Smith-Rice Fuels

By- Elizabeth A. Rice, and Samantha R. Smith

Table of
Contents-
3……….Our Pitch

4………. Cost Of Fuels

5-9…….Octane

10-14…….Methanol

15-19……..Ethanol

20………..Conclusion

21………..MLA Formatted Citations

What we were Given-
We were given 1,000,000 dollars in order to create a more efficient energy source, we were given three fuels,

Octane, Ethanol, and Methanol. For us to be able to make a profit we must produce at least 60,000 amounts of

energy with our given amount of money. In the near future we will explain the pro’s and con’s of each fuel.
Cost of each fuel
Octane-$47.85/Barrel

Methanol- $177.25/Barrel

Ethanol- $654/Barrel
 Octane

An octane rating, or octane number, is a standard measure of the performance of an engine or aviation

fuel. The higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can withstand before igniting.

Therefore, high compressibility of the fuel matters mainly for gasoline engines.
Environmental cost
High Octane gasoline can be very harmful to the environment. Cars that only require a 87-89 Octane rating of gasoline

should not be getting 93 Octane rating gasoline pumped into them. The higher grade gas will ignite much easier, so more

unburned gas will get into the emissions system and interfere with the car's ability to prevent noxious discharge into the

environment.
Pros to using Octane
● High octane fuel can increase your pickup truck’s gas mileage. In addition, it helps the planet, because your truck will

emit cleaner exhaust emissions. This type of fuel will give your engine more power.

● This type of fuel is a better combination, and will provide an increase of power in the right engines.
Cons to using Octane
● The first, and biggest, drawback of using high octane fuel is the cost. It typically costs about 15 to 20 percent more than regular

unleaded gasoline. Many people feel that this type of fuel is just a waste of money, as they do not see an increase in power.

● If you do not have a high compression engine, the fuel can be wasted on your truck, as no additional power will be added via

this type of fuel.

● If your engine is not designed for a high octane fuel, it is possible that you can do some unnecessary damage to the O2 filters,

causing some buildup–and more problems down the road.

Balanced equation, and the amount produced-

Combustion Equation: 2C8H18 + 25O2 --> 16 CO2 + 18 H2O

- CH3OH
- Amount of CO2 Released per 2 moles of methanol
Burned, 2 moles.
- 15 moles per barrel
Methanol
● Methanol can be produced from natural gases, coal, and renewable sources such as municipal waste, biomass and

recycled carbon dioxide.

● Methanol is four parts hydrogen is one part oxygen and one part carbon
Environmental Cost
When methanol is released into the environment it rapidly breaks down into
other compounds, is completely miscible in water, and serves as food for a
number of different bacteria.
Pros to Methanol
● Methanol is considered to be less expensive than other commercial fuels and gasoline.

● During the process of combustion, it provides a higher thermal efficiency and power output because of its high octane rating

and high heat vaporization.

● It is less volatile than other forms of fuel or gasoline. This makes it less explosive and the risk of explosion especially in car

collisions is lower.

● When it is burned, it does not create a polluting black smoke.

● It accepts water, unlike gasoline. It is easier to suppress methanol-induced fire using water.

● It has biodegradable properties so when it is mixed with air, water, or soil, it does not linger very long.

● It is common for ships to have oil spillage in waters. Oil spills are not easily diluted, resulting in a detrimental effect to marine

life. Fuel spills in ships that have switched to methanol fuel will not have the same problem.

● There is also a reduction in the exhaust emission of hydrocarbon-related toxins in the air during engine combustion. This

means lesser pollution.

Cons to Methanol
● It has more acidic characteristics compared to gasoline/oil. It also allows the formation of water during combustion.
This makes it a corrosive agent; thus, engine valves and cylinders corrode easily.
● It has lower energy content when burned. This means that to produce more energy, it will require higher fuel
consumption.
● When burned, it creates invisible flames. Because of this, the presence of fire cannot be easily and immediately
detected.
● It has less volatile properties compared to gasoline. This makes it more difficult to fire up or start engines, most
especially during cold weather.
● Methanol as an alternative fuel used directly or added or mixed with gasoline can possibly provide a solution in the
increasing demand for fuel. Furthermore, it can help to at least regulate the ever-increasing price of gasoline and fuel
in the world market.
Balanced equation and information pertaining to
the cost.
Balanced Equation: 2CH30H + 3O2 --> 2CO2 + 4H2O

- CH3OH
- Amount of CO2 released 2 moles of octane 16 moles
- 8 moles per barrel
Ethanol

● Ethanol- Ethanol can be fermented from many sources of starch, including corn, wheat, grain, sorghum, barley and

potatoes, and from sugar crops such as sugarcane and sweet sorghum.

