Alternative fuels for Internal Combustion

Engines: An eventual
freedom from
Energy-Environment Crises
Prof. L. M. Das
Center for Energy Studies
Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi

Internal Combustion Engines

Backbone of Transportation System
Victim of Energy-Environment Crises
Spark Ignition Engines and Compression
Ignition Engine

Estimated World Oil Supply

Source: EIA, Long Term World Oil Supply

THE DUAL CHALLENGE

NEED FOR ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Increas
e in oil
price
Reduce
d Fuel
Import
Bill

Air quality
degradatio
n

Stringent
Emission
Norms

Alternate
Fuels
Lower
Operati
ng Cost

Reduced
Emission
and Smog

Reduced
Fossil fuel
Depletion

Energy Consumption by Fuel, 1980-2030

quadrillion Btu

History

Projections

Petroleum

Coal

Natural Gas

Nuclear
Nonhydro renewables
Hydropower

EIA, Annual Energy Outlook 2007

Transportation Share of
Emissions
CO

79%

NOx

53%

VOCs

44%

CO2

33%

Particulates
Lead
SO2

Source: EPA

25%
13%
7%

Still a major contributor, despite

reductions in new vehicle
emissions achieved over the last
decade

Relative Greenhouse Gases

25

Zero or a Credit

Zero

Zero

50

75

100

Alternative Transportation Fuels Are at the

Intersection of Key Objectives
National Security

Healthy Environment

Alternative Fuels

Economic Viability

Prospective Alternative Fuels

Hydrogen
Compressed Natural Gas(CNG)
Bio-Diesel
Hydrogen Added Natural Gas
Ethanol
Methanol
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
Biogas
Producer Gas
BtL ( Biomass to Liquid)
GtL ( Gas to Liquid)and CTL( coal to-liquid

ETHANOL

In 1880 Henry Ford designed a car solely on ethanol

Subsequently popular model t operated on ethanol
and or gasoline
Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel produced by
fermenting and distilling starch crops or cellulose that
have been converted into simple sugars
Ethanol made from cellulosic biomass materials
instead of traditional feedstocks (starch crops) is
called bio-ethanol

ETHANOL

Bio-ethanol is one of the lowest-cost, most

consumer-friendly ways to reduce gasoline
consumption and CO2 emissions from
vehicles

Higher octane number than gasoline reduces

engine knock and allows higher Compression
Ratio resulting in higher energy efficiency

EMISSIONS
Emissions vary with engine design
E85 with respect to gasoline
-produces fewer toxics like benzene and toluene
-15% reduction in ozone forming voc
-40%co reduction
-particulate reduction 20%
-10% reduction in NOx emissions
-Sulfate emissions reduced by 80%
-Higher acetaldehyde emissions

METHANOL

Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, can be used as

an alternative fuel in flexible fuel vehicles that run on
M85 -a blend of 85% Methanol and 15% Gasoline

Methanol used to produce an oxygenate which is blended

to gasoline to enhance octane number

The benefits include lower emissions, higher

performance, and lower risk of flammability than
gasoline

Methanol
It is not a commonly used fuel at this time as methanol
produces a high amount of formaldehyde in emissions
Methanol is extremely corrosive, requiring special
materials for delivery and storage.

production and use

has declined due to the fact that it has been found
to contaminate ground water

Methyl-Tertiary-Butyl Ether(MTBE)

Transportation Fuels from Natural gas

NATURAL GAS
Natural gas is abundant.
Because of the gaseous nature of this fuel, it must be stored
onboard a vehicle in either a compressed gaseous state or
in a liquefied state
CNG-Compressed Natural Gas
LNG-Liquefied Natural Gas
Composition
Methane and other hydrocarbons such as Ethane,
Propane.
-gases such as nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, hydrogen
sulphide and water vapor

CONVERSION OF NATURAL GAS TO CNG AND

LNG

Conversion of Natural Gas to Compressed Natural

Gas(CNG) needs a compressor. Natural gas is compressed
to a pressure of 200 bar
Conversion of Natural Gas to Liquefied Natural Gas(LNG)
needs cryogenic setup to maintain to maintain the Natural
Gas at 40C
Liquefied Petroleum Gas(LPG) is the byproduct of crude
petroleum

NATURAL GAS
(Predominantly METHANE)
Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles emit low levels of toxics
and ozone-forming hydrocarbons. But CNG fuel must be stored
under pressure in heavy tanks, and the cost of accommodating
these tanks must be considered.
There are significant tradeoffs for CNG vehicles among
emissions, vehicle power, efficiency, and range.

CNG - Availability
Two types of CNG fuel systems are on the market:
dedicated vehicles, which operate exclusively on natural
gas, and
dual-fuel vehicles, which can use both natural gas and
gasoline.
Auto manufacturers offer a variety of both dedicated and dualfuel CNG vehicles, including trucks, vans, and buses and
Autos.

