two different modes and the possibilities of the different
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But they can be modified. They can be improved by improving the fuel efficiency.
Limited fueling option availability
Though there are different refueling structures are heavily being used, the development of varied fueling infrastructure for fuel types is always proportional to consumer demand. So not much can be done unless there is significant rise in the use of alternate fueling vehicles.
Competition from conventional vehicles
Because of cheap availability of gasoline, it is always going to be an issue while competing with gasoline. People will not be inclined to buy AFVs for any know specific reason as gasoline is available for such cheap prices.
Safety and liability
Since they are still in their earliest stages, the safety concerns with respect to them are high. People will be reluctant to rely on using vehicles which offer less liability.
The ideal properties of a fuel for a specific transport mode depends on a number of key factors like
The Energy density of the appropriate fuel.
Compatibility of the vehicle and emission
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It must also show compatibility with the materials used in the aircraft and engine fuel system. In 2009, synthetic paraffinic kerosene produced using the Fischer-Tropsch process with coal (CTL), natural gas (GTL) or biomass (BTL) has been permitted and approved to be used in civil applications and can be blended up to 50% with conventional fuel use in the jet.
Today, CTL and GTL are currently in their industrial stage while BTL is pretty much close to the demonstration level. Synthetic paraffinic kerosene can be also produced from animal fats or plant oils through the process of hydroprocessing (Bio-SPK or HVO or HRJ). The second method currently needs an approval for blending up to 90% with conventional fuel use in the jet. Although technically mature when it comes to research this is still fairly in its earliest stage of commercial
Increasing environmental awareness, coupled with a responsible American government and improved technology, have all contributed to the comeback of low-and zero-emissions vehicles in the US. It remains to be seen whether the automakers and oil companies will once again work to halt this progress, or embrace it as the technology of a more responsible future.
The tradeoffs of using gasoline for cars are large emission of carbon dioxide and required large amount of chemical t...
The article “Synthetic Fuel Could Eliminate U.S. Need for Crude Oil, Researchers Say” (Princeton University) is about creating a green and more efficient fuel. A group of researchers from Princeton, lead by Christodoulos Floudas, found a way to reduce the need of crude oil by replacing it with a “combination of coal, natural gas and non-food crops to make synthetic fuel” (Princeton University). This makes the country more independent from overseas suppliers. Synthetic fuel also has environmental advantages; researchers believe the use of synthetic fuel could potentially “cut green house emissions by 50 percent over the next few decades” (Princeton University). Accomplishing synthetic fuel would not be quick or easy, Floudas estimated ”it would take 30 to 40 years to fully adopt synthetic fuel and would cost about $1.1 trillion for the entire system” (Princeton University). Synthetic fuel is modified through the Fischer-Tropch process, which makes it cleaner and more efficient than petroleum fuels. Unlike ethanol and other biofuels; the new fuel can be used in both gasoline and dies...
Many years ago, engineers realized that in high heat petroleum-based oils break down and lose their lubricating capabilities. Over time, petroleum–based oils also begin to oxidize and create sludge, leaving damaging residue inside the engines. This problem led Dr. Hermann Zorn (German) to develop Synthetic Oil for high-temperature use in jet aircraft engines. To overcome the breaking down problem of petroleum-based oils, synthetic oil is formulated in laboratory and doesn't contain the naturally occurring chemicals that break down at high temperatures. Furthermore, Synthetic oil is manufactured without many of the chemical compositions that contribute to oil oxidation and sludge buildup. Synthetic oil tolerate the temperatures at which petroleum-based oils would burn up. Synthetic oil is not distilled from crude oil. It is made through a chemical process known as the Fischer-Tropsch process. It goes through many chemical reactions which uses methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide as the raw materials. Synthetic oil not only work best in heat but also provide various benefits in extreme cold. Petroleum-based motor oil gets thick in low temperatures as a result it requires the starter and battery to work harder ...
The future American commuter will undoubtedly have to transition from the use of fossil fuels to new alternatives due to the diminishing availability of the nation’s oil resources. How will America respond to this upcoming issue? It is difficult to predict which alternative fuel source America will ultimately choose, but with the premier of Nissan’s electric powered Leaf and other companies; such as Tesla Motors and Chevy, with their electric cars ready for market, the electric car may be winning the race to become the new standard for the gasoline alternative. Electric cars resolve long standing environmental issues, but it will need to maneuver around many roadblocks to become a marketable consideration for the general public. The cost of electric cars, currently on the market, makes them an impractical purchase for the average consumer. If cost is not the growing concern in today’s economy which prevents the consumer from considering this option; they may deny the technological advance due to battery storage capabilities and the inadequate infrastructure in place to refuel and provide for them.
