Types of Alternative Fuel | Alternative Fuel Sales

Several Types of Alternative Vehicle Fuels Defined

Understanding Different Alternative Fuels

Alternative fuels, as defined by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), include hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, natural gas, propane, p-series fuels and electricity. These fuels are being used worldwide in a variety of vehicle applications.

Using these alternative fuels in vehicles can generally reduce harmful pollutants and exhaust emissions. In addition, most of these fuels can be domestically produced and derived from renewable sources.

Definitions for Various Alternative Fuel Sources:

Hydrogen Fuel
Ethanol Biofuel
Methanol
Biodiesel
Natural Gas
Propane
P-Series Fuels
Electricity

What is Hydrogen?

Understanding Hydrogen (H2) Gas as an Alternative Fuel Source

The simplest and lightest fuel is hydrogen gas (H₂). Hydrogen is in a gaseous state at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperatures. Hydrogen may contain low levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, depending on the source.

Hydrogen is being explored for use in combustion engines and fuel cell electric vehicles. On a volumetric basis, the energy density of hydrogen is very low under ambient conditions. This presents greater transportation and storage hurdles than for liquid fuels. Storage systems being developed include compressed hydrogen, liquid hydrogen, and physical or chemical bonding between hydrogen and a storage material (for example, metal hydrides).

The ability to create hydrogen from a variety of resources and its clean-burning properties make it a desirable alternative fuel. Although there is no significant transportation distribution system currently for hydrogen transportation use, we can transport and deliver hydrogen for early market penetration using the established hydrogen infrastructure; for significant market penetration, the infrastructure will need further development.

What is Ethanol?

Understanding Ethanol Biofuel as an Alternative Fuel Source

Ethanol (ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, EtOH) is a clear, colorless liquid. In dilute aqueous solution, it has a somewhat sweet flavor, but in more concentrated solutions it has a burning taste. Ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH) is made up of a group of chemical compounds whose molecules contain a hydroxyl group, -OH, bonded to a carbon atom. Ethanol made from cellulosic biomass materials instead of traditional feedstocks (starch crops) is called bioethanol.

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 mandated the sale of oxygenated fuels in areas with unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide. Since that time, there has been strong demand for ethanol as an oxygenate blended with gasoline. In the United States each year, approximately 2 billion gallons are added to gasoline to increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline.

Blends of at least 85% ethanol are considered alternative fuels under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct). E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, is used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) that are currently offered by most major auto manufacturers. FFVs can run on gasoline, E85, or any combination of the two and qualify as alternative fuel vehicles under EPAct regulations.

In some areas, ethanol is blended with gasoline to form an E10 blend (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline).

Chemical properties: Ethanol is ethane with a hydrogen molecule replaced by a hydroxyl radical.

What is Methanol?

Understanding Methanol Biofuel as an Alternative Fuel Source

Methanol (CH₃OH) is an alcohol fuel. Today most of the world's methanol is produced by a process using natural gas as a feedstock. However, the ability to produce methanol from non-petroleum feedstocks such as coal or biomass is of interest for reducing petroleum imports.

Chemical Properties: As engine fuels, ethanol and methanol have similar chemical and physical characteristics. Methanol is methane with one hydrogen molecule replaced by a hydroxyl radical (OH).

What is Biodiesel?

Understanding Biodiesel Biofuel as an Alternative Fuel Source

Biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases. Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable, and reduces serious air pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air toxics. Blends of 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel (B20) can generally be used in unmodified diesel engines; however, users should consult their OEM and engine warranty statement. Fuel blends of less than 20% biodiesel are also available. Biodiesel can also be used in its pure form (B100), but it may require certain engine modifications to avoid maintenance and performance problems and may not be suitable for wintertime use. Users should consult their engine warranty statement.

Biodiesel (fatty acid alkyl esters) is a cleaner burning diesel replacement fuel made from natural, renewable sources such as new and used vegetable oils and animal fats. Just like petroleum diesel, biodiesel operates in compression-ignition engines. Biodiesel can provide the same payload capacity and as diesel. For more information on fuel blends of 20% biodiesel or less, please see our site on fuel blends.

