FT v/s Conventional Diesel

Shubhranshu Kathuria 2009CH10102 IIT Delhi, New Delhi

Fischer-Tropsch fuel is colorless, odorless, and low in toxicity. In addition, it is virtually interchangeable with conventional diesel fuels and can be blended with diesel at any ratio with little to no modification. Fischer-Tropsch fuels offer important emissions benefits compared with diesel, reducing nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. In addition, while many alternative fuels require completely separate distribution systems, Fischer-Tropsch fuels can use the existing fuel distribution infrastructure. This means the fuels can be transported in the same ships and pipelines as crude oil. There are no significant differences in Fischer-Tropsch fuels performance versus petrodiesel fuels. In fact, the higher cetane number of Fischer-Tropsch diesel fuel might result in improved combustion. Many alternative fuels require major changes in vehicle engines, but Fischer-Tropsch fuels require no engine modifications. Fischer-Tropsch fuels, however, are slightly less energy dense than petrodiesel, which might result in lower fuel economy and power. [1] A study conducted by United States, department of Transport, Federal Transit Administration conducted a project and found the following results [2]: F-T fuel can directly replace conventional (non-F-T) diesel fuel without modification to engines or significant changes in performance. F-T fuel can reduce diesel exhaust emissions to levels significantly below those obtainable with even the lowest-emission conventional diesel fuels. F-T fuel reduces both particulate and NOx emissions from diesel engines, but has relatively little effect on CO and hydrocarbon emissions. In conventional Diesel combustion mode the soot emissions were markedly lower (by up to 30 percent) when using the F-T fuels than when using the already clean Swedish low sulfur Diesel[2]. Reductions were also found in HC and CO emissions, while CO2 and fuel consumption values obtained with the different fuels were similar.

References: [1] Clean Alternative Fuels: Fischer-Tropsch -United States Environmental Protection Agency Transportation and Air Quality, Transportation and Regional Programs Division, EPA420-F-00036 Pg.1-2 March 2002 www.epa.gov. [2] Demonstration of Fischer-Tropsch Diesel Fuel in Cold Climates-Department Of Transport, USA,ANSI, November 2007. Pg2 [3] MONIC A LARSSON An Experimental Study of Fischer-Tropsch Fuels in a Diesel Engine MONIC A LARSSON, 2007 THESIS FOR LICENTIATE OF ENGINEERING no 2007:01 ISSN 1652-8565. Pg27