With a gasoline-fueled vehicle, buying gas to operate your car is a never-ending process. With the high price change of gasoline and oil, operating a gasoline-fueled vehicle tends to be very costly. While there are some types of small gasoline vehicles that get much better gas mileage than larger vehicles, even the most powerful gasoline cars will normally desire a contribution every month. According to some experts the only way a mainstream market for green vehicles wills materlize is with a pronounced and prolonged rise in fuel prices. (Buss, 4)
In order for Americans to get the most out of their vehicles, and to decrease the amount of gasoline Americans use, we need to push and test every aspect of the modern day vehicle. According a study done by the United States Department of Energy, approximately 1.2 billion gallons of fuel are exhausted by U.S. motorists each year (Siggerud, 2007). This is over three billion dollars wasted per year.
b. Opportunities and Threats: The increase in fuel prices is likely to continue into the distant future, requiring either reduced services to control costs or new technologies to accommodate. The threat of low cost, flexible companies entering the markets in a variety of places, cutting into market share in numerous small areas, taken as a whole, threatens to harm larger c...
The substantial increase in the demand for EV’s came just in time as we are slowly but surely running out of oil. Some estimate that by the year 2040, 35 percent of all vehicles will be electric (Sullins, 2017). An article from the U.S. Department of Energy stated that “Electric vehicles hold a lot of potential for helping the U.S. create a more sustainable future. If the U.S. transitioned all the light-duty vehicles to hybrids or plug-in electric vehicles, we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil by 30-60 percent, while lowering the carbon pollution from the transportation sector by as much as 20 percent (energy.gov, 2014). It’s obvious that gas-powered vehicles have harmed our planet with their emissions. Although EV’s cannot reverse that damage that has been done, they can eliminate, or at least slow down, the inevitable demise that our planet is headed towards. Along with the beneficial environmental factors that correspond with electric cars, there are also beneficial financial factors. The average American spends about $2,000 on gas annually. In the future, charging stations will charge roughly $12.00 for a full charge, which is about 300 miles. This means that the average American will save about $1,400 per year on these specific car
Over the next few decades, it is projected that the demand for liquid-based petroleum fuels required for light-duty transportation is to be expected to grow rapidly (EIA, 2010). Due to the increase in consumption of gasoline for combustion of internal engines, there could be increase in the G...
- Any other fuel that is at least 85% alcohol or ether (e.g., E85) (3).
Several oil manufacturers, as well as top engineers and engine builders, have submitted first hand information on this topic and strongly support the use of synthetic oil.
Most people today fill up their car with different qualities of petrol, because that's what the average car takes. They don't usually consider an alternative for the petrol that they load into their cars. Although petrol is widely used, it is not the only source for a car to get its power from; diesel and electricity are alternatives to the general petrol used by most cars. Although different from each other, diesel and electricity are alternatives to the average gasoline received at a gas station. Diesel is a more concentrated type of fuel that is usually used by big automobiles because they require a lot of power in a little amount of time. Electricity is a method that uses the power of batteries to produce a low horsepower but, nevertheless fast automobile. Electric cars are generally created to be soundless and environment friendly. The purpose of this paper is to classify and educate the reader of the different types of fuel available for an automobile to use: petrol, diesel, and electricity. The general petrol, used by most people, is usually the only type of fuel accepted on the average car in the United States today.
Fossil fuels are an important part of life. When you turn on the lights, watch TV, or take a shower, the electricity that you are using is being generated by fossil fuels. The three types of fossil fuels are coal, crude oil, and natural gas. They all take millions of years to form, so they are considered to be “non-renewable”- eventually, the fossil fuels will all be used up. One dangerous biological effect of using fossil fuels is ocean acidification. Extracting and transporting fossil fuels can also be very dangerous. Environmentally damaging accidents such as groundwater contamination, land subsidence, and oil spills occur frequently. Global warming is another possible environmental effect. Fossil fuels have a crucial role in modern society, but since they are non-renewable and dangerous, we should reduce our dependence on them and explore alternative energy sources. Wind energy, hydroelectricity, and solar energy are some examples of renewable fuel sources. There are also many things that people can do everyday to save energy (and, in turn, conserve fossil fuels).
The fast population growth rate of humans means that the necessity for transportation vehicles is also enormously increasing. Studies have shown that in 1999 the worldwide number of vehicles registered was 700 million. From this huge number of vehicles, the US has a large share, which includes 200 million cars and light trucks. The number of cars worldwide also grew three times faster Competition for good things like public health, making the earth safe to live are positive aspects of competition, but global competition can also have a downside concerning the environment. This is true for the production of vehicles, as companies are coming with designs and new models with improved engines, but fuel consumption and the pollution of the air remains the same.