AFDC Update: News of the Alternative Fuels Data Center (Vol. 3, Iss. 2)
10/1/1994
This issue includes articles on: 1) emissions testing of Dodge Spirit FFVs; 2) the EPA's issuance of final gaseous fuel emissions standards; 3) the AFDC's new option for retrieving data; 4) emissions data which show varied results on 1992 CNG/gasoline conversions; 5) downloading files from the AFDC for non-internet users; 6) accessing the AFDC through the internet; 7) a new methanol video from DOE, NREL, and Los Angeles MTA; 8) an EPACT update; and 9) upcoming meetings and conferences.
Potential Impacts on Air Quality of the Use of Ethanol as an Alternative Fuel
9/1/1994
This study consisted of field tests to evaluate the potential air quality impacts of using ethanol-gasoline blends to fuel motor vehicles. Researchers took ambient air measurements at a centrally located site in Albuquerque, New Mexico during the summer of 1993 and the winter of 1994 for comparative analysis. Researchers also measured wind speed, wind direction, ozone, nitric oxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, peroxyacetyl nitrate, aldehydes, organic acids, daytime temperature, and ultraviolet-B radiation by using a wide array of analytical instrumentation. The results of the measurement studies are discussed and analyzed with regard to the potential primary emissions of acetaldehyde from ethanol in the fuel mixture. This report also assesses the potential for using carbon isotopic analysis to determine the relative roles of various sources of hydrocarbons (natural versus anthropogenic) and proposes this method as a means of better estimating the relative impacts of ethanol fuel usage on urban air quality.
Authors: Gaffney, J.S.;Marley, N.A.
Results of Combustion and Emissions Testing when Co-Firing Blends of Binder-Enhanced Densified Refuse-Derived Fuel (b-dRDF) Pellets and Coal in a 440 MW, Cyclone Fired Combustor
7/30/1994
This research project characterized the effects o f burning a combination of binder-enhanced densified refusederived fuel (b-dRDF1 pellets and coal in a commercial-scale electrical generating facility. Pelletized b-dRDF has been burned in coal combustors, but only in quantities of Jess than 3% in large utility systems. This research investigated using b-dRDF in quantities up t o 20%. Through this research, project participants gained operating, technical, and economic viability data that will be critical for the near-term commercial use of b-dRDF.
Authors: Ohlsson, 0.,; (Argon National Laboratory); National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Notes: This report contains the test data from the co-firing of b-dRDF pellets and coal in a MO-MW, cyclone- fired combustor. These tests were conducted under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). The CRADA partners included the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL); Argonne National Laboratory (ANL); Otter Tail Power Company; Green Isle Environmental, Inc.; XL Recycling Corporation; and Marblehead Lime Company. The report. is made up of three volumes. Volume 1 contahs a description of the test facility, the test program, test results, and study conclusions and recommendations; Volume 2 contains the field data and laboratory analysis of each individual run. Volume 3 contains other supporting information, quality assurance documentation, and safety and test plans. This multi-volume approach enables readers to find information at the desired level of detail, depending on individual interest or need.
Impacts of Alternative Fuels on Air Quality
6/1/1994
The objective of this project was to determine the impact of alternative fuels on air quality, particularly ozone formation. The alternative fuels of interest are methanol, ethanol, liquefied petroleum gas, and natural gas. During the first year of study, researchers obtained qualitative data on the thermal degradation products from the fuel-lean (oxidative), stoichiometric, and fuel-rich (pyrolytic) decomposition of methanol and ethanol. The thermal degradation of ethanol produced a substantially larger number of intermediate organic by-products than the similar thermal degradation of methanol, and the organic intermediate by-products lacked stability. Also, a qualitative comparison of the UDRI flow reactor data with previous engine test showed that, for methanol, formaldehyde and acetone were the organic by-products observed in both types of tests; for ethanol, only very limited data were located.
Authors: Taylor, P. H.;Dellinger, B.
