Alternative fuel notes

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Alternative fuel notes

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►   An alternative fuel is any fuel that powers a vehicle that is not petroleum-based motor oil.
►   Alternative fuels are not new; they have been around since the 1890s.
►   Alternative fuels have to meet the California Air Resources Board (CARB) standards to be certified.
►   The push for alternative fuels is driven by the need for enhanced security, environmental concern, and economic factors.
►   Alternative fuel is regulated by many different acts, starting in 1992.
►   The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the driving force behind alternative energy.
►   There are many different standards for low-emission vehicles, beginning in the early 1980s and growing progressively stringent into 2012.
►   Alternative vehicles are designed to reduce emissions and be more economical to operate.
►   Compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) were first introduced in the 1980s, but due to lack of refilling stations, they did not sell well to the consumer.
►   The process to use either CNG or LNG requires the vehicle engine to be able to run on flexible fuels.
►   CNG and LPG must be stored in special cylinders that will withstand pressures and damage.
►   CNG and LPG containers are fitted with special pressure relief systems to release pressure as required.
►   CNG and LNG must be protected from a heat source. In some designs, special heat shields are installed around the exhaust system to protect the container from excess heat.
►   Leaks can be identified by using a special explosion meter that will find methane gas leaks.
►   Biofuels are made by chemically combining natural oils from soybeans, cottonseeds, canola, animal fats, algae, jatropha seeds, or even recycled cooking oil with an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol, and a catalyst such as lye.
►   There are different qualities of biodiesel fuels, and they should not be confused with the fuel made from old vegetable oil.
►   The one main disadvantage to biodiesel is that starting in cold weather may require longer cranking of the engine.
►   The military is the driving force in the use of alternative fuels like biodiesel.
►   Biodiesel produces less emission than similar diesel fuels.
►   Biodiesel has higher water content than traditional diesel fuels.
►   Just like with typical diesel fuel, the centane number of biodiesel must be correct for overall engine performance, typically around 46–57; the higher the better.
►   Ethanol is being used mainly to lower fuel emissions in vehicles and is made from three products: sugars, grains, and algae.
►   Methanol or wood alcohol is being used in E85 vehicles, which means 85% of the fuel mixture is methanol.
►   The advantage to methanol is the lower output of emissions.
►   The main disadvantage with methanol is that it cannot be burned in conventional vehicles without major engine modifications.
►   Biobutenol is similar to ethanol, but butenol has characteristics similar enough to gasoline that it can be transported through the existing petroleum (pipeline) distribution infrastructure.
►   Biobutenol shows promise but is in the early stages of development.
►   Fuel cell technology has been used a number of years by NASA; given the current need for alternative fuels, it has pushed for another look at this technology by several manufacturers.
►   Fuel cells are complex systems that require oxygen and hydrogen to produce water to operate a vehicle.
►   Fuel cells have zero pollutants; they exhaust only water.
►   There are four elements to a fuel cell: the anode, cathode, electrolyte, and catalyst.
►   Fuel cells do not produce enough energy by themselves; to achieve the required power they must be stacked.
►   The electric motor shows great promise because it has fewer moving parts, less maintenance requirements, good low-speed torque output, and increased reliability.
►   The computer gives the electric motor new life and has some advantages; the biggest disadvantage is the electric motor must have a battery to run it.
►   Hydrogen fuel cells are simple and have three times the energy of gasoline. Fuel cell vehicles, however, are more efficient and cleaner.
►   Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are making a comeback with the addition of computer technology and lithium batteries.
►   The Chevy Volt was supposed to be the first BEV, but it is really a hybrid, since it has a gasoline engine to recharge the battery.
►   Hybrids have been used since World War II.
►   The locomotives on the railroad tracks today are diesel electric; the engine charges the batteries and the locomotive runs on the batteries.
►   Many city buses are diesel electric, which demonstrates that hybrid technology is not new; it is being redefined, with the new vehicles using computers to control operations.
►   The engine in hybrids can be much smaller, as its main purpose is to recharge the hybrid’s battery. The hybrid gets most of its power from the battery running the electrical drives.
►   When you think of hybrids, think of electrical circuitry. There are series, parallel, and series parallel designs.
►   On series hybrids, the engine runs only to supply the electric motor or charge the batteries.
►   On parallel hybrids, the engine runs to charge the battery and directly assist propelling the vehicle.
►   On series-parallel hybrids, the engine runs to charge the battery, operate the electric motor, and assist with propelling the vehicle all at the same time.
►   Hybrids offset the power lost by internal combustion engines (ICEs) in several ways. One of the most efficient is the regenerative braking system.
►   There are numerous hybrids, from plug-in to extended-range. They all work basically the same way: They allow the vehicle to be propelled by the electrical power. Thus, they are more fuel efficient.
►   The hybrid normally starts out on electrical power, and as the need changes, the engine will come on to assist or recharge the batteries, depending on the design.
►   The ICE is turned off during deceleration and braking.
►   The ICE needs to start and run at higher rpm for peak efficiency.
►   Hybrids can be dangerous. Always refer to the appropriate repair information.
►   In hybrids, it is usually the orange wires that indicate high voltage. Other colors may be used, so check the manufacturer’s information. Always wear special gloves to remove the access plugs to disable hybrids.
►   Anytime service is performed, the technician needs to ensure that the hybrid is not in the ready mode and that everything is off.

Source : http://www.cdxauto.com/CW/Fundamentals/docs/24118_CH52_Ready%20for%20Review.doc

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