Alcohols, as fuel

FLAME EXTINCTION FROM THE UPSTREAM PORTION OF A DROP IN MOTION. In his studies of the influence of relative air velocity on the combustion of liquid fuel spheres, Spalding (51, 56) noted a critical velocity above which flame could not be supported at the upstream portion of the sphere. He observed that the flame blew off and resided solely in the sphere s wake. In tests with kerosine, the air (20° C.) velocity at extinction varied linearly with sphere diameter (range 0.7 to 2.6 cm.), and the ratio Ubi2n was about 100 seconds-1. A similar result is obtained from the data on flame extinction of burning camphor spheres (15, 59). The near proportionality between extinction velocity and diameter was taken as supporting evidence for a theory on flame extinction advanced by Spalding (59). More recent experimental work with porous spheres and n-butyl alcohol as fuel does not support this relationship (1), because it was found that the extinction velocity is proportional to the square root of the drop diameter. 

A. V. de Carvalho, "Future Scenarios of Alcohols as Fuels in Brazil," 3rd lnt. Symp. on Alcohol Fuels Technolog (Asilomar, Calif., Alay 29—31, 1979). 

The idea of renewable sounds great until you put it into perspective and look at the economics (Table II). Most ecologists just don t. The economic disparity of fermentation alcohol as fuel at the service station pump compared to gasoline at today s prices of around 1.00/gal is self-evident without even going into Btu or performance ratings. 

Recent projections indicate that the use of alcohol as fuel in the US is going to increase by about 9.5 billion litres by the year 2012 [81]. If 25 per cent of the alcohol increase comes from non-woody biomass, at least 1.1 million tons of lignin could be potentially available. Similar scenarios are expected for Europe and other parts of the world. How this lignin resource is managed is expected to have a significant impact on the economics and ultimate success of the biorefinery. 

This fuel cell can be operated with methanol and other alcohols as fuels along with acid and alkaline electrolytes and air or oxygen as the oxidant. Prototype cell designs have demonstrated the cell s continuous power exceeding 1 kW. Such devices have demonstrated current densities better than 80 A/ft. at 0.3 V and a... 

Clarifying the chemistry background in a lab-environment The students learn about the structure of alcohols, fermentation, and the problems and benefits of the use of alcohols as fuels in cars, by using the cooperative mode of a jigsaw classroom in combination with a learning at stations lab. 

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