Demonstrating Clean Burning Future Fuels at a Public Engagement Event

Aaron Eveleigh,Paul Hellier,Viktor Kärcher,Midhat Talibi

doi:10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00554

Abstract

Sustainable future fuels are likely to be produced by a wide range of processes, and there exists the opportunity to engineer these fuels so that they burn more efficiently and produce fewer harmful emissions. Such potential is especially important within the context of reducing the emissions of both greenhouse gases (GHG) and toxic pollutants that adversely impact air quality and human health. To illustrate how fuel design on a molecular level may be exploited to reduce these emissions, the combustion and emission properties of three potential future fuels, geraniol, diethyl carbonate, and a biodiesel (soy methyl ester), were evaluated along with a fossil diesel. The fuels were assessed using “smoke point” tests and a Stirling engine. The purpose of the demonstration was to highlight to a general audience several burning characteristics of some possible future fuels, and thus the potential for the development of clean burning “designer” fuels. During the 15 min demonstration, significant differences in the combustion properties of the different fuels were shown. For example, the conventional fossil diesel fuel produced a significant amount of soot in flame tests, whereas diethyl carbonate, which is a potential second-generation biofuel, produced visibly lower amounts of soot.

Highlights

The challenge of developing sustainable and clean transport will require significant advancements in vehicle and fuel technologies
Epidemiological studies show that long-term exposure to high levels of PM can result in an increased risk of pulmonary and cardiovascular complications.[1−3] For example, a 2014 report estimated the fraction of mortality attributable to anthropogenic particulate matter to be over 8% in highly polluted boroughs of London.[4]
This paper describes a public engagement demonstration presented at the 2016 Shell Eco Marathon, at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, UK

Summary

Introduction

The challenge of developing sustainable and clean transport will require significant advancements in vehicle and fuel technologies. The composition of the fuel combusted in internal combustion engines is a factor that has a significant impact on efficiency and emissions. There are many chemical and physical properties of fuels that influence their combustion and emissions characteristics including viscosity, vapor pressure and molecular structure. The development of future fuels for engines is inherently multidisciplinary, requiring consideration of chemical, biological, and engineering concepts, some of which were introduced during the public demonstration outlined in this paper. Emissions of particulate matter (PM) from internal combustion engines are of great concern due to the detrimental effects of these on human health. Epidemiological studies show that long-term exposure to high levels of PM can result in an increased risk of pulmonary and cardiovascular complications.[1−3] For example, a 2014 report estimated the fraction of mortality attributable to anthropogenic particulate matter to be over 8% in highly polluted boroughs of London.[4]

Methods

Results

Conclusion