I have not yet started in on racing forums, as I understand they use
100% methanol as fuel, and my interest is using a mix of methanol (up to
50% possibly) in order to avoid making engine modifications while not
sacrificing engine life.
The idea of the methanol energy economy is way beyond my current
practical interest, but definitely of academic interest.
Darryl
On 28/11/2014 1:08 PM, Michele Stephenson wrote:
Have you looked on drag racing forums about methanol for race fuel? And they
discuss the effects on the motor and modifications required.
Michele
On Nov 27, 2014, at 12:24 PM, "Darryl McMahon" <dar...@econogics.com> wrote:
Has anyone read "Beyond Oil and Gas: The Methanol Economy"?
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/405436/the-methanol-economy/
http://www.amazon.ca/Beyond-Oil-Gas-Methanol-Economy/dp/3527324224
If so, any thoughts about the book or subject matter?
Darryl
On 27/11/2014 12:55 PM, John Jaser wrote:
Tom:
Thanks for the abundant knowledge in your post. I am most certainly not a
chemist, but have always considered liquid methanol a very interesting
candidate for energy storage. Since it can be made from a variety of renewable
and non renewable means (wood, coal, biogas, etc) it seems like an easier
economic target to produce than pure hydrogen. Transprots and pumps well,
compared to what would be needed for compressed hydrogen gas. What to do with
it once you make it? The indirect methanol fuel cell, if developed further
looks promising.
Thanks again for the conversation!
From: Tom
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2014 5:33 PM
To: sustainablelorgbiofuel@lists.sustainablelists.org
Aaah, methane is intriguing.
Biogas is a metabolic product of one of the most ancient life forms, the
methanocreatrices. Anaerobic chemoautotrophic bacteria so different from others
that many would assign them to their own kingdom.
As to methane being easily transported consider .... where propane and natural gas can be
compressed to liquids, greatly increasing energy density, methane "resists" liquefaction,
requiring tremendous pressure. This seems to be the "fly in the ointment". Unliquefied, a
tankful of methane doesn't go far.
Methane has value as a renewable fuel.
It is captured and used at waste treatment
plants to generate electricity. Methane is currently being captured at
landfills and used to generate electricity. I know of a dairy farm that
harvests methane from the manure the cows produce. They use the methane to
generate electricity. The heat from the generators heats the water used to
sanitize the milking area. They don't use the methane in their cars or farm
machinery however.
Relatively safe. Hmmm
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. "Ocean burps" from vast storehouses of methyl
hydrates/clathrates have been credited with contributing significantly to the end of the last ice
age. The release of methane from thawing peat bogs is a part of the cascade of events that is
accelerating global warming. Gasoline was once considered a waste product of oil refining, dumped
into rivers. When it was pointed out that it could replace ethanol as fuel for internal combustion
engines the "waste" became valuable.
Imagine what might happen if methane gas presented the same financial
opportunities by its use as vehicle fuel
.... a "renewable fuel". Do we dare the oil giants to tap the vast stores of
methane currently trapped safely under the ocean? It's already being proposed. They can
do it safely, right? Have you seen the data about leakage from pipelines compressed gases
seem to find their way out. Not so good in the case of methane.
Capturing methane at its source and using it close to where it's produced to
generate electricity seems appropriate.
Sorry to carry on, but you did say methane was intriguing.
Best,
Tom
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