Higher blends, even pure biodiesel (100% biodiesel, or B100), may be able to be used in some engines (built since 1994) with little or no modification. However, engine manufacturers are concerned about the impact of B100 on engine durability. Additionally, B100 is generally not suitable for use in low temperature conditions. Transportation and storage of B100, however, require special management.

Using biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine substantially reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulfates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. These reductions increase as the amount of biodiesel blended into diesel fuel increases. The best emission reductions are seen with B100.

What is Natural Gas?

Understanding Natural Gas as an Alternative Fuel Source

Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons—mainly methane (CH4)—and is produced either from gas wells or in conjunction with crude oil production. Natural gas is consumed in the residential, commercial, industrial, and utility markets.

The interest in natural gas as an alternative fuel stems mainly from its clean burning qualities, its domestic resource base, and its commercial availability to end users. Because of the gaseous nature of this fuel, it must be stored onboard a vehicle in either a compressed gaseous state (CNG) or in a liquefied state (LNG).

Chemical Properties: The main constituent of natural gas is methane, which is a relatively unreactive hydrocarbon. Natural gas as delivered through the pipeline system also contains hydrocarbons such as ethane and propane; and other gases such as nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and water vapor.

What is Propane?

Understanding Propane as an Alternative Fuel Source

According to the Gas Processors Association HD5 specification for LPG as a transportation fuel, LPG must consist of 90% propane, no more than 5% propylene, and 5% other which is primarily butane and butylene. It is produced as a by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining. The components of LPG are gases at normal temperatures and pressures.

What are P-Series Fuels?

Understanding Pentanes Plus P-Series Fuels as an Alternative Fuel Source

P-Series fuel is a unique blend of natural gas liquids (pentanes plus), ethanol, and the biomass-derived co-solvent methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF). P-Series fuels are clear, colorless, 89-93 octane, liquid blends that are formulated to be used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFV's). P-Series are designed to be used alone or freely mixed with gasoline in any proportion inside the FFV's gas tank. These fuels are not currently being produced in large quantities and are not widely used.

Since 1992, when the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) was passed, only one new fuel has been recognized as an alternative fuel under the EPAct petitions provision. P-Series fuels were added to the list of alternative fuels in 1999.

What is Electricity?

Understanding Electricity as an Alternative Fuel Source

Electricity is unique among the alternative fuels in that mechanical power is derived directly from it, whereas the other alternative fuels release stored chemical energy through combustion to provide mechanical power. Motive power is produced from electricity by an electric motor. Electricity used to power vehicles is commonly provided by batteries, but fuel cells are also being explored. Batteries are energy storage devices, but unlike batteries, fuel cells convert chemical energy to electricity. To learn more about fuel cells, go to the DOE's Hydrogen, Fuel Cells, and Infrastructure Technologies Program site.

Article Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)

How Different Types of Alternative Fuel Are Produced

Alternative Fuel Information: Fuel Production

How is Hydrogen Made?

Hydrogen Production

Hydrogen can be produced using diverse, domestic resources including fossil fuels, such as natural gas and coal (with carbon sequestration); nuclear; and biomass and other renewable energy technologies, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and hydro-electric power. Researchers are working to develop a wide range of technologies to produce hydrogen economically and in environmentally friendly ways.

Today the two most common methods used to produce hydrogen fuel are:

steam reforming of natural gas
electrolysis of water

Producing Hydrogen from Natural Gas

The predominant method for producing synthesis gas is steam reforming of natural gas, although other hydrocarbons can be used as feedstocks. For example, biomass and coal can be gasified and used in a steam reforming process to create hydrogen.

Producing Hydrogen from Water Using Electrolysis

Electrolysis uses electrical energy to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The electrical energy can come from any electricity production source including renewable fuels.

How is Ethanol Made?

