Alternative Fuels - Modelling and Detail Design

Modelling

Carbon Monoxide is put into the fuel tank to be used as fuel. It is taken into the combustion chamber along with air through the inlet valve while keeping the outlet valve closed. Once the mixture enters into the cylinder, both the valves are closed. Now, the piston moves upwards, compressing the mixture and increasing their temperature and pressure. Now, the spark plug ignites the mixture and energy in released through combustion. This energy pushes the piston downwards and mechanical energy is produced. This energy is stored in the flywheel. During this process, carbon monoxide is oxidized to carbon dioxide which is thrown out through the exhaust valve when the piston moves upwards again. This carbon dioxide is sent to the carbon monoxide producing chamber where methane is pumped in and carbon monoxide is produced. The water produced is absorbed by the chamber which is made of a special composite material which absorbs water and can be replaced from time to time. The hydrogen is separated on the way and the carbon monoxide is sent back to the internal combustion engine and the entire cycle is repeated. The methane cylinder is replaced from time to time to ensure continuous running. A methane level indicator is used to detect the level of methane in the cylinder.

Detailed design

Quality:

1.There is no lead and phosphorus content.

2.The octane number is more than 85.

3.There is no sulphur content.

4.No poisonous gases are released, instead water is obtained as a by-product.

5. The fuel is clear and bright and visibly free of suspended or precipitated contaminants.

6. The secondary chamber is made of a composite material which will absorb water produced along with CO, therby reducing the amount of water recahing the combustion chamber. Thus the effiency of the fuel system is increased.

Risk Factors:

1.As the fuel is used in the gaseous form, there will be chances of the storage cylinders leaking or exploding. Thus to overcome this, we have incorporated the addition of Ethyl Mercaptan to indicate this leakage.

2.There might be chances of leakage in the supply pipes and the fuel might get ignited.

3.As the same fuel is being reused again and again, there might be chances of the fuel getting poisoned which could reduce efficiency and cause problems to the combustion system.

4.The physical damage to the vehicle by an accident might cause the cylinders to explode.

5.As there is a compulsion of keeping the entire fuel system in airtight conditions, if one part of the system is compromised, then the entire system will be compromised.

Reliability:

1.Here the fuel system is in existence,so the fuel system should be maintained for proper efficiency and working.

2.The maintanence is of utmost importance here because the fuel system involves gas cylinders and giving importance to the factors such as economy and performance all which are linked to reliability.

3.The early failure rate period is decreased to an extent by testing the fuel system in th factory,this is done to prevent early system breakdowns which are serious in nature considering the safety of the customer.

4.The failure rate in the constant failure rate period can be minimised by servicing the fuel system every six months,this is done to replace the CO tank, clean the pipes,Replace the methane supply,Clean the combustion chamber etc,.

5.If the customer fails to give the system for maintanence then the failure rate increases

6.The fuel system is given a lifetime of about 15 years before the machinery begins to wear down

Adarsh Kashyap 1MS09IS005

Aditya Yajaman 1MS09IS006

Bharath Bhandarkar 1MS09IS024

Deepashree V Prasad 1MS09IS032

Naveen S. 1MS09IS060

Rakesh Sharma 1MS09IS075

Shivaani Bharadwaj 1MS09IS090