CNG Emission Characteristics

Actual emissions will vary with engine design; these numbers
reflect the potential reductions offered by compressed natural gas,
relative to conventional gasoline.
Reductions in CO emissions of 90-97%, and reductions in CO2
emissions of 25%.
Reductions in NOx emissions of 35-60%.
Potential reductions in non-methane hydrocarbon emissions of
50-75%.
Fewer toxic and carcinogenic pollutants, and little to no
particulate matter produced.
No evaporative emissions in dedicated engines (such as those
associated with gasoline or diesel).

CNG Safety
Although CNG is a flammable gas, it has a narrow flammability
range, making it an inherently safe fuel.
Strict safety standards make CNG vehicles as safe as gasolinepowered vehicles. In the event of a spill or accidental release,
CNG poses no threat to land or water; it is nontoxic.
CNG also disperses rapidly, minimizing ignition risk relative to
gasoline.
Natural gas is lighter than air and will not pool as a liquid or vapor
on the ground. Nevertheless, leaks indoors may form a flammable
mixture in the vicinity of an ignition source.
CNG is primarily methane, however, which is a greenhouse gas that
could contribute to global climate change if leaked.

PROPANE / LPG
Propane is produced as a by-product of natural gas
processing and crude oil refining.
Main constituents Propane, Propylene, Butane and Butylene in various
mixtures
Propane is being used as a transportation fuel for more than
sixty years
Carbon build-up compared to gasoline and diesel-powered
vehicles

LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS(LPG)

Colorless and Odorless.
Nontoxic.
LPG is a liquid under pressure but a gas at ambient conditions.
Ethyl Mercaptan is added as an odorant to detect LPG in case of
leaks.
It is lightly anesthetic and can cause suffocation, if present in
sufficiently high concentrations.
Liquid LPG can cause severe cold burns to the skin owing to rapid
vaporization and the consequent lowering

MASS-BASED STORAGE DENSITY OF

DIFFERENT FUELS
DIESEL
MASS-BASED STORAGE DENSITY MJ/Kg

GASOLINE
40
36

37

30

LPG
23

20

10

HYDROCARBONS

IMPROVEMENT OF LPG COMBUSTION

ADDITIVES & COMBUSTION TECHNIQUE
High anti knock quality
Addition of high octane number fuels, such as H2, Methane, Methanol, CO to
LPG may further increase its octane number
To reduce energy & achieve high power output, the best additives must be
selected by considering both octane & energy density
By adding H2 to LPG, unburned HCs, CO & aldehydes can be suppressed in
exhaust gas due to max velocity of flame propagation
Methanol sprayed into mixture of LPG-air reduces temperature thus increasing
charge density of LPG because of high latent heat of vaporization (262 Kcal/Kg)

DME DiMethyl Ether (CH3-O-CH3)

DME

High Cetane number

low auto ignition temperature
No additive such as Cetane improver or ignition aid
Oxygen containing fuel
Mixed with most Hydrocarbon fuel in any ratio
Reduced particulate matters.
Low soot Emission
an excellent diesel fuel

WHAT IS BIODIESEL ?
Biodiesel is Vegetable oil processed to
resemble Diesel Fuel

Paris,
Paris,1900
1900

RudolfDiesel
Diesel
Rudolf

The use of vegetable oils for engine

may seem insignificant to-day, but
such oils may become in course of
time as important as petroleum and
the coal tar products of the present
time

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WITH

NEAT VEGETABLE OIL
Clogging of Fuel Lines
Carbonization of injector tips
Deposit on Cylinder Walls
Poor Ignition and combustion due to
improper atomization
Lube oil Contamination

CARBON DEPOSIT ON INJECTOR TIP

USING NEAT VEGETABLE OIL

Biodiesel studied in IITD

Jatropha Oil Methyl Ester (JOME)

Karanja Oil Methyl Ester (KOME)

Linseed Oil Methyl Ester (LOME)
Mahua Oil Methyl Ester (MOME)
Neem Oil Methyl Ester(NOME)
Polangamia Oil Methyl Ester(POME)
Rubberseed Oil Methyl Ester(ROME)
Simaruba Oil Methyl Ester(SOME)

Transesterification of typical non-edible Oil (in Lab)

Vegetable Oil

(Catalyst)

Alcohol
(Methanol/Ethanol)

Biodiesel Removal of
(unrefined) excess
alcohol by
Glycerine vacuum
(unrefined) distillation

Byproduct : separated
from biodiesel by
settling

CI Engine
Contd

Neat or blended
with diesel

Alcohol free
Biodiesel
Washing with
water

Waste water
Biodiesel
(with moisture)
Moisture removal by
Anhydrous Sodium
Sulphate or by heating