AFDC Update: News of the Alternative Fuels Data Center (Vol. 3, Iss. 1)
4/1/1994
This issue includes articles on: 1) AMFA heavy-duty data which indicates that E95 and CNG fuel economies are virtually the same as diesel; 2) DOE funding of a heavy-duty demonstration program; 3) DOE funding efforts for a safe school bus; 4) hotline inquiries; and 5) the comparison of fuel economies of light-duty AFVs.
Certification of a Carbureted Aircraft Engine on Ethanol Fuel
1/1/1994
Aircraft used in commercial operations must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in a certified category. In order to certify a new fuel, the engine and the airframe must both satisfy FAA requirements. The technical feasibility of ethanol as an aviation fuel was established over a 13 year period of research, development, flight test and demonstrations. A previous program obtained FAA certification for a fuel injected aircraft engine to use denatured 200 proof ethanol. It was determined that the use of ethanol in flight training operations would best establish the economic viability of ethanol while avoiding distribution problems. The most common flight trainer, the Cessna 152, was chosen to be certified. This aircraft is powered by a carbureted Lycoming engine, the O-235. This engine was modified to use ethanol and a test plan for certification was submitted to the FAA. The plan was accepted and the test conditions successfully met. After airframe certification, this aircraft will be placed in the flight training program at Baylor University and Texas State Technical College.
Authors: Shauck, M. E.;Tubbs J.;Zanin, M. G.
AFDC Update: News of the Alternative Fuels Data Center (Vol. 2, Iss. 2)
7/1/1993
This issue includes articles on: 1) the growth of the AFDC; 2) new AFDC software; 3) AFDC's provision of state AFV purchasing plans; 4) the WVU transportable lab; 5) the availability of heavy-duty emissions data; 6) the collection of heavy duty AFV performance data; and 7) the hotline's responses to tax questions.
Ethanol Production and Employment
7/1/1993
Increased U.S. production of ethanol could create 28,000-108,000 new jobs by the year 2000. Ethanol, distilled chiefly from corn, can be mixed with gasoline to reduce the level of hydrocarbon pollutants created by fuel combustion in gasoline engines. Job gains will be concentrated in the rural Midwest, where most of the Nation's corn is grown. Small communities elsewhere can benefit through new biomass technologies that can distill ethanol from energy crops, agricultural residues, and organic municipal waste.
Authors: Petrulis, M.;Sommer, J.;Hines, F.
Ethanol and Agriculture: Effect of Increased Production on Crop and Livestock Sectors
5/1/1993
Expanded ethanol production could increase U.S. farm income by as much as $1 billion (1.4 percent) by 2000. Because corn is the primary feedstock for ethanol, growers in the Corn Belt would benefit most from improved ethanol technology and heightened demand. Coproducts from the conversion process (corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed, and others) compete with soybean meal, so soybean growers in the South may see revenues decline. The U.S. balance of trade would improve with increased ethanol production as oil import needs decline.
Authors: House, R.;Peters, M.;Baumes, H.;Disney, W. T.
AFDC Update: News of the Alternative Fuels Data Center (Vol. 2, Iss. 1)
3/1/1993
This issue includes articles on: 1) the inclusion of transit buses and operational data in the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC); 2) AFDC's information sharing with fleet operators; 3) preparation of a CNG safety video by DOE and NREL; 4) EPACT's expansion of the role of OTT and AFDC; 5) a concentrated demonstration program beginning in Atlanta; 6) the promising emission results of M85; 7) DOE expansion of light-duty vehicle emissions testing; 8) hotline responses to EPACT questions; and 9) funding for vehicle conversion and fuel supply services.
AFDC Update: News of the Alternative Fuels Data Center (Vol. 1, Iss. 4)
11/1/1992
This issue includes articles on: 1) the significant expansion of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) in federal fleets; 2) the first U.S. ethanol bus program; 3) a study on compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); 4) new CNG packer trucks in New York; 5) federal agency plans to change fleets to alternative fuels; 6) DOE's heavy-duty alternative-fuel demonstration program; 7) NREL/DOE plans to support data collection on school buses; and 8) the Congressional passage of the National Energy Strategy.