Fuel and Autos

As recently as 1978, gasoline sold for less per gallon, in constant dollars, than it had in 1960. Now prices tick ever upward as reserves grow shorter and supplies less secure. 

Front-wheel drive eliminated the shaft from transmission to rear differential and saved weight. More weight saving in such areas as bumpers, hood, and body panels took place by substituting plastics and aluminum for steel. Overdesigned frames were replaced by integrated frame-body shells similar to aircraft fuselages. 

Just to push the air out of its way, a car may use 50% of the available energy at 55 mph and 70% at 70 mph. Large frontal areas create air turbulence and drag. Bodies derived from wind tunnel testing can provide a more smooth air flow around the vehicle. Details such as mirrors, rain gutters, trim, wheel wells and covers can be more appropriate. 

Radial tires can reduce fuel consumption as much as 3%. Puncture-proof tires of plastic could save even more and eliminate the cost and weight of a spare tire and wheel. 

Automatic transmissions inflict a mileage penalty of about 10% compared to manual gearboxes. Continuously variable transmissions can provide better mileage. A stop-start engine that shuts down if a car is idling or 

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Fuels and autos are topics of Chapter three. It includes the auto future, electric cars, revivals, the auto industry, car designs and the impact of mass production. 

Uses Used In alkaline, metal, and acid emulsion cleaners cosmetic, agric. spray, and detergent-sanitizer emulsions emulsifier for fats, oils, waxes, mineral oil, silicone, universal colorants, and other surfoctants can be used as de-lcing fluid for jet aircraft fuels and auto gasoline petrol, oil dispersant Intermediate In mfg. of lubricants, antlstats, and high foaming, water-soluble sulfate esters In adhesives for food pkg. 

DEE eombustors have pre-mix modules on the head of the eombustor to mix the fuel uniformly with air. To avoid auto-ignition, the residenee time of the fuel in the premix tube must be less than the auto-ignition delay time of the fuel. If auto-ignition does oeeur in the pre-mix module then it is probable that the resulting damage will require repair and/or replaeement of parts before the engine is run again at full load. 

If auto-ignitions occur, then the design does not have sufficient safety margin between the auto-ignition delay time for the fuel and the residence time of the fuel in the pre-mix duct. Auto-ignition delay times for fuels do exist, but a literature search will reveal that there is considerable variability for a given fuel. Reasons for auto-ignition could be classified as follows ... 

Premixed Flame. For this type of flame, the fuel and oxidizer—both gases—arc mixed together before flowing to the flame zone (the thin region of the flame). A typical example is the inner core of a Bunsen burner (Figure 1), or combustion in an auto-... 

MRH values calculated for 31 combinations with oxidisable materials are given [1]. Flammability limits and auto-ignition temperatures for a number of mixtures with organic fuels are measured and reviewed. All experimental work reported is in the vapour phase, detonation is common. Precautions for chlorination reactions are considered [2],... 

Very little information could be identified dealing with -hexane levels in sediments and soils. -Hexane has been identified among the contaminants in an offsite oilfield-disposal pit in New Mexico (Eiceman et al. 1986). Since w-hcxanc is a trace constituent of crude oil and natural gas, as well as a component of refined petroleum products, soil or sediment contamination with -hexane can be expected near oilfield production sites, large soil spills, slush pits and other areas around refineries, and in waste sites where petroleum products or other -hexane-containing wastes had been disposed. Detections would also be likely near many tank storage facilities, pipelines, truck or rail transfer sites, car repair facilities, automobile assembly or storage facilities, and auto and truck fueling facilities (DeLuchi 1993). 

Changes in global ocean currents or in the amount of energy emitted by the sun could be a major part of the change. Most of industry including the oil, gas, coal and auto companies see the problem as a theory in need of more research, but many cry for serious action to reduce fossil fuel use. 

Some timetables for fuel cell prototypes announced by government and industry have proven too conservative. Many auto companies already have running drivable fuel cell prototypes. There was also some modest commercialization being achieved by 2004. Some of the predictions for commercialization have fallen behind or been discarded, but this is normal where complex products are involved and where vast market forces are at work. In the early days of automobiles little infrastructure was available, it grew along with the demand. The product was simple and could be repaired on the road with a few simple tools much as wagons were at the time. Transportation options were few and autos proved to be much superior over earlier methods of transportation. Today, hybrid cars are proving to be in demand and most manufacturers have models available in their lines... 

Baumgard, K. J., and J. H. Johnson, The Effect of Fuel and Engine Design on Diesel Exhaust Particle Size Distributions, Soc. Auto-mot.. Eng. 960131 (Spec. Publ. 1140, p. 37), 1996. 

Dunker, A. M R. E. Morris, A. K. Pollack, C. H. Schleyer, and G. Yarwood, Photochemical Modeling of the Impact of Fuels and Vehicles on Urban Ozone Using Auto/Oil Program Data, Environ. Sci. Technol., 30, 787-801 (1996). 

Fuel Oils Refined petroleum products having specific gravities in the range from 0.85-0.98 and flash points greater than 55°C includes furnace, auto diesel, and stove fuels, plant or industrial heating fuels and various bunker fuels. 

An important partnership that is also a model of what will be needed to introduce hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP). This partnership, headquartered in West Sacramento, was organized under the leadership of the California Air Resources Board in 1999. Its membership initially included oil and auto companies, but has expanded to include other energy suppliers, transit agencies, and other government agencies (including the DOE). In 2003, the partnership was renewed for another 4 years. 

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