100,000 Mile Evaluation of Transit Buses Operated on Biodiesel Blends (B20)
10/1/2006
Report evaluates the emissions, fuel economy, and maintenance of five 40-foot transit buses operated on B20 compared to four buses operated on petroleum diesel.
Authors: Proc, K.; Barnitt, R.; Hayes, R.; Ratcliff, M.; McCormick, R.; Ha, L.; Fang, H.
Gasification Research Center
9/30/2006
Gas Technology Institute (GTI) is leading an effort to integrate and evaluate syngas cleanup and treatment technologies for syngas from biomass gasification processes. Researchers will screen and evaluate gas cleanup and processing technologies and process monitoring instrumentation for potential implementation in integrated biorefineries based on the thermochemical production of syngas.
Authors: U.S. DOE Biomass Program
Breaking the Biological Barriers to Cellulosic Ethanol: A Joint Research Agenda
6/1/2006
A robust fusion of the agricultural, industrial biotechnology, and energy industries can create a new strategic national capability for energy independence and climate protection. The Biomass to Biofuels Workshop, held Dec. 7-9, 2005, developed a research roadmap to attempt to break the biological barriers to cellulosic ethanol. The core barrier is cellulosic-biomass recalcitrance to processing to ethanol. Biomass is composed of nature's most ready energy source, sugars, but they are locked in a complex polymer composite exquisitely created to resist biological and chemical degradation. Key to energizing a new biofuel industry based on conversion of cellulose (and hemicelluloses) to ethanol is to understand plant cell-wall chemical and physical structures--how they are synthesized and can be deconstructed.
Notes: Download either a high resolution version (48.7 MB) or a low res version (6.0 MB)directly from the web address provided: http://genomicsgtl.energy.gov/biofuels/b2bworkshop.shtml
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, June 2006
6/1/2006
The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report is a quarterly report designed to keep you up to date on the prices of alternative fuels and conventional fuels in the U.S. Prices were collected during May and June of 2006.
Effect of Biodiesel Blends on Diesel Particulate Filter Performance
6/1/2006
Tests of ultra-low sulfur diesel blended with soy-biodiesel at 5% and 20% were conducted using a 2002 model year Cummins ISB engine (with exhaust gas recirculation) that had been retrofitted with a passively regenerated catalyzed diesel particulate filter (DPF). Results show that on average, the DPF balance point temperature is 45 degrees C. and 112 degrees C lower for B20 blends and neat biodiesel, respectively, than for 2007 certification diesel fuel. Biodiesel causes a measurable increase in regeneration rate at a fixed steady-state condition, even at the 5% blending level. The data showed no significant differences in NOx emissions for these fuels at the steady-state regeneration conditions.
Authors: Williams, A.; McCormick, R.L.; Hayes, R.R.; Ireland, J.; Fang, H.L.
Oil Bypass Filter Technology Evaluation Final Report
3/1/2006
This report is the final of 12 Oil Bypass Filter Technology Evaluation reports that document the feasibility of using oil bypass filter technologies on 17 vehicles in the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) fleet. This evaluation was conducted by INL for the U.S. Department of Energy FreedomCAR & Vehicle Technologies Program.
Almost 1.3 million test miles were accumulated, with the four-cycle diesel engine buses accumulating 982,548 test miles and the gasoline filter systems were tested onboard 11 of the buses and the six Chevrolet Tahoes for 1,173,552 miles. Refined Global Solutions (RGS) oil bypass filter systems were tested onboard three buses for 112,168 miles. The performance of the puraDYN and RGS oil bypass filter systems are not compared; both were used as test mules to support the goal of reducing petroleum consumption by using oil bypass filter systems in government fleets.
Depending on the assumptions employed, INL found that oil bypass filter systems for diesel engine-equipped buses have a positive payback between 72,000 and 144,000 miles. The positive payback period for the gasoline engine Tahoes is between 66,000 and 69,000 miles.
Authors: Zirker, L.; Francfort, J.; Fielding, J.
New York City Transit Hybrid and CNG Transit Buses: Interim Evaluation Results
1/2/2006
This report focuses on compressed natural gas (CNG) and diesel hybrid electric bus propulsion systems in New York City Transit buses. Both of these propulsion systems are alternatives to standard diesel buses and allow for reductions in petroleum use and emissions (usually focused on reductions of particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen). CNG propulsion is an alternative to diesel fuel use, and diesel hybrid propulsion allows for increased fuel economy, which, in turn, is a reduction in petroleum use.
Authors: Chandler, K.;Eberts, E.;Eudy, L.
Ethanol Can Contribute to Energy and Environmental Goals
1/1/2006
To study the potential effects of increased biofuel use, we evaluated six representative analyses of fuel ethanol. Studies that reported negative net energy incorrectly ignored coproducts and used some obsolete data. All studies indicated that current corn ethanol technologies are much less petroleum-intensive than gasoline but have greenhouse gas emissions similar to those of gasoline. However, many important environmental effects of biofuel production are poorly understood. New metrics that measure specific resource inputs are developed, but further research into environmental metrics is needed. Nonetheless, it is already clear that large-scale use of ethanol for fuel will almost certainly require cellulosic technology.