Ethanol Production

Ethanol can be produced from any biological feedstocks that contain appreciable amounts of sugar or materials that can be converted into sugar such as starch or cellulose. Sugar beets and sugar cane are examples of feedstocks that contain sugar. Corn contains starch that can relatively easily be converted into sugar. A significant percentage of trees and grasses are made up of cellulose, which can also be converted to sugar, although with more difficulty than required to convert starch.

The ethanol production process starts by grinding up the feedstock so it is more easily and quickly processed in the following steps. Once ground up, the sugar is either dissolved out of the material or the starch or cellulose is converted into sugar. The sugar is then fed to microbes that use it for food, producing ethanol and carbon dioxide in the process. A final step purifies the ethanol to the desired concentration.

Ethanol is also made from a wet-milling process. Many larger ethanol producers use this process, which also yields products such as high-fructose corn sweetener.

How is Methanol Made?

Methanol Production

Methanol is predominantly produced by steam reforming of natural gas to create a synthesis gas, which is then fed into a reactor vessel in the presence of a catalyst to produce methanol and water vapor. Although a variety of feedstocks other than natural gas can and have been used, today's economics favor natural gas.

Synthesis gas refers to combinations of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen. While a large amount of synthesis gas is used to make methanol, most synthesis gas is used to make ammonia. As a result, most methanol plants are adjacent to or are part of ammonia plants. The synthesis gas is fed into another reactor vessel under high temperatures and pressures, and CO and hydrogen are combined in the presence of a catalyst to produce methanol. Finally, the reactor product is distilled to purify and separate the methanol from the reactor effluent.

How is Biodiesel Made?

Biodiesel Production

Biodiesel fuel can be made from new or used vegetable oils and animal fats, which are nontoxic, biodegradable, renewable resources. Fats and oils are chemically reacted with an alcohol (methanol is the usual choice) to produce chemical compounds known as fatty acid methyl esters. Biodiesel is the name given to these esters when they're intended for use as fuel. Glycerol (used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, among other markets) is produced as a coproduct.

Biodiesel can be produced by a variety of esterification technologies. The oils and fats are filtered and preprocessed to remove water and contaminants. If free fatty acids are present, they can be removed or transformed into biodiesel using special pretreatment technologies (PDF 5 KB) Download Adobe Reader. The pretreated oils and fats are then mixed with an alcohol (usually methanol) and a catalyst (usually sodium hydroxide). The oil molecules (triglycerides) are broken apart and reformed into methylesters and glycerol, which are then separated from each other and purified.

Approximately 55% of the biodiesel industry can use any fat or oil feedstock, including recycled cooking grease. The other half of the industry is limited to vegetable oils, the least expensive of which is soy oil. The soy industry has been the driving force behind biodiesel commercialization because of excess production capacity, product surpluses, and declining prices. Similar issues apply to the recycled grease and animal fats industry, even though these feedstocks are less expensive than soy oils.

Based on the combined resources of both industries, there is enough feedstock to supply 1.9 billion gallons of biodiesel (under policies designed to encourage biodiesel use). This represents roughly 5% of on-road diesel used in the United States.

How is Natural Gas Made?

Natural Gas Fuel Production

Most natural gas consumed in the United States is domestically produced. Gas streams produced from reservoirs contain natural gas, liquids, and other materials. Processing is required to separate the gas from petroleum liquids and to remove contaminants. In addition, natural gas (methane) can also come from landfill gas and water/sewage treatment.

First, the gas is separated from free liquids such as crude oil, hydrocarbon condensate, water, and entrained solids. The separated gas is further processed to meet specified requirements. For example, natural gas for transmission companies must generally meet certain pipeline quality specifications with respect to water content, hydrocarbon dewpoint, heating value, and hydrogen-sulfide content.

A dehydration plant controls water content; a gas processing plant removes certain hydrocarbon components to hydrocarbon dewpoint specifications; and a gas sweetening plant removes hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur compounds (when present).

How is Propane Made?

Propane Gas Production

Propane is a by-product from two sources: natural gas processing and crude oil refining. Most of the LPG used in the United States is produced domestically. When natural gas is produced, it contains methane and other light hydrocarbons that are separated in a gas processing plant. Because propane boils at -44°F and ethane boils at °F, it is separated from methane by combining increasing pressure and decreasing temperature.

