John Kim CHE359 11/25/08

Search for Alternative Fuels Peak Oil is approaching or already passed. Oil market is becoming more and more volatile. Need for immediate change without an infrastructure overhaul. Slow down greenhouse gas emission.

Methanol Based Economy Initially proposed by Dr. Greg Olah, Winner of the 1994 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Methanol is a short term and long term solution. Use methanol for energy storage, fuel, fuel cells, feedstock for synthetic hydrocarbons.

Production of Methanol Syn-Gas method is use for almost all production of Methanol CO + 2H 2 ↔ CH 3 OH CO 2 + 3H 2 ↔ CH 3 OH + H 2 O CO 2 + H 2 ↔ CO + H 2 O Natural gas incompletely burned (preferred fuel over coal). Methanol can be produced directly from CO2 and H2.

Methanol Based Economy

Production of Methanol

Methanol as a Fuel Half the energy density of gasoline. Octane rating of 100  higher compression ratios  higher efficiency. Higher flame speed results in more complete fuel combustion. Burns at lower temperatures  use air- cooling instead of liquid-cooling  lighter vehicles.

Methanol in Fuel Cells Hydrogen fuel cells  use onboard methanol reformers to create hydrogen. Methanol is hydrogen rich. 98.8g of H2 in liter of Methanol. 70.8g of H2 in liter of liquid Hydrogen. Onboard reformers have 80% efficiency. Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC’s)

Methanol Storage & Distribution Does not require a complete overhaul in infrastructure. Retail station conversion costs $20,000. $1 billion could allow 10% of gas stations in the US to dispense methanol. Costs are relatively inexpensive when compared to Hydrogen economy.

Price of Methanol Most of methanol produced comes from natural gas. Average wholesale price has been about $175 per ton. Methanol could be produced for less than 30 cents a gallon. Crude oil costs $1.20 to $1.80 per gallon.

Price of Methanol

Methanol and the Environment Less CO, NOx, SOx, and VOC’s. Onboard Methanol Reformer emissions are less than SULEV standard. DMFC emissions are virtually zero. Readily degraded through photooxidation and biodegradation. Degrades in almost all environments. No evidence of bioaccumlation.

Methanol as Feedstock Methanol is used largely as feedstock for many chemicals. Formaldehyde, acetic acid, polymers, paints, adhesives, construction materials. More chemicals could be produced from methanol. Methanol could become more readily available (Methanol economy).

Conclusions Short and Long term solution. Resource potential is unlimited (water as source for H2 and atmosphere as source for CO2). Gradually move away from fossil fuels. Gradual change in infrastructure.