Bioethanol is liquid fuel from alcohol that is extracted from plants. The most frequent bioethanol production is the rich starch culture. These include maize, sugar cane, cages, potatoes and others. Why look for a substitute for diesel fuel?
Why look for a substitute for diesel fuel?
The main advantage of bioethanol is that the raw material used for its production belongs to the so-called "renewable" species. Plants can be grown every year, unlike oil that is mined from the ground. Oil resources are not limitless, and the production of cultural plants is a theoretical process of mineral resources. The search for renewable raw materials for the production of alternative fuel is a highly relevant and promising strategy.
One of the promising ways to develop alternative fuel is to get bioethanol from algae. This kind of algae is not used by humans to this day.
At the moment, there is no full transition to vegetable oil, although many transport companies in the US and Europe are carrying out experiments on long-term operation of motor vehicles from their parks on bio-ethanol.
To date, it has been proven that a mixture of 10-30% bioethanol and 90-70% of diesel fuel is not causing any damage to the diesel engine. In addition, the use of a mixture with bioethanol contributes to the reduction of harmful emissions into the atmosphere. In some countries with developed agriculture (Argentina, Brazil), bio-ethanol is used for both diesel and petrol. The lack of bioethanol, which is not allowed to be used in pure form, is a significant increase in viscosity at temperatures below +15 degrees.
Leaders in the production of bioethanol
Today, the demand for bioethanol increases with each passing day. Brazil is the leader in production, but soon it may cede US positions. Canada, which is already implementing programmes to increase the production of biofuels, is also active in this area. Leaders of the European continent are Germany, Italy, France and Spain. Relevant programmes have been adopted in China and India.
Advantages and disadvantages of bioethanol
Bioethanol is not toxic, dissolved in water, which does not have a destructive effect on the environment. The addition of bioethanol to other fuels contributes to the reduction of harmful emissions and compounds by about 30 per cent. The advantages also include the possibility of zero-waste production.
Bioethanol is used to refuel Saab 9-3 (with BioPower engine), Ford Focus and Ford C-MAX Flexifuel
One of the main shortcomings of bioethanol should be the separation of fuels at low temperatures with education on the surface of the paraffin layer. For this reason, it is only possible to apply it in a pure form in the summer. The use of large quantities of additives reduces economic efficiency, so at this moment bioethanol is mainly used in the mix with diesel fuel. With regard to energy properties, combustion of 1 litre of bioethanol is 37% less heat than diesel fuel.
Mixing of bioethanol with petrol
Adding bioethanol to gasoline is economically profitable. The standardized fuel mixture of petrol and ethanol was named "E10". Most cars with engines running both on petrol and E-10 are sold in the United States. The E10 fuel is allowed to be used by all major automobile companies.
Bio-ethanol in Russia
The first Russian bioethanol plant was opened in Vladikavkaz in 2012. The main production raw materials are the corn cerezes, which are processed not only by ethanol, but also gluten, glucose and others at the plant. products. Some 200 tons of bioethanol are produced per day. In North Ossetia, there is a program under which a 5-7% bioethanol will be available for gasoline. However, due to the growing prices of starch crops and high excise taxes on alcohol, the industry is not developing too intensively. However, Russia is planning to build several more bioethanol plants in Russia.
Bio-ethanol in the engine
On a mixture of ethanol, only FFV cars (English "Flexible-fuel vehicle") can be used. In the ethno-hybrid cars, a special oxygen sensor is installed and some gaskets are to be replaced. In addition, the on-board computer should be able to determine the percentage of fuel alcohol.
There is a brand of sports petrol, which is nothing more than a mixture of high-octane gasoline with bio-ethanol. The name of the mark is E85
An unconventional situation has developed in the United States, when GM produced several million hybrid vehicles working on a mixture of bioethanol. It was not stated in the instruction that it was necessary to use non-standard fuel. As a result, a scandal broke out, and the producer was forced to send information to every customer.
Interesting facts about bioethanol
Ethanol density was 0.8 kg/l This means that the weight of the bio-ethanol jerrican is only 8 kg without the weight of the jerrican.
Bio-ethanol must be properly stored, or it will evaporate. Evaporation slows down significantly at a temperature below -20 degrees. Unlike diesel fuel, which almost evaporates, the effective storage of bioethanol is only possible in a can with a lid.
One of the alternative ways to create a fuel-future fuel strategy is to use plant biomass to generate electricity and charge electric vehicles
For ethanol to turn into ice, the temperature is required to be -114.5 degrees. The ignition temperature is 425 degrees. For comparison, the match is sunk at + 80 degrees.
In America, mixtures of bioethanol occupy about 30% of the total fuel. Due to the established production and the active development of the industry, the fuel in the US costs 14% less than it would cost without using bioethanol.
