This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Effects of Fuel Ethanol Quality on Vehicle System Components
Technical Paper
2011-01-1200
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Corn ethanol has been used for fuel blending as both an oxygenate and octane booster and in most U.S. states conform to the ASTM D5798 fuel ethanol quality standard. Today the fuel ethanol market is expanding the types of feedstocks used to make ethanol and changing the processing techniques. These non-corn alternative feedstocks used to produce fuel ethanol bring new chemical components into the product that are not monitored under the D5798 standard, and it is unclear if they will result in material compatibility challenges for vehicle fuel systems that could affect performance and emissions. The vehicle contains a variety of plastic, metallic, and polymeric materials in the fuel tank, fuel pump, engine, and exhaust system that are sensitive to water, ions, acids, and high molecular weight compounds. The purpose of this paper is to present the detailed chemical analysis results from a survey of E85 fuel samples obtained from service stations across North America, and show the trends where the samples do not meet the current D5798 standard. Also presented are the detailed chemical analysis results of “Ed98” 98 percent purity denatured ethanol samples from various feedstocks per the ASTM D4806 standard. Lastly, correlations between some of the specific standard test parameter results and the effects on vehicle component performance will be discussed. The fuel ethanol and automotive industries can both learn from the fuel chemistry and vehicle component material interactions in order to provide optimal customer satisfaction with their vehicle.
Recommended Content
Authors
Citation
Cummings, J., "Effects of Fuel Ethanol Quality on Vehicle System Components," SAE Technical Paper 2011-01-1200, 2011, https://doi.org/10.4271/2011-01-1200.Also In
References
- “Driving Towards a Sustainable Mobility: An Overview of GM's Biofuel Activities” Wheeler, Candace S. Dr. GM Technical Fellow, Global Energy System Center, General Motors Corporation
- Transportation and Air Quality Environmental Protection Agency
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory US DoE 2010-05-24 Data Analysis and Trends: E85 FFV's in Use in U.S. 1998 2009
- Clark, S.D. Studzinski, W. “Flex Fuel Vehicle Performance and Corrosion Study of E85 Fuel with Chloride Addition,” SAE Technical Paper 2010-01-2088 2010 10.4271/2010-01-2088
- ASTM Specification “D5798 - Standard Specification for Fuel Ethanol (Ed75-Ed85) for Automotive Spark- Ignition Engines,” 2009
- “Homegrown for the Homeland: Ethanol Industry Outlook 2005” Renewable Fuels Association www.ethanolRFA.org/eth_prod_fac.html
- ASTM Specification “D4806 - Standard Specification for Denatured Fuel Ethanol for Blending with Gasolines for Use as Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel,” 2009
- Innospec Method TM00-08 “The Determination of DCI-11 in E85 Ethanol” Gas Chromatographic Analytical Protocol Innospec Inc.
- ASTM D6378 “Determination of Vapor Pressure (VPx) of Petroleum Products, Hydrocarbons, and Hydrocarbon-Oxygenate Mixtures (Triple Expansion Method)
- ASTM D5501 “Determination of Ethanol Content of Denatured Fuel Ethanol by Gas Chromatography”
- CRC Project No. E-85 National Survey of E-85 Quality Alleman, Theresa National Renewable Energy Laboratory Hogan, Dan P. Wright, Ken ConocoPhillips November 2009
- ASTM D381 “Gum Content in Fuels by Jet Evaporation”
- “Fuel Ethanol Corrosion Inhibitor Guidelines” Renewable Fuels Association, Kristy Moore, V050810 May 8 2010
- “Corrosion Inhibitor in FUEL ETHANOL, Industry Guidelines, Specifications, and Procedures” Renewable Fuels Association, Kristy Moore October 9 2009
- ASTM Method D6304 “Determination of Water in Petroleum Products, Lubricating Oils, and Additives by Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration”
- ASTM Method D7328 “Determination of Total and Potential Inorganic Sulfate and Total Inorganic Chloride in Fuel Ethanol by Ion Chromatography Using Aqueous Sample Injection”
- ASTM Method D1125 “Electrical Conductivity and Resistivity of Water”
- “Fuel Ethanol Sulfate Contamination” Peyton, Kim Nalco Corporation RMC-09-paper, 2009 Reliability & Maintenance Conference
- ASTM Method D6423 “Determination of pHe of Ethanol, Denatured Fuel Ethanol, and Fuel Ethanol (Ed75-Ed85)”
- “The Cause of Black Filters” IFC08-018 Ryder, Paul ConocoPhillips
- “Ethanol Corrosion Inhibitor Review” Bureman, Phillip E. Nalco Chemical November 18 2009
- “Faulty Petrol Results Awaited - Silicon Contamination” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6410511.stm
- Memorandum, Renewable Fuels Association “Significance of Silicon in Fuel Ethanol” Moore, Kristy March 16 2009
- Yuen, P.K. Beckett, J. Villaire, W. “Automotive Materials Engineering Challenges and Solutions for the Use of Ethanol and Methanol Blended Fuels,” SAE Paper No. 2010-01-0729 2010 10.4271/2010-01-0729