Re-formulated Gas
09-25-2015, 05:22 PM
#46
Three Wheelin'
Doc, you got it right but I think you got the 3 and 2 mixed up. You wrote the correct formula, but didn't balance it correctly.
C2H5OH + 3O2 = 3CO2 + 2H2
The correct formula is:
C2H5OH +3O2 = 2CO2 + 3H2O
C2H5OH + 3O2 = 3CO2 + 2H2
The correct formula is:
C2H5OH +3O2 = 2CO2 + 3H2O
09-25-2015, 05:26 PM
#48
Rennlist Member
I believe the first is correct.
I don't think Ethanol leaves methane and water. I'm no chemist, but my recollection of combustion chem is C2H5OH + 3O2 = 3CO2 + 2H2O. No -thanes resultant. I'm not going to bother looking it up.
WRT this discussion about Ethanol in gasoline, I think the third point is highly, significantly debatable. Ethanol typically doesn't sit in the ground ready to be pumped out, refined, and burned in our cars. First, there is the cost of production of the base stock(unless you are gathering sea kelp, or native grass), then the cost of collection of the base, and then the conversion of the base to an Ethanol(ferment, distill), and then the cost of anhydrous storage, transportation, and chemical mixing. By the time this is done, I would say the lifecycle costs to add the Ethanol to the gas, combined with the reduced energy content might be a lot lower than most people think. But - where would ADM and Cargill make their billions off the driving public if it was only a scientific discussion? I mean, leaving it to the scientist isn't much fun for the vote-buying pols now is it?
I don't think Ethanol leaves methane and water. I'm no chemist, but my recollection of combustion chem is C2H5OH + 3O2 = 3CO2 + 2H2O. No -thanes resultant. I'm not going to bother looking it up.
WRT this discussion about Ethanol in gasoline, I think the third point is highly, significantly debatable. Ethanol typically doesn't sit in the ground ready to be pumped out, refined, and burned in our cars. First, there is the cost of production of the base stock(unless you are gathering sea kelp, or native grass), then the cost of collection of the base, and then the conversion of the base to an Ethanol(ferment, distill), and then the cost of anhydrous storage, transportation, and chemical mixing. By the time this is done, I would say the lifecycle costs to add the Ethanol to the gas, combined with the reduced energy content might be a lot lower than most people think. But - where would ADM and Cargill make their billions off the driving public if it was only a scientific discussion? I mean, leaving it to the scientist isn't much fun for the vote-buying pols now is it?
The methane vs. carbon dioxide. I stand corrected. I'll blame the fact that I had just woken up and hadn't had my coffee yet.
The argument on the third point: Also agree. Ethanol in gas only gives the image that there is less impact to the environment when in fact it has a huge toll in the background which is not publicized.
09-25-2015, 09:20 PM
#49
Race Director
