CHARACTERIZATION OF METHANOL/GASOLINE BLENDS AS AUTOMOTIVE FUEL - PERFORMANCE AND EMISSIONS CHARACTERISTICS

Recent concern about environmental problems and the eventual shortage of conventional petroleum-based fuels coupled with the potential of obtaining methyl alcohol (methanol) as a product of coal gasification has brought about a recent interest in the use of methanol as a fuel. In order to assess the feasibility of using methanol as a motor vehicle fuel, either alone (neat) or as a blend in gasoline-type base stocks, its performance, emissions and practical use characteristics must be ascertained. To this end the authors and their colleagues are conducting a series of experiments which will determine methanol blend-fueled engine characteristics information. This report contains some of the results obtained to date. (Portions of this document are not fully legible)