COMPLIANCE INFO_1991-1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Im 6 systems are designed to use methanol, gasoline, or any combination of the two. Ford Motor Company and the Lubrizol Corporation are cooperating on the project. Ford calls the test vehicles"Flexible Fuel Vehicles"or FFVs. These vehicles can be refueled with gasoline at traditional service stations when they are not near a methanol supply. The test vehicles are being operated by the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) in Albany. Methanol by itself is difficult to ignite in an engine at temperatures less than 45 F. Also, it burns without a visible flame, which makes it difficult to see for fire suppression. Both of these concerns are mitigated by the addition of 15 percent gasoline, called the M85 blend. The NYSTA project is ALTERNATIVE using M85 as its methanol alternative. EA Mueller is collecting data on fuel consumption, emissions, driveability, analyses of used oils, and reliability/ durability of FFVs. EA Mueller is also monitoring the differences in emissions using various combinations of methanol and gasoline. Two differ- ent FFV lubricating oils are being compared to evaluate wear of the engines. New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation is per- eissions tests in HOW VIABLE IS METHANOL? heir autmot veing thel em ssions laboratory. Methanol has significant attributes out of fuel is a major deterrent to The NYSTA is using the FFVs in daily service just as it would use any that hold promise for its widespread acquiring vehicles to run on that fuel. other vehicle. st make M85 fueling use as an alternative fuel. It can be Despite these drawbacks,the interest in practical for the fleet,EA Mueller made from abundant resources; it also methanol is growing dramatically, with designed a fueling facility which is the has the potential to improve air quality many large fleets testing its feasibility. first of its kind in the United States to and reduce the need to import petro- Many methanol test projects are use a blending dispenser t prepare the leum. Why isn't it being more widely being conducted around the world. M85 fuel from two underground tanks, used? In the United States, operators of a one with methanol, the other with Methanol is different in chemical large number of public and private This approach allows project and physical properties from gasoline fleets have been developing methanol staff gasoline.to vary the blends of fuels if or diesel fuel, and the engines of most study projects for their vehicles. The desired during the project, and it vehicles are not designed to use fuel-supply question is one that does eliminates the need to premix the fuels methanol. For methanol to become a not deter transit bus operators, local ata separate facility. viable alternative fuel, the engines of delivery operations, and maintenance as part of the project, catalyst cars,buses, trucks, and other vehicles vehicle fleets,because their units rarely deterioration tests being performed will have to be redesigned to run on travel very long distances and because will measure the ability of catalysts methanol, or with the capability of they return to central garages each day. to reduce emissions from the engine using either methanol or gasoline EA Mueller is managing several test before they are released to the atmos- (whichever is available). projects nationwide to examine the before These tests will also examine The lack of vehicles that can use feasibility of using methanol in munici- pherewhether emissions testing can be used methanol also means that there is a lack pal fleets. One of these projects, for the wwdiagnose maintenance problems of service stations selling it—and for New York State Energy Research and to before normally scheduled vehicle the average driver,the fear of running Development Authority, consists of a maintenance. road evaluation of vehicles whose fuel At the same time, Lubrizol is conducting analyses of used oils to