Clean Cities Drive (Vol. 2, No. 1)
1/1/1995
This issue includes articles on: 1) the number of cities participating in the Clean Cities program has exceeded expectations; 2) DOE grants for the Clean Cities efforts; 3) Clean Cities that are finding creative solutions to funding challenges; 4) clean corridors that connect clean cities; 5) new cities that have joined the program; 6) reasons to join the Clean Cities program; 7) the Clean Cities offer of prime AFV markets to auto companies; 8) marketing opportunities for stakeholders; 9) documents available through the Clean Cities Hotline; and 10) a calendar of events.
Diesel Fuel Component Contribution to Engine Emissions and Performance - Final Report
11/1/1994
Because emissions and performance have become the dominant factors governing the acceptability of diesel fuel, the subjects of this report are the properties of the diesel-blending components and the role of alternative fuels for exhaust emissions. Correlations were made for exhaust emission components and engine performance from a very carefully prepared set of test fuels designed to reveal the relationships arising from blendstock composition and origin.
Authors: Erwin, J.;Ryan, T.W.;Moulton, D.
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.
Federal Alternative Motor Fuels Program - Light Duty Federal Vehicles, Trucks, and Buses: Third Annual Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 1993
9/1/1994
This annual report to Congress details the Federal light-duty alternative fuel vehicle operations from October 1992 through September 1993. Also included are the results of the first year of the Alternative Fuels Truck Commercial Application Program and the Alternative Fuels Bus Program activities. Significant expansion of the Alternative Motor Fuels Program data collection efforts occurred during fiscal year 1993 with the addition of more alternative fuel vehicles, test sites, and Federal agency involvement. In addition, the heavy-duty and bus projects required by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act have developed to the point where data are available for reporting.
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.
Clean Cities Drive (Vol. 1, No. 1)
7/1/1994
This issue includes articles on: 1) the first months of the Clean Cities program; 2) Atlanta's designation as the first Clean City; 3) the support of fuel suppliers; 4) new cities joining the Clean Cities program; 5) the stakeholders search for funding; 6) the Clean Cities Hotline; and 7) a calendar of events.
NREL Examines Environmental, Health, and Safety Issues Concerning Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries
7/1/1994
A new candidate for powering electric vehicles - the nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery - is approaching the marketplace. But before it can be commercialized, its safety must be examined and any health and environmental issues must be brought forth and resolved. An NREL study found that NiMH cells and batteries present few health and safety risks, primarily because the electrode materials are nontoxic. However, future EH&S work is necessary to bring these batteries closer to commercialization.
Notes: For more information call David Corbus, NREL, Analytic Studies Division, (303) 231-1364
Hydrogen Air Mixing Evaluation in Reciprocating Engines
6/1/1994
This report presents the results of a computational study of fuel-air mixing in a hydrogen jet using a spark-ignited, hydrogen-fueled engine. The computational results were compared with experimental measurements being conducted at the Musashi Institute of Technology in Tokyo, Japan. The hydrogen-air mixing work was directed at understanding the extreme sensitivity of ignition to spark plug location and spark timing in direc-injected, hydrogen-fueled engines.
Authors: Dodge, L.;Naegeli, D.
Advanced Hydrogen Utilization Technology Demonstration
6/1/1994
This report presents the results of a study done by Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC). DDC used a 6V-92TA engine for experiments with hydrogen fuel. The engine was first baseline tested using methanol fuel and methanol unit injectors. One cylinder of the engine was converted to operate on hydrogen fuel, and methanol fueled the remaining five cylinders. This early testing with only one hydrogen-fueled cylinder was conducted to determine the operating parameters that would later be implemented for multicylinder hydrogen operation. Researchers then operated three cylinders of the engine on hydrogen fuel to verify single-cylinder idle tests. Once it was determined that the engine would operate well at idle, the engine was modified to operate with all six cylinders fueled with hydrogen. Six-cylinder operation on hydrogen provided an opportunity to verify previous test results and to more accurately determine the performance, thermal efficiency, and emissions of the engine.
Authors: Hedrick, J.C.;Winsor, R.E.
Injector Spray Characterization of Methanol in Reciprocating Engines
6/1/1994
This report covers a study that addressed cold-starting problems in alcohol-fueled, spark-ignition engines by using fine-spray port-fuel injectors to inject fuel directly into the cylinder. This task included development and characterization of some very fine-spray, port-fuel injectors for a methanol-fueled spark-ignition engine. After determining the spray characteristics, a computational study was performed to estimate the evaporation rate of the methanol fuel spray under cold-starting and steady-state conditions.
Authors: Dodge, L.;Naegeli, D.