Neat
Biodiesel
(B100)

Transesterification

TRANSESTERIFICATION IN LAB, IIT

DELHI (1 LITRE/BATCH UNIT)
Methanol/oil molar
ratio: 12:1
Volume ratio: 1:2
Catalyst: 1% KOH (w/v)
Temperature: 60oC
Reaction time: 3 hrs

Biodiesel production unit

One & Ten liter biodiesel extraction unit installed at the

laboratory

50 liters/batch biodiesel
Pilot Plant installed at IIT
Delhi, Sponsored
by General Motor, USA

50 Litres/batch Pilot Plant for producing

Biodiesel at IIT, Delhi

1. Water storage tank for boiler, 2. Boiler, 3. Steam supply line

4. Mixing tank, 5. Settling tanks, 6. Reactor vessel,
7. Alcohol condenser & recovery unit

VISCOSITY EFFECT
IN DIFFERENT SAMPLES

Biodiesel Setup-IITD

Biodiesel pump
installed at KARAD
(SITARA)

BSFC Vs BMEP

Thermal Efficiency Vs BMEP

Emission Testing

Emission testing of TATA SUMO fueled with

biodiesel blend

TATA Indica car fueled with Biodiesel blend (Sponsored by

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, New Delhi)

Tavera vehicle fueled with Biodiesel blend

(Sponsored by General Motors, USA)

Long range road test of Tavera vehicle to

KANYAKUMARI from DELHI with
biodiesel blend

Single cylinder research engine in the lab,

(Sponsored by General Motor, USA)

ESCORT tractor fueled with biodiesel blend

Brake Thermal Efficiency

Brake therm al efficiency

0.35
0.30
0.25
Diesel
B20
B50
B100

0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05
0.00
0

Engine Power Output (kW)

Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) of B 100 is highest and B 50, B 20 and deisel follow in
decreasing order due to presence of oxygen content in fuel

Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (kg/kWh)

Brake specific fuel consum tion
(kg/kW h)

0.70
0.60
0.50
Diesel
B20
B50
B100

0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00
0

Engine Power Output (kW)

Brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) of Diesel is highest and B 20, B 50 and B 100 follow
in decreasing order due to high calorific value

Emission of Carbon-dioxide
1600

Em issions in g/kW h

1400
1200
1000

Diesel
B20
B50
B100

800
600
400
200
0
0

Engine Power Output (kW)

Emission of Carbon-monoxide

Em issions in g/kW h

30
25
20

Diesel
B20
B50
B100

15
10
5
0
0

Engine Power Output (kW)

Carbon monoxide emissions increase with load because fuel burning gets hindered at high loads due to
which more fuel goes and doesnt get time to get completely burned. B 20 has minimum CO emissions

Emission of Unburnt Hydrocarbons

0.35

Em issions in g/kW h

0.30
0.25
Diesel
B20
B50
B100

0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05
0.00
0

Engine Power Output (kW)

Hydrocarbon emissions are due to incomplete combustion and poor atomization.

Therefore, B 20 is having minimum HC emissions as compared to other blends and diesel.

Emission of Oxides of Nitrogen

10

Em issions in g/kW h

9
8
7
Diesel
B20
B50
B100

6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0

Engine Power Output (kW)

NOx is temperature dependent and biodiesel blends has after combustion

temperature due to presence of oxygen molecules. Hence more NOx wih with
increasing % of biodiesel

Smoke Opacity (%) vs Engine power (kW)

70

Sm oke O pacity (% )

60
50
Diesel
B20
B50
B100

40
30
20
10
0
0

Engine Power Output (kW)

Smoke minimum with B 20 blend due to appropriate mixing of diesel and

biodiesel.

ra vehicle run to different places of India fueled with Karanja biodiesel B

DST-SPONSORED INTEGRATED BIO-DIESEL PLANT

AT O.F.D.C. BHUBANESWAR

IITDelhi
August18,2004

IITDelhi
August18,2004

HYDROGEN
Its abundant, clean, efficient, and can be derived from
diverse domestic /non-fossil resources.
Biomass

Transportation
HIGH EFFICIENCY
& RELIABILITY

Hydro
Wind

Solar
Geothermal

Oil
Coal
Natural
Gas

With Carbon Sequestration

Nuclear

ZERO/NEAR ZERO
EMISSIONS

Distributed
Generation

HYDROGEN ENERGY SYSTEM GOAL:

Make Energy Use Part Of Earths Water
Cycle

RENEWABLE H 2 ENERGY SYSTEM

H2 O
H2 O
H2
PLANT

H 2 STOR.
H 2 TRANSPORT
H 2 DIST.

RENEWABLE
ENERGY
POWER

H 2 FC
CAR

NOx vs Equivalence Ratio

Ultra lean
operation close
to zero emissions