Alternative fuels and assessment of their applicability in internal combustion engines

Abstract

The article summarizes the experience of using alternative fuels as motor fuel in internal combustion engines (ICE). Russia’s long-term energy program provides for measures to save fuel and energy resources, replace oil fuels with natural gas and other alternative fuels of non-oil origin, and expand the use of secondary and non-traditional energy sources. To justify the form of alternative fuels should consider the following factors: motor properties, availability of raw materials for its production in large volumes for a long time, the presence of large technologies, systems of transportation and distribution for the consumer, environmental indicators in the work ICE at this fuel, the cost of production and distribution of fuel. The article considers natural gas, alcohols (methyl and ethyl), hydrogen, ammonia, hydrazine, and synthetic hydrocarbon fuels from shale and coal as the main alternative fuels for replacing fuels of petroleum origin. Taking into account the above factors, the most interesting are natural gas (compressed and liquefied), hydrogen, and methyl alcohol (methanol).