Use And Effects Of Methanol As An Alternate To Ago For Fuelling Of Diesel Engines

Electrical Electronics Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Engineering

Methanol, a versatile alcohol derived from natural gas, biomass, or synthesis gas, has garnered attention as an alternative fuel for diesel engines due to its promising properties and potential environmental benefits. Its use in compression ignition engines, replacing or blending with traditional diesel fuel, offers several advantages. Methanol possesses a high cetane number, enhancing ignition quality and combustion efficiency, which can lead to reduced emissions of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon monoxide (CO). Additionally, its oxygen-rich composition facilitates more complete combustion, potentially lowering hydrocarbon emissions. However, methanol’s lower energy density compared to diesel necessitates higher fuel volumes for equivalent energy output, which may require engine modifications or optimization for efficient performance. Furthermore, methanol’s corrosive nature poses challenges for fuel system compatibility and storage infrastructure, necessitating the use of corrosion-resistant materials and appropriate handling measures. Despite these considerations, ongoing research and development initiatives aim to address these challenges and harness the full potential of methanol as a viable alternative fuel for diesel engines, contributing to sustainable energy and emissions reduction goals.

ABSTRACT

Methanol is a clear liquid chemical that is water soluble and readily biodegradable. Methanol is comprised of four parts hydrogen, one-part oxygen and one-part carbon, and is the simplest member of a group of organic chemicals called alcohols. Today, methanol is predominantly produced on an industrial scale using natural gas as the principal feedstock which is also used to produce other chemical derivatives, which in turn are used to produce thousands of products that touch our daily lives, such as building materials, foams, resins, plastics, paints, polyester and a variety of health and pharmaceutical products. Methanol also is a clean-burning, biodegradable fuel. Increasingly, methanol’s environmental and economic advantages are making it an attractive alternative fuel for powering vehicles and ships, cooking food and heating industry.

Methanol has been promoted as an alternative transportation fuel from time to time over the past forty years. In spite of significant efforts to realize the vision of methanol as a practical transportation fuel in the US, such as the California methanol fueling corridor of the 1990s, it did not succeed on a large scale. This work covers the use and effect of methanol as an alternate to ago for fuelling of diesel engines.

Keywords: methanol, transportation, use of methanol, production of methanol, methanol as fuel, diesel engine.

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWELDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
PROBLEM STATEMENT
AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
SCOPE / LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
DEFINITION OF TERMS
RESEARCH QUESTIONS

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 AN OVERVIEW OF METHANOL FUEL

2.2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND PRODUCTION OF METHANOL

2.3 GENERAL USES OF METHANOL

2.4 PRODUCTION PROCESSES OF METHANOL

2.5 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF METHANOL BLENDING IN FUELS

CHAPTER THREE

3.1 METHANOL AND USES

3.2 BENEFITS OF USING METHANOL

3.3 STANDARDS AND DAMAGES OF THE USE OF METHANOL

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 CONCERNS ABOUT THE USE OF METHANOL

4.2 METHANOL’S FUEL QUALITY BENEFITS

4.3 METHANOL IN DIESEL ENGINES

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 CONCLUSION AND RCOMMENDATION

CONCLUSION
RECOMMENDATION

REFERENCES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Methanol is used to produce other chemical derivatives, which in turn are used to produce thousands of products that touch our daily lives, such as building materials, foams, resins, plastics, paints, polyester and a variety of health and pharmaceutical products. Methanol also is a clean-burning, biodegradable fuel. Increasingly, methanol’s environmental and economic advantages are making it an attractive alternative fuel for powering vehicles and ships, cooking food and heating industry. Methanol can be made from a wide array of feedstocks, making it one of the most flexible chemical commodities and energy sources available today (Allison, 2020).

To make methanol, you first need to create synthesis gas, which is a mixture of CO, CO2 and hydrogen gas. While natural gas is most often used in the global economy, methanol has the distinct advantage of

“polygeneration” as methanol can be made from any resource that can be converted into synthesis gas. Using mature gasification technologies, synthesis gas can be produced from anything that is or ever was a plant. This includes biomass, agricultural and timber waste, municipal solid waste, and several other feedstocks.

Methanol has been known as another alternative fuel. Methanol is made from natural gas, coal, and biomass. It is also known as wood alcohol. This was one of the older alternative fuels. It used to be used in vehicle concentrations as high as M85, but it is not commonly used in such high blends anymore because automakers are not developing methanol powered vehicles. Like Ethanol, Methanol is very good for blending with gasoline to replace the harmful octane enhancers.

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Calorific value refers to the energy contained in a fuel or food, as determined by measuring the heat produced by the complete burning of a specified quantity of the fuel or food according to Allison (2020).

In recent years, the substandard petrol imported into Nigeria, with 20% methanol content, has reportedly damaged a number of vehicles (David, 2015). In the last few years, there have been reports of complaints from car users whose vehicles were damaged by the off-spec petrol, with many threatening legal actions.

Amid claims of litigation by Nigerians whose vehicles have allegedly been damaged by the substandard fuel. David thomas, said the Nigerian government will do an assessment of the vehicles damaged.

Mr. Frynas (2019) added that there will be a ‘major investigation’ into the circulation of the unsafe quantity of methanol in petrol imported into the country.

This study was carried out to make a clear understanding of the uses and effect of methanol as an alternate to AGO for fueling of diesel engines.

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim of this study is to determine the use and effects of methanol as an alternate to AGO for fuelling of diesel engines. The objectives of the study are:

To determine the reason for using methanol as an alternate to AGO for fuelling of diesel engines
To determine whether methanol is safe or not for alternating AGO for fuelling of diesel engines

To study the effect of using methanol to alternating AGO for fuelling of diesel engines.

1.4 SCOPE / LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study covers studying the use and effects of methanol as an alternate to AGO for fuelling of diesel engines.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study will help the student involved and all readers of this work to have a clear understanding whether methanol is safe or not to be used in diesel engines as fuel.

1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Automotive Gas Oil (AGO): is fuel use in road vehicles (trucks, buses, vans and cars) powered by diesel engines.

Methanol: is a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide, and alternative fuel source. It also occurs naturally in humans, animals, and plants.

Alternative fuel: this is known as non-conventional and advanced fuels, are any materials or substances that can be used as fuels, other than conventional fuels like; fossil fuels,

1.7 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

At the end of this research answer to the following questions shall be provided:

What are the problems of using methanol in an engine?
Why is methanol a bad fuel?

What are the disadvantages of alternative fuels?