Ethanol energy density

Methanol The energy density of methanol is even lower than that of ethanol (5.6 kWh kg-1, 4.4 kWh L ). Like ethanol, it can be used in adapted internal combustion engines. In addition, conversion to electricity in direct methanol fuel cells is possible. However, such fuel cells have low power densities and low efficiencies, and thus it is not envisaged that methanol in combination with direct methanol fuel cells will find an application in cars. 

In conclusion, the presence of both poisoning species (mainly CO) and intermediate reaction products (AAL, AA) decreases correspondingly the useful energy density of the fuel, and also the power density, since the oxidation current densities are lower than those obtained with the oxidation of methanol and above all of hydrogen. To improve the kinetics of ethanol oxidation would require the development of new electrocatalysts able to break the C-... 

Elliott and Lira show that ajb 8, where d is the solubility parameter. For large molecules, the solubility parameter varies little with respect to molecular weight. Thus, increases in C correspond primarily to increases in cohesive energy density, not molecular size. Taking pentane as an example of component 1, we can estimate ( from solubility parameters to be 0.16, 0.27, 0.33, 0.40, 0.52, 0.62, 0.84 for cyclohexane, benzene, acetone, n-hexanol, ethanol, methanol, and water. This provides an idea of the range of chemical functionalities addressed in Fig. 4. 

Both methanol and ethanol have a lower energy density than that of gasoline and thus more alcohol fuel is needed to provide the same energy. Cold starting problems can occur with these fuels in their pure form, but the addition of a small percentage of gasoline eliminates this problem. 

Biomass-derived liquids, such as ethanol and bio-oils, can be produced at large, central facilities located near the biomass source to take advantage of the economies of scale and reduce the cost of transporting the solid biomass feedstock. The liquids have a high energy density and can be transported with minimal new delivery infrastructure and at relatively low cost to the distributed refueling stations or stationary power sites to be reformed to hydrogen. 

Biobutanol is also an attractive biofuel with superior fuel properties but this application has not yet been established in the market. Biobutanol fits the existing fuel infrastructure it has a higher energy density (similar to petrol/gasoline) and better performance than bioethanol. In addition, butanol can be dehydrated to 1-butene and catalyzed into longer-chain oligomers for jet-fuel applications. Biobutanol can substitute for both ethanol and biodiesel in the biofuel market estimated to be 247 billion by 2020 [177]. 

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