(584c) Development and Application of a Fuel Property Database for Mono-Alcohols As Fuel Blend Components for Spark Ignition Engines

A wide spectrum of alcohol molecules could be considered for use as fuels or in fuel blends, but it is not possible to experimentally investigate the fuel potential of all of these molecules. Thus, experimental investigation must be done only on the most promising fuel candidates. The goal of this study was to establish a detailed list of properties of all possible molecular structures of normal and cyclic alcohols (C1-C10) with one hydroxyl group, and subsequently to narrow the potential fuel candidates to find the most auspicious alcohols for blending with gasoline in mid (less than 15 vol. %) and high (greater than 40 vol. %) range volumes for spark ignition engines. Where available, property data were obtained from literature reports. Property estimation methods were exploited for compounds without property data. An initial decision frame for screening out problematic compounds was devised and applied. Next, more stringent constraints were considered for the two scenarios of mid- and high-range blends of alcohol into gasoline. After this second stage, 46 alcohols were recognized as good candidates for blending with gasoline in low- and mid-levels; however, only 4 alcohols were accepted as potential fuels for blending with gasoline in high concentrations. Specifically, 1-butanol, iso-butanol, 2-methyl-2-pentanol, and (1-methylcyclopropyl)methanol were identified as most promising alcohol molecules suitable for blending with gasoline in a wide range of concentrations.