UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING &TECHNOLOGY PESHAWAR

Name:

Aizaz Muhammad

Reg. No:

21PWCEE0008

Subject:

IC Engine

Semester: 6th

Home work:

2nd

Submitted to:

Engr Noor Muhammad

Energy Engineering Department

Alternative Fuels
Introduction

The increased usage of fossil fuels, the loss of natural resources, and environmental deterioration have
made the sustainability of alternative fuels for automobiles more and more crucial. As a result, there is
more demand on manufacturers and providers of commodities to guarantee that their offerings are
sustainable from an environmental, social, and economic standpoint [1]. In order to cut the
transportation sector's emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases, alternative fuels are desperately
needed. In many nations, using alternative fuels is standard procedure. These fuels may replace
traditional fossil fuels at temperatures of up to 80%. The usage of alternative fuels is generally on the
rise, with wastes being used as alternative fuels in over 64% of European cement plants nowadays.
Although there are several potential alternative fuels, the most commonly utilized ones are sewage
sludge and animal meal made of flesh and bones [2]. Numbers alone indicate that there will be a
significant need for gasoline in the upcoming decades, even if engine fuel efficiency has significantly
improved over the previous several decades and is likely to continue improving. The price and scarcity of
gasoline will rise. In the upcoming decades, alternative fuel technology, availability, and use must and
will increase. While certain internal combustion engines (IC engines) have always been powered by fuels
other than gasoline or diesel oil, their numbers have always been somewhat limited. Several third-world
nations have been utilizing produced alcohol as their primary car fuel for a long time due to the high
cost of petroleum products [3].

Over the course of the last century, the development of internal combustion engines (ICEs) and the
automobile industry has led to the widespread usage of two primary fuels: diesel and gasoline. When
diesel fuel is burned in CI engines, it ignites automatically when it comes into contact with high-
temperature gas that has been heated by compression. In contrast, when gasoline fuel burns, flame
propagation occurs after an initial spark event ignites the homogenous air-fuel combination. Despite the
market's determination to keep gasoline and diesel as the primary vehicle fuels, together with a lengthy
history of stable supply chains, the hunt for alternate fuels began to gain traction in the 1980s.

Depending on the situation, the meaning of alternative fuels might change. The phrase "alternative
fuels" refers to fuels other than traditional gasoline and diesel fuels, and it encompasses a broad range
of final forms and manufacturing sources. For instance, ethanol fuel—which can originate from either
conventional crude oil or any type of renewable biomass—is seen as an option for SI engines. A wide
range of non-conventional fuels are included in the definition of alternative fuels provided by the Energy
Policy Act (EPAct), including alcohols like ethanol (including blends with gasoline exceeding 85%), natural
gas and liquefied fuels obtained domestically from natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquid
fuels derived from coal (CTL), hydrogen (H2), biodiesel (B100), fuels other than alcohol that are derived
from biological materials, and gasoline with significant non-petroleum content that improves the
environment and energy security.

Significance
The following factors make the use of alternative fuels significant:
  Reducing worries about finite fossil fuel energy and achieving energy sustainability by using
alternative fuels produced from renewable energy sources more frequently.
 Using the better physical or chemical qualities of alternative fuels over those of traditional fuels
to improve engine efficiency and engine-out emissions.
 Addressing the uneven use of traditional fossil fuels derived from petroleum [4].

Fuel
All materials that may be modified to release energy in the form of heat and/or work under regulated
conditions are commonly referred to as "fuels." Fuels come in liquid, solid, and gaseous forms.

Alternative fuels
Fuels obtained from sources other than petroleum are referred to as alternative fuels, non-conventional
fuels, and advanced fuels. Gaseous fossil fuels, such as natural gas, propane, ammonia, and methane;
biofuels, such as hydrogen and electricity; and other renewable fuels, such as biodiesel and bioalcohol,
are examples of alternative fuels.
These fuels can aid in the decarbonization and reduction of pollution. They are designed to replace more
carbon-intensive energy sources, such as gasoline and diesel, in transportation. It has also been
demonstrated that using alternative fuels lowers dangerous gases like sulfur dioxide and other non-
carbon emissions from the exhaust, such as the release of nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide. Because
hazardous gases may build up more readily in sectors like mining, this is particularly crucial [5].

