Dissociated methanol Citation. Final report

A system to vaporize and dissociate methanol on board an automobile was designed and fabricated. It was then integrated with a 2.5 liter, 4-cylinder engine for testing on an engine dynamometer. Engine dynamometer tests showed significant thermal efficiency advantage over gasoline at all speed-load points. At low speed and light load, which are typical operating conditions for passenger car engines, the fuel economy improvements were largest. The system was then modified slightly and installed in a 1980 Chevrolet Citation automobile, making it the first vehicle of its type in the world. Fuel economy improvements over baseline gasoline operation are high. Fuel economies of 13.3 km/L (31.3 mpg) and 11.4 km/L (26.8 mpg) were obtained at steady speed road load conditions of 65 km/h and 90 km/h, respectively. Methanol fuel economy over the EPA '74 CVS hot start city driving cycle was 7.74 km/L (18.2 mpg). Methanol fuel economy over the EPA highway fuel economy test was 10.2 km/L (24.0 mpg). We conclude that the dissociation of methanol on board a vehicle is technically feasible. Tests of the first prototype have documented very large improvements in energy economy relative to gasoline. Considerable research is still required before a decision can bemore » made as to the extent of its advantages over liquid methanol. 19 references, 27 figures, 16 tables.« less