Authors: Farrell, A.E.; Plevin, R.J.; Turner, B.T.; Jones, A.D.; O'Hare, M.; Kammen, D.M.
Operating Experience and Teardown Analysis for Engines Operated on Biodiesel Blends (B20)
11/1/2005
The work described in this paper provides quantitative in-use data on the operating cost and engine durability impacts of B20 use in U.S. Postal Service (USPS) vehicles. This was accomplished through teardown analysis of engines and fuel systems removed from these vehicles and comparisons of wear characteristics to standard diesel vehicles operated in the same service. Engine- and fuel-related maintenance costs were also compared.
Authors: Fraer, R.; Dinh, H.; Proc, K.; McCormick, R.; Chandler, K.; Buchholz, B.
Demonstration and Evaluation of Hybrid Diesel-Electric Transit Buses
10/25/2005
This report, written by the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering for the Connecticut Department of Transportation and CTTransit, details the demonstration and evaluation of hybrid diesel-electric transit buses. The project goal was to identify the next generation of transit vehicles for future fleet replacement that are cost effective, reliable, produce fewer emissions, and have improved fuel economy compared to the standard heavy-duty diesel powered bus. Data was collected to produce an estimated life-cycle cost analysis, emissions information, mileage, fuel economy, power production, brake pad wear, and maintenance and repair costs. Bus operator and customer surveys were also conducted. Results were completed on Dec. 31, 2004. The results found the hybrid buses to be very reliable and to achieve 10% better fuel economy than their comparable diesel buses. All vehicle emissions in the study were the same. The hybrid buses had a lower life-cycle cost when the current FTA 80% purchase subsidy was considered.
Operational Evaluation of Emissions and Fuel Use of B20 Versus Diesel Fueled Dump Trucks
9/30/2005
NCDOT is proceeding with the use of alternative fueled vehicles (AFVs), including biodiesel-fueled medium duty trucks. A significant number of counties in North Carolina will be designated for non-attainment for both ozone and particulate matter under forthcoming Federal environmental standards. Diesel vehicles contribute substantially to statewide emissions of NOx,an ozone precursor, and to particulate matter. NCDOT is conducting a pilot study to demonstrate the use of biodiesel (e.g., B20) fuel on approximately 1,000 vehicles in selected areas of the state; there are plans to extend the use of B20 fuel to a much larger number of vehicles in all 100 counties in North Carolina. There is a need for empirical quantification and comparison of emissions, fuel economy, and vehicle operation on both conventional and biodiesel fuels. Furthermore, there is a need for detailed insight into factors influencing both emissions and fuel consumption on a second-by-second basis in order to develop recommendations for improved operation to further reduce emissions and fuel consumption. The objectives of this project are to: (1) characterize baseline real-world in-use on-road emissions of selected heavy duty diesel vehicles, including those fueled with B20 biodiesel and petroleum diesel, during normal duty cycles; (2)characterize the episodic nature of emissions and fuel use; (3) identify factors responsible for variability in emissions and fuel use, with specific focus on factors leading to episodes of high emissions and fuel use; and (4) develop recommended strategies for reducing the frequency and duration of high emissions and fuel use episodes.
Authors: Frey, H.C.; Kim, K.
Updated Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emission Results of Fuel Ethanol
9/26/2005
In 2004, the U.S. used 3.4 billion gallons of fuel ethanol for blending with gasoline. Virtually all of it was produced from corn. The energy and environmental effects of use of corn-based ethanol has nonetheless been questioned. For example, a few researchers maintained that corn-basedethanol has a negative energy balance value (which means that more fossil energy is required to produce ethanol than the amount of energy in the produced ethanol) and results in increases in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to petroleum gasoline.Since 1997, the Center for Transportation Research of Argonne National Laboratory has been evaluating fuel ethanol?s energy and GHG emission impacts as part of its overall efforts of evaluating well-to-wheels energy and emission effects of various advanced vehicle technologies and transportation fuels. Argonne?s analysis, in agreement with many other recently completedstudies, concludes that corn-based ethanol achieves energy and GHG emission reduction benefits, relative to gasoline. This is mainly because of 1) improved corn productivity in U.S. corn farms in the past 30 years; 2) reduced energy use in ethanol plants in the past 15 years; and 3) appropriately addressing of ethanol?s co-products. Furthermore, Argonne concludes thatcellulosic ethanol to be produced from feedstocks such as woody or herbaceous biomass has much larger energy and GHG emission reduction benefits. This paper presents Argonne?s updated energy and GHG emission results of fuel ethanol in the U.S.
Authors: Wang, Michael
Alternative Fuel Driver Training Companion Manual
9/1/2005
In the summer of 2004, EPAct and Clean Cities worked together to develop a course to teach trainers how to educate fleet drivers on the use of alternative fuels and vehicles. This manual features the information presented in the classes, including the safe use of four alternative fuels: biodiesel, compressed natural gas, (CNG), E85, (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline), and propane.