Posted by admin | Posted in Green Energy | Posted on 07-07-2009
Tags: magazine, nature, news, research, solar
Alternative Fuel Vehicles – LPG – (Liquified Petroleum Gas)?
Please answer the following questions according to LPG
(Liquefied/Liquified Petroleum Gas) as an alternative fuel for
vehicles. Please give your answers from the perspective of a
Scientist/Engineer. Give as much detail as possible and list the
websites that you found information on.
? How does the vehicle work? What are the parts? How is it
different from/similar to an internal combustion engine?(keep this
simple)
? What is the fuel? How is the fuel produced? Is there any
energy used in the production of the fuel? If so, what is the source
of this energy?
? What are the by-products from this fuel source, and does
this pose a problem?
? Map the energy conversions involved (all the way back to the
original energy source).
? Discuss the efficiency of the vehicle.
? Include any relevant chemical equations.
How does the vehicle work? The vehicle uses a spark ignition internal combustion engine, no different than a conventional gasoline engine except for the fuel delivery system.
What are the parts? Same as a gasoline. there is a carburator instead of fuel injects and a system that uses the engine hot water to vaporize the propane (
How is it different from/similar to an internal combustion engine?(keep this simple) answered
? What is the fuel? LPG is just propane except in real hot contries it might have some butane mixed in).
How is the fuel produced? Most LPG is extracted from natural gas. Natural gas as it comes from the earth contains propane, butanes and longer chained hydrocarbons.The remained is created in the process of converting crude oil into useful items, like gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, etc..
Is there any energy used in the production of the fuel? Yes about 5% to 10% of the LPG’s energy is consumed in manufaturing and transportation.
If so, what is the source of this energy? primarily the energy is the natural gas that it is removed from.
? What are the by-products from this fuel source, and does this pose a problem? Actually, LPG is considered a by-product under most circumstances. Sometimes the natural gas or crude oil contain sulphur compounds that are removed. The sulphur is converted to a soilid and used as fertilizer.
? Map the energy conversions involved (all the way back to the original energy source).There is no energy conversions, the propane stays as propane from welhead to fuel tank. Then the propane is burned (chemical energy to heat energy) The combustion turns an engine, heat to mechanical. The enginee drives the wheels, mechanical to mechanical.
? Discuss the efficiency of the vehicle. An LPG fueled car will have exactly the same efficency of any other car, their is nothing special about it.
? Include any relevant chemical equations C3H8 (LPG) + 5O2 = 3 CO2 + 4H2O
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