Methanol fuel luminosity

The fire ha2ard of methanol appears to be substantially smaller than the fire ha2ard of gasoline, although considerably greater than the fire ha2ard of diesel fuel. The lack of luminosity of a methanol flame is stiH a concern to some, and M85 (or some other methanol fuel with an additive for flame luminosity) may become the standard fuel for this reason. 

Kiovsky, T. E. Clark, W. L. Methanol fuel containing flame luminosity agent. US Patent 5147413, 1992 Chem. Abstr. 1993,118, 128051. 

Methanol, a clean burning fuel relative to conventional industrial fuels other than natural gas, can be used advantageously in stationary turbines and boilers because of its low flame luminosity and combustion temperature. Low NO emissions and virtually no sulfur or particulate emissions have been observed (83). Methanol is also considered for dual fuel (methanol plus oil or natural gas) combustion power boilers (84) as well as to fuel gas turbines in combined methanol / electric power production plants using coal gasification (85) (see Power generation). 

Due to methanol s corrosivity and its affinity for water, it cannot be readily distributed in today s fuel infrastructure. Methanol burns with a nearly invisible flame. Available luminosity additives won t reform in the low-temperature methanol steam reformers. Methanol is more acutely toxic than gasoline. Additives that are likely to be needed for safety and health reasons will impact the fuel processor s performance and cost. 

M85 is used to represent a fuel blend of 85% methanol and 15% gasoline. The gasoline portion is added for cold-start and flame luminosity reasons. 

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