Types of Alternative fuels

 Ethanol
 Methanol
 Compressed or liquefied natural gas for transport
 Liquefied petroleum gases (propane and butane) for transport
 Hydrogen
 Waste solvents
 Chem-fuel (blended combustible waste from chemical works)
 Rubber crumb
 Bitumen-in-water emulsion
 Waste oils
 Biomass
 Gasified solids
 Sewage sludge

Ethanol
Ethanol is created by the well-known and established method of fermentation, which is often utilized to
make alcoholic beverages for human consumption, such as wines, spirits, and beers. Because of the high
excise charge on it, it is rare to use it as fuel in the UK (except from "Methylated Spirits" in appliances
like tiny camping stoves). However, Brazil made a significant effort to produce automobiles that run on
ethanol in an attempt to lessen its reliance on imported oil, and it was somewhat successful in doing so
(La Rovere, 2004). Technically, the idea worked, but since it was so reliant on the price of oil, it lost
momentum when that price dropped. Additional grades were offered, including E85 and E100 (100
percent ethanol without water) [6].
Methanol
Steam is mixed with methanol to make "syngas," which is subsequently heated to a high pressure and
converted back into methanol. Destructive distillation of wood wastes yields methanol and is where the
phrase "wood alcohol" originated. Both production processes for alternative fuels would be workable. In
the Americas, M100, a commercial grade of 100% methanol, is available for purchase. Gas for
transportation that has been compressed or liquefied [7] .

Compressed or liquefied natural gas for transport

The world's use of natural gas is predicted to rise significantly over the next 20 years, making it an even
more vital energy resource. Now, pipelines are used to deliver LNG, or natural gas, to the markets. It is
practical and financially advantageous to transport natural gas onshore via pipelines. Pipelines become
more problematic for the offshore transportation of natural gas as the depth of the ocean and the
distance of the transport grow. Of the world's gas transportation, 25% is made up of LNG, an efficient
way to transmit gas across large distances over the ocean. However, LNG projects are financially feasible
over distances of 2,500 miles and more, but they also demand significant expenditures and natural gas
reserves [8].

Liquefied petroleum gases (propane and butane) for transport

Hydrocarbon mixes consisting mostly of propane, butane, isobutane, propene, and butenes are referred
to as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Propane and butane blends are most frequently referred to by this
phrase. The quality criteria of the gas to be conveyed to the customer and the composition of the
generated gas determine how much LPG and heavier hydrocarbons can be recovered from gas . These
pollutants need to be reduced to a level that is acceptable and in line with the appropriate LPG
requirements in the country of usage, depending on how the LPG is being used. LPG and lighter, both
saturated and unsaturated components are the byproducts of thermal and catalytic cracking. Using a
solid adsorbent, such as a molecular sieve, alumina, silica gel, or calcium chloride, can influence the
dehydration of LPG. The main purpose of exposing the LPG to an amine solution in an absorber column
is to eliminate large volumes of hydrogen sulfide [9].

Hydrogen
When combined, the efficiency of fuel cells and the purity of hydrogen present an enticing substitute for
fossil fuels. Significant advancements in hydrogen generation, storage, and utilization are necessary for
the widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered fuel cells. Renewably splitting water via electrolysis,
photochemistry, or biological methods provides the most abundant and environmentally benign supply
of hydrogen. Nanoscience provides intriguing new methods to this difficulty, as currently existing
hydride compounds cannot readily fulfill the competing criteria for hydrogen storage on-board for
transportation. If the problems with component cost and performance are resolved, fuel cells provide a
potentially efficient means of producing power for grid distribution and mobility. Many paths lead to the
goal of switching to a blend of renewable fuels, including hydrogen [10].

Chem-fuel (blended combustible waste from chemical works)

This fuel is made up of a mixture of easily accessible combustible waste from chemical industries. Like
waste solvent, its composition is very variable, but unlike waste solvent, it can contain suspended or
dissolved particles. For cement kiln fuel, it is categorized as a registered trademark in America. The fuel
is used to get rid of chemical waste, and cement companies accept it as long as it meets their
requirements. Severe restrictions apply to the standard on chemical compatibility, extraction pH,
radioactivity, polychlorinated biphenyls, heavy metals, pesticides, particular infectious or harmful
substances, and waste code classes. These requirements have to be adhered to strictly since they are
predicated on regulatory limitations [11].

Bitumen-in-water emulsion
This is being sold as a virtually solid bitumen-water emulsion, which is simpler to transport than the raw
bitumen that would otherwise be required. In spite of denials to the contrary, it seems that the
material's 300 parts per million vanadium content requires the use of a large enough flue gas dust
treatment system to guarantee that the emissions are kept within allowable levels. There aren't any
serious flammability issues because of its high flash point of above 90 °C. There is much disagreement
on the long-term health effects of the flue gas that is created as it burns. The following are examples of
management recommendations that might be accepted after a management assessment: heat of
combustion, particle size, water content, and viscosity [12].