● Because there has been an abundant supply of corn, most of the ethanol made in the united States is from corn.
Environmental Cost-
Ethanol absorbs water and cannot be shipped through existing pipelines used to transport unblended

gasoline. The water can separate, causing pipelines and fuel lines to freeze and, perhaps, burst during

cold weather. Under the right conditions, the water can damage car engines. Furthermore, ethanol

corrodes soft metals, and contaminants from corrosion can damage vehicle fuel systems.
Pros to Ethanol

● Though the U.S. has its own reserves of crude oil, large amounts are still bought in from politically unstable regions of the
Middle East.
● Reducing the use of a fuel that could suddenly dry up through trade restrictions or suddenly cost more is very much a priority,
and ethanol--which is mostly produced domestically--is one way of hedging against those threats.
● Large swathes of countryside, particularly in the Midwest, are set aside for the corn used as a feedstock for refining ethanol.
● As demand increases, that has a positive effect on jobs. More ethanol production in the U.S. means more jobs for U.S. citizens.
● Ethanol is also greener than gasoline, because corn and other plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow.
The fuel still releases CO2 when you burn it, but the net increase is lower.
● A high compression ratio usually requires higher octane levels in the fuel to prevent pre-ignition, a condition that puts high
levels of stress on an engine. Ethanol has a higher octane rating than regular gasoline, so it's suited to these efficient, high-
compression designs.
● Lastly, using ethanol as a small portion of the gasoline blend offers adaptability. Any car since 1980 has been designed to
handle up to 10 percent ethanol in the gasoline, letting you run that percentage of your miles on a domestic fuel rather than
irreplaceable fossil fuels.
Cons to Ethanol
● Ethanol has a lower energy content than energy-rich gasoline and diesel, and as such it delivers less power
when burned. While this reduces power a little, it really means higher fuel consumption and lower mileage, as
the engine is less able to convert the fuel into kinetic energy.
● There are still questions over the long-term effects of E15 on regular vehicles, too. The new gasoline blends of
up to 15 percent alcohol are not approved for cars built before 2001, as the alcohol can break down old rubber
seals and can damage engines.
● Nor is E15 approved for the host of other equipment that uses gasoline engines, from chainsaws and lawn
mowers to personal watercraft and other boats.
● Some carmakers advise against using E15 in their vehicles, including GM, Ford, Chrysler, and Toyota. Some
new Toyota models have a red circle over the words "E15-E85" right on the gas cap. Others say that using E15
may invalidate your warranty should engine damage result.
● There's only one gas station in the whole of the U.S. dedicated to selling the newly-available E15 fuel for
regular vehicles.
● Finally, the U.S. practice of making ethanol from corn is by far the least efficient way to produce the fuel,
yielding about 300 gallons per acre, compared to sugarcane ethanol (600 gals/acre) and the theoretical
promise of such future feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol as switchgrass, at up to 1,200 gals/acre.
Balanced equation and informational points on
cost
Balanced Equation: C2H5OH + 3O2 --> 2CO2 + 3H20

- C2H6O
- Amount of CO2 released per 2 moles of ethanol burned 2 moles
- 27 moles per barrel
Conclusion
Based on our research our conclusion is that we need to combine all three of the fuels-

Octane: 45% around 37,616 moles(With 601,856 amounts of mol/CO2 Produced, and
37,616 amounts of energy produced)

Methanol: 50% or about 21,201 moles(With 63,603 amounts of mol/CO2 Produced,

and 21,201 amounts of energy produced)

Ethanol: 5% or about 2,052 moles(With 4,104 amounts of mol/CO2 Produced, and

4,104 amounts of energy produced)
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