The natural gas liquid components recovered during processing include ethane, propane, and butane, as well as heavier hydrocarbons.

Propane and butane, along with other gases, are also produced during crude refining as by-products of the processes that rearrange or break down molecular structure to obtain more desirable petroleum compounds.

How are P-Series Alternative Fuels Made?

New Pentanes Plus "P-Series" Fuel Production

How is Electricity Made?

Electricity Production / Generation

Electricity is produced from power plants located throughout the country, transmitted to substations through high voltage transmission systems, stepped down to lower voltages, and carried to homes and businesses through distribution systems.

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) describes the electric vehicle infrastructure as being 98% in place. The remaining 2% involves developing the connection from the grid to the vehicle and determining how recharging vehicles might affect the grid.

Some utilities have developed special time-of-use meters and off-peak electric rates to separately monitor EV electricity use from the home and provide incentives to recharge at night when the overall load is down.

Electricity to power vehicles can also be made from renewable resources using solar or wind technologies.

Article Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)

A Look At Some Of The More Promising Alternative Fuels

Biodiesel, Ethanol and Natural Gas are Among the Most Viable Alternative Fuels for the Future

by Gregg Hall

With so many countries cutting back on energy use, there are many governments looking for alternative sources of fuel, especially with the rapidly climbing gas prices. The US is working harder than ever to get other sources of power onto the market. Experts say that not only are gas (octane) fuels pollutant, but the supplies buried beneath the earth are dwindling quickly. Now, with the anxiousness of a fuel crunch looming over our heads, America is finally stepping up and trying to find some other way to fuel our mechanical marvels. Here are the top candidates for alternative fuel king.

Biodiesel Fuel

Biodiesel is the result of the European effort to remove a considerable amount of the polluting attributes of diesel fuel. This has created a 60% reduction in hydrocarbons, a 40% reduction of carbon monoxide, and a 40% reduction in particulates. Biocarbon is produced from raw materials called feedstock. This material absorbs carbon monoxide in an amount equal to the amount the car using the fuel emits. With this new diesel fuel, diesel engines are working at 50% higher fuel efficiency than normal gas powered engines.

Ethanol Biofuels

Ethanol is, by far, the most popular of the alternative fuels. Ethanol has a very down home farm essence to it as it is made from starch producing plants like corn. Yes, corn is the fuel of the future, although some producers prefer sugar to corn in the ethanol making process. Today, most of the information you hear about ethanol is the E85 mixture, which is a mixture of 85% ethanol, and 15% gas. This alternative fuel can only be used in vehicles especially designed for them as well as vehicles that are 22 E85 compatible. Using ethanol can reduce smog production up to 50%, gas can't say that much. Unfortunately, despite E85's smog emission reduction it is still contributing to ozone depletion, although many experts disagree, and still others have no idea how it happens in the first place.

Natural Gas

CNG, or Compressed Natural Gas, is another of the top candidates for the king of alternative fuels. In comparison to gas, CNG comes from domestic, not Middle Eastern Reserves, burns cleaner, and is cheaper. Unfortunately, vehicles that run on CNG require some changes which include: storing natural gas in pressurized tanks, burning the CNG with a modified combustion engine, and it is more economical than gas burning engines. Although, CNG cars emit fewer smog emissions than hybrid cars, they release more greenhouse gases than hybrid cars as well.

Other Alternative Fuel Options

Besides these top 3 candidates for alternative fuel king, there are other less developed methods. There is liquid coal, which will be too costly to use. There is hydrogen fuel, which will also be costly, because hydrogen isn't naturally found. Fuel cell technology, which sounds a lot like Star Trek, is light years away from being developed. As of now, the hybrid vehicle is probably your best bet as far as fuel efficiency, and fuel alternative. Unfortunately, it doesn't cure us of our dependency on gas. The king of alternative fuel may soon be crowned, but that soon is far away.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as a paint protection at http://www.carcarewizards.com

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