Post on 03-Jan-2016
Search for Alternative FuelsPeak Oil is approaching or already
passed.Oil market is becoming more and
more volatile.Need for immediate change without
an infrastructure overhaul.Slow down greenhouse gas
emission.
Methanol Based EconomyInitially proposed by Dr. Greg Olah,
Winner of the 1994 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Methanol is a short term and long term solution.
Use methanol for energy storage, fuel, fuel cells, feedstock for synthetic hydrocarbons.
Production of MethanolSyn-Gas method is use for almost all
production of MethanolCO + 2H2 ↔ CH3OH
CO2 + 3H2 ↔ CH3OH + H2O
CO2 + H2 ↔ CO + H2O
Natural gas incompletely burned (preferred fuel over coal).
Methanol can be produced directly from CO2 and H2.
Methanol as a FuelHalf the energy density of gasoline.Octane rating of 100 higher
compression ratios higher efficiency.Higher flame speed results in more
complete fuel combustion.Burns at lower temperatures use
air-cooling instead of liquid-cooling lighter vehicles.
Methanol in Fuel CellsHydrogen fuel cells use onboard
methanol reformers to create hydrogen.Methanol is hydrogen rich.98.8g of H2 in liter of Methanol.70.8g of H2 in liter of liquid Hydrogen.Onboard reformers have 80% efficiency.Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC’s)
Methanol Storage & DistributionDoes not require a complete overhaul in
infrastructure.Retail station conversion costs $20,000.$1 billion could allow 10% of gas
stations in the US to dispense methanol.Costs are relatively inexpensive when
compared to Hydrogen economy.
Price of MethanolMost of methanol produced comes
from natural gas.Average wholesale price has been
about $175 per ton.Methanol could be produced for less
than 30 cents a gallon.Crude oil costs $1.20 to $1.80 per
gallon.
Methanol and the EnvironmentLess CO, NOx, SOx, and VOC’s.Onboard Methanol Reformer
emissions are less than SULEV standard.
DMFC emissions are virtually zero.Readily degraded through
photooxidation and biodegradation.Degrades in almost all environments.No evidence of bioaccumlation.
Methanol as FeedstockMethanol is used largely as feedstock
for many chemicals.Formaldehyde, acetic acid, polymers,
paints, adhesives, construction materials.
More chemicals could be produced from methanol.
Methanol could become more readily available (Methanol economy).