ALTERNATIVE FUELS

R.Yohenderan & R.Yooheshwaran

III Year Mechanical Engineering
Ranganathan Polytechnic College
Thondamuthur
Coimbatore 641109
EMAIL; rpc.college@gmail.com
Mobile 9500981235

Abstract
Gasoline and diesel have been our primary fuels used in automotive, farm and
recreational vehicles for decades. Our dependence on other countries to provide us with
gasoline has gone into a downward spiral with the economy doing so poorly and the
poor mileage rated cars that are being produced. Without having a certain level of
efficiency in our vehicles, we are only pushing ourselves closer to the point of
necessitating an alternate fuel source. Oil production is expected to diminish to a near
halt as near as forty years from now. Its time to start really digging in and getting other
renewable energy sources into mainstream use.

ALTERNATIVE FUELS
R.Yohenderan & R.Yooheshwaran
III Year Mechanical Engineering
Ranganathan Polytechnic College
Thondamuthur
Coimbatore 641109
EMAIL; rpc.college@gmail.com
Mobile 9500981235

1.0 Introduction
Gasoline and diesel have been our
primary fuels used in automotive, farm and
recreational

vehicles

for

decades.

Our

dependence on other countries to provide us

with gasoline has gone into a downward spiral
with the economy doing so poorly and the poor
mileage rated cars that are being produced.
Without having a certain level of efficiency in
our vehicles, we are only pushing ourselves
closer to the point of necessitating an alternate

Figure Alternate fuels coverage

2.0 Alternate Fuel Options

fuel source. Oil production is expected to

diminish to a near halt as near as forty years

Some of our options for alternative fuels

from now. Its time to start really digging in and

are listed below as well as their shortcomings. If

getting other renewable energy sources into

we can overcome these obstacles, we would

mainstream use.

have a viable (and sometimes greener) solution

for the future as well.
2.1 Ethanol
An alcohol-based alternative fuel made by
fermenting and distilling crops such as corn,

barley or wheat. It can be blended with gasoline

electricity network. In the case of fuel cells,

to increase octane levels and improve emissions

they produce electricity without combustion or

quality.

pollution.

Positive: Materials are renewable.

Negative: Much electricity is generated today

from coal or natural gas, leaving a bad carbon

Negative: Ethanol subsidies have a negative

footprint.

impact on food prices and availability.

2.4 Hydrogen
2.2 Natural Gas
Hydrogen can be mixed with natural gas
Natural gas is an alternative fuel that burns
clean and is already widely available to people

to create an alternative fuel for vehicles that use

certain types of internal combustion engines.

in many countries through utilities that provide

natural gas to homes and businesses.
Positive: Cars and trucks with specially
designed

engines

produce

fewer

harmful

emissions than gasoline or diesel.

Negative:

Natural

gas

production

creates

methane, a greenhouse gas that is 21 times

worse for global warming than CO2.
2.3 Electricity

Figure Hydrogen Fuel cycle

Electricity can be used as a transportation

Hydrogen is also used in fuel-cell vehicles

alternative fuel for battery-powered electric and

that run on electricity produced by the

fuel-cell vehicles. Battery powered electric

petrochemical

vehicles store power in batteries that are

hydrogen and oxygen are combined in the fuel

recharged by plugging the vehicle into a

standard electrical source. Fuel-cell vehicles run
on electricity that is produced through an
electrochemical reaction that occurs when
hydrogen and oxygen are combined.
Positive: Electricity for transportation is highly
efficient, and we already have an extensive

reaction

that

occurs

when

stack.

2.5 Propane
Propane is (also called liquefied petroleum
gas or LPG) is a byproduct of natural gas
processing and crude oil refining. Already
widely used as a fuel for cooking and heating,
propane is also a popular alternative fuel for
vehicles.
Positive: Propane produces fewer emissions
than gasoline, and there is also a highly
developed infrastructure for propane transport,
storage and distribution.
It is also used in the propulsion of

spacecraft and can potentially be mass-produced

and commercialized for passenger vehicles and
aircraft. Hydrogen fuel can provide motive
power for cars, boats and airplanes, portable

Negative:

Natural

gas

production

creates

methane, a greenhouse gas that is 21 times

worse for global warming than CO2.
2.6 Biodiesel

fuel cell applications or stationary fuel cell

applications, which can power an electric motor.

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel based on

vegetable oils or animal fats, even those

Hydrogen is one of two natural elements

recycled after restaurants have used them for

that combine to make water. Hydrogen is not an

cooking. Vehicle engines can be converted to

energy source, but an energy carrier because it

burn biodiesel in its pure form, and biodiesel

takes a great deal of energy to extract it from

can also be blended with petroleum diesel and

water. It is useful as a compact energy source in

used in unmodified engines. The future looks

fuel cells and batteries. Many companies are

very bright for biodiesel. Not only is it easy to

working hard to develop technologies that can

find and use, newer efficient diesel cars boast

efficiently exploit the potential of hydrogen

excellent fuel mileage. Its one of the easiest

energy.

alternative fuels to implement into your life.

