The Ethanol Papers - Paperturn manuscript - Flipbook - Page 256
in 1906. Elihu Thomson reported that despite a smaller heat or B.T.U.
value, "a gallon of alcohol will develop substantially the same power in an
internal combustion engine as a gallon of gasoline. This is owing to the
superior efficiency of operation..." (New York Times Aug. 5, 1906) Other
researchers confirmed the same phenomena around the same time.
“USDA tests in 1906 also demonstrated the efficiency of alcohol in engines and described how gasoline engines could be modified for higher
power with pure alcohol fuel or for equivalent fuel consumption, depending on the need. The U.S. Geological Service (USGS) and the U.S. Navy
performed 2000 tests on alcohol and gasoline engines in 1907 and 1908
in Norfolk, Va. and St. Louis, Mo. They found that much higher engine
compression ratios could be achieved with alcohol than with gasoline.
When the compression ratios were adjusted for each fuel, fuel economy
was virtually equal despite the greater B.T.U. value of gasoline. "In regard
to general cleanliness, such as absence of smoke and disagreeable
odors, alcohol has many advantages over gasoline or kerosene as a fuel,"
the report said. "The exhaust from an alcohol engine is never clouded
with a black or grayish smoke." USGS continued the comparative tests
and later noted that alcohol was "a more ideal fuel than gasoline" with
better efficiency despite the high cost.”
You should also see the Ethanol Vehicle Challenge 1998.
And read the results of the studies conducted by Matthew Brusstar and others: Economical, High-Efficiency Engine Technologies For Alcohol
Fuels and High Efficiency and Low Emissions from a Port-Injected Engine with
Neat Alcohol Fuels.
Follow up by DAVID N:
So your best argument is a paper in 1906? Before direct injection, fuel injectors,
etc. that have greatly increased the MPG's of the modern engine? Quote for the
ethanol vehicle challenge " competition's opening ceremony, when a small engine fire broke out.....The Wayne State vehicle, which attained 29.2 miles per
gallon highway driving and a top speed of 81 mph from a standing start in a little
more than 16 seconds". My 2015 Subaru Legacy averages 42 mpg highway, 060 in 8.4 seconds with AWD. Not sure what the top speed is but it still had more
in it when I pushed to 95mph.
