Concern over the environment and a potential oil shortage has resulted in an intensified research for alternative fuels for the transportation sector. Two fuels given strong consideration are methanol and compressed natural gas (CNG). This paper is a comprehensive comparative study of methanol and CNG as transportation fuels. The physical properties of methanol and CNG are discussed. The various concerns, such as source and potential fuel supply, safety, toxicity and health hazards, engine performance and emissions, fuel storage, fuel tank and refueling of these alternative fuels are addressed briefly in this paper. We find that no single alternative fuel is best in all categories. The merits and drawbacks of each fuel are tabulated and the vehicle characteristics are compared with gasoline. The study concludes that the neat methanol may be considered as an alternative for passenger cars and CNG may be considered for fleets, light and heavy-duty vehicles as the best near-term solution.
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June 1991
Research Papers
Review of Methanol and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as Alternative for Transportation Fuels
P. Gandhidasan,
P. Gandhidasan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409
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A. Ertas,
A. Ertas
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409
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E. E. Anderson
E. E. Anderson
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409
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P. Gandhidasan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409
A. Ertas
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409
E. E. Anderson
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409
J. Energy Resour. Technol. Jun 1991, 113(2): 101-107 (7 pages)
Published Online: June 1, 1991
Article history
Received:
October 26, 1990
Online:
April 16, 2008
Citation
Gandhidasan, P., Ertas, A., and Anderson, E. E. (June 1, 1991). "Review of Methanol and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as Alternative for Transportation Fuels." ASME. J. Energy Resour. Technol. June 1991; 113(2): 101–107. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2905782
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