Designing production-optimal alternative fuels for conventional, flexible-fuel, and ultra-high efficiency engines. (29th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: König, Andrea; Siska, Maximilian; Schweidtmann, Artur M.; Rittig, Jan G.; Viell, Jörn; Mitsos, Alexander; Dahmen, Manuel
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering science. Volume 237(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06-29
• Subjects: Integrated product and process design -- Fuel design -- Process network flux analysis -- Advanced engine concepts -- Flexible fuel vehicles -- Spark-ignition engines; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; Chemical engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 660
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2021.116562
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2509

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Model-based fuel design for conventional, flex fuel, ultra-high efficiency SI engines. Production cost and GWI of optimized, selectively produced fuels. Promising 100% biofuel with low GWI/low cost for ultra-high efficiency engine. Fuels for ultra-high efficiency and flex fuel engines show better cost/GWI trade-off. Results motivate replacing today's conventional SI engines with advanced ones. Abstract: Road transportation needs to abandon fossil fuels. One promising alternative are renewable fuels for internal combustion engines. We consider three competing types of spark-ignition engines, i.e., conventional spark-ignition engines (CSIEs), flexible fuel vehicle engines (FFVEs), and ultra-high efficiency engines (UHEEs), which all have different fuel requirements. To determine which engine-fuel combination is optimal regarding fuel production cost and global warming impact (GWI), we apply our integrated fuel and process design method [König, et al. 2020. Comput. Chem. Eng.]. Specifically, we consider 47 pre-screened fuel species, their selective production routes from renewable resources, and a surrogate for optional blending of fossil gasoline. The designed FFVE (UHEE) fuels reduce GWI by up to 87% (84%) compared to fossil gasoline. In contrast, optimal CSIE fuels only achieve up to 60% GWI reduction and only at higher cost. The superior production performance of selectively-produced UHEE and FFVE fuels motivates replacement of today's CSIE technology.