Biomass
Waste is the term used to describe the byproducts of any human or industrial operation that are
typically left over and unwanted. It is important to highlight the significant national variations in the
generation and recovery of solid wastes. Historically, biomass energy has been a primary source of
energy for humans, especially in rural regions where it is frequently the most accessible and reasonably
priced energy source. Coal has a far lower burning velocity than crushed biomass fuels. A renewable and
CO2-neutral fuel is a benefit of using biomass as a fuel for electricity generation. Power plant fuels
should not have excessive levels of potassium and chlorine, which can be found in agricultural leftovers
like wheat straw. A small range of changes was seen in the attributes of the biomass samples, including
their hydrogen and sulfur contents and ignition temperatures, despite the significant differences in the
results of the structural, proximate, and ultimate examinations of the wastes and biomass [13].

Gasified solids
This is the method of generating fuel gas mostly from solid sources. Common gases are mixes of
hydrogen and carbon monoxide, with the percentages varying according on the intake. Several portable
gasifiers were developed for use in cars during World War II, despite the fact that they were primarily
meant for large-scale applications. The feedstock was either wood or carbon in the form of coal, coke, or
charcoal. A kind of hydrogen-rich water gas is produced in some systems by injecting steam into the
solids bed. To deliver fuel to the blast furnaces used for smelting iron, large systems are commonly
utilized in steelworks [14].

Sewage sludge
The general public is becoming more aware of biomass-derived biocrude as a substitute for
conventional fossil fuels. Research into developing fuels from sustainable biomass is ongoing globally,
with the goal of supplanting the present conventional energy sources. Because of its accessibility,
affordability, high lignin content, and increased heating value, waste sludge has been considered a
promising raw biomass source. Furthermore, sludge is the ideal material for thermochemical conversion
since it has a high moisture content and water functions as a catalyst for the hydrothermal liquefaction
(HTL) process. It can be shown that the C, H, and higher heating value (HHV) of petrocrude are around
8.78%, 23.5%, and 10.66% greater than those of biofuel based on the final component value ranges
discovered by elemental analysis. Based on the comprehensive investigation, at 340 °C, co-liquefaction
of waste vegetable oil and swine manure may yield 87.97% bio-oil. However, a number of factors,
including temperature, solvent use, catalyst addition, and retention time, might impact this ratio. This
example is bolstered by the study's assessment that, in the presence of water as the solvent, municipal
wet sewage sludge may provide an HHV of 28.52 MJ/kg. However, when the mixture of water and
methanol acts as the solvents, 34.14 MJ/kg, or 16.5% more than the previous one, may be generated for
the same quantity of biomass[15].

Refrences

1. Najmul Hoque, ... Wahidul Biswas, in Encyclopedia of Renewable and Sustainable Materials,
2020
2. Yiannis Pontikes, Ruben Snellings, in Handbook of Recycling, 2014
3. Engineering Fundamentals of the Internal Combustion Engine .i Willard W. Pulkrabek University
of Wisconsin-· .. Platteville
4. Bae, Choongsik, and Jaeheun Kim. "Alternative fuels for internal combustion
engines." Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 36.3 (2017): 3389-3413.
5. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_fuel
6. Pandey, Shivam, and Deepak Pandey. "DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A BIOGAS PETROL
BLEND AS AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL FOR SPARK IGNITION ENGINE."
7. Pandey, Shivam, and Deepak Pandey. "DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A BIOGAS PETROL
BLEND AS AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL FOR SPARK IGNITION ENGINE."
8. Economides, Michael J., Kai Sun, and Gloria Subero. "Compressed natural gas (CNG): an
alternative to liquefied natural gas (LNG)." SPE Production & Operations 21.02 (2006): 318-324.
9. Thompson, Stephen M., et al. "Liquefied petroleum gas." Handbook of Fuels: Energy Sources for
Transportation (2021): 101-117.
10. Crabtree, George W., and Mildred S. Dresselhaus. "The hydrogen fuel alternative." Mrs
Bulletin 33.4 (2008): 421-428.
11. Pandey, Shivam, and Deepak Pandey. "DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A BIOGAS PETROL
BLEND AS AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL FOR SPARK IGNITION ENGINE."
12. Pandey, Shivam, and Deepak Pandey. "DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A BIOGAS PETROL
BLEND AS AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL FOR SPARK IGNITION ENGINE."
13. Demirbaş, Ayhan. "Biomass and wastes: upgrading alternative fuels." Energy Sources 25.4
(2003): 317-329.
14. Pandey, Shivam, and Deepak Pandey. "DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A BIOGAS PETROL
BLEND AS AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL FOR SPARK IGNITION ENGINE."
15. Dhara, Farin Tasnuva, and Md Atik Fayshal. "Waste Sludge: Entirely Waste or a Sustainable
Source of Biocrude? A Review." Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology (2024): 1-22