Positive: No bad emissions.

Negative: Cost. And also the lack of fueling
infrastructure and difficulty of putting it in
place.

P-Series fuels are a blend of ethanol,

natural gas liquids and methyltetrahydrofuran
(MeTHF), a co-solvent derived from biomass.
P-Series fuels are clear, high-octane alternative
fuels that can be used in flexible fuel vehicles.
Positive: P-Series fuels can be used alone or
mixed with gasoline in any ratio by simply
adding it to the tank.
Figure1 Biodiesel Conversion

Negative:

Positive: Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable,

reduces air pollutants associated with vehicle
emissions, such as particulate matter, carbon
monoxide and hydrocarbons.

Manufacturers

are

not

making

flexible fuel vehicles.

2.9 Compressed Air
This is a fairly new concept. The engine

Negative: Limited production and distribution

infrastructure.

itself greatly resembles that of an internal

combustion engine. It has pistons and cylinders,
however they are actuated by compressed air
that is stored in tanks throughout the vehicle.

2.7 Methanol
Methanol, also known as wood alcohol,

Instead of mixing fuel with air and burning

can be used as an alternative fuel in flexible fuel

it in the engine to drive pistons with hot

vehicles that are designed to run on M85, a

expanding gases, compressed-air vehicles use

blend of 85 percent methanol and 15 percent

the expansion of compressed air to drive their

gasoline,

but

automakers

are

no

longer

manufacturing methanol-powered vehicles.

Positive: Methanol could become an important
alternative fuel in the future as a source of the
hydrogen needed to power fuel-cell vehicles.
Negative:

Automakers

are

no

longer

manufacturing methanol-powered vehicles.

2.8 P-Series Fuels

pistons.

Their potential advantages over other vehicles

include:

Much

like

electrical

vehicles,

air

powered vehicles would ultimately be

powered through the electrical grid.

Transportation of the fuel would not be

required due to drawing power off the
electrical grid. Pollution created during
fuel transportation would be eliminated.

Compressed-air technology reduces the

cost of vehicle production by about
20%, because there is no need to build a
cooling system, fuel tank, Ignition
Systems or silencers.

Figure Compressed Air Car

Compressed-air vehicles are comparable in

size.

many ways to electric vehicles, but use

compressed air to store the energy instead of

The engine can be massively reduced in

The engine runs on cold or warm air, so

can be made of lower strength light

batteries.

weight material such as aluminium,

plastic,

low

friction

teflon

or

combination

Low manufacture and maintenance costs

as well as easy maintenance.

The air tank may be refilled more often

and in less time than batteries can be
recharged,

Figure Prototype Compressed air concept

with

re-filling

rates

comparable to liquid fuels.

car

Lighter vehicles cause less damage to

roads, resulting in lower maintenance
cost.

The price of filling air powered vehicles

oil will continue to be the transportation fuel of

is significantly cheaper than petrol,

choice. Carbon emissions associated with world

diesel or biofuel. If electricity is cheap,

transportation oil use will grow at about the

then compressing air will also be

same rate as oil use. Non-fossil-based fuels

relatively cheap.

would reduce carbon emissions regardless of

vehicle technology. Electric drive vehicles such

2.9.1 Disadvantages of Compressed air

Vehicles

are candidates.

Energy is lost when the electrical energy

In the near term, ethanol and electricity

gets converted into compressed air.

offer potential as niche alternative fuels.

The air cools drastically when it is

Ethanol, as a liquid fuel that is largely

expanded in the engine. This could make

compatible with the present infrastructure,

the car susceptible to icing.

offers potential paths for immediate increased

Though service stations may have

special

equipment

to

refuel

the

compressed air container in about three

minutes, this might take considerably
longer to do at home. It might take up to
four hours.

as EVs, HEVs, and fuel-cell-powered vehicles

use via blending with petroleum products.

An emerging expectation is that concerns
for carbon emissions effects will provide the
greatest incentive for the widespread use of
sustainable fuels. However, this scenario is
highly uncertain. Present estimates indicate that

The weight and price of many safety

costs far exceed CO2 reduction benefits for

features such as airbags and ABS may

hydrogen fuels. Given the availability of large

lead manufacturers not to include them.

quantities of low-cost fossil fuels, powerful

In addition, the low rolling resistance

policies will be needed to induce massive

tires do not grip the roads as well as

transitions to low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen

regular tires.

or renewables.

3.0 Conclusion

Without effective policies to induce

Not surprisingly, the view of the future

transitions to low-carbon products, it appears

transportation energy picture is unclear, with

likely that natural-gasderived fuelssuch as

circumstances

unanticipated

CNG, LNG, hydrogen, methanol will see a

technological, policy, and market developments.

steady but gradual increase in use and probably

World transportation sector and total demand

will play a significant role in the transportation

for oil will grow dramatically during the21st

sector in the 21st century.

that

await

century. Absent the availability of alternatives,