natural gas to methanol breakthrough

[nynor]

BYU chemist makes breakthrough discovery on natural gas | KSL.com

[sketchers356]

Cool. Wonder how much this will change things.

[Flieger]

Probably not much. Corn lobby has made funding for ethanol not apply to methanol infrastructure. Still cheaper to flare, though maybe this catalyst will make it cheaper.

Methanol is not that hard to make. Copper works as a catalyst. Not sure what is "news" here.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by Flieger

Probably not much. Corn lobby has made funding for ethanol not apply to methanol infrastructure. Still cheaper to flare, though maybe this catalyst will make it cheaper.

Methanol is not that hard to make. Copper works as a catalyst. Not sure what is "news" here.

the temperature.

[Flieger]

Well, I hope they do start to make more methanol. It's a better fuel than gasoline or ethanol. If it were available at corner gas stations I'd be at the front of the line to convert a car to CH3OH.

How is Methanol Made? - Methanol Institute

[Lusso1]

Was that researcher the same guy that discovered Cold Fusion?

[nynor]

Originally Posted by Lusso1

Was that researcher the same guy that discovered Cold Fusion?

[vonsmog]

I hope this brings the price down on it, as I pay $180 for a 55 gal. barrel now. I use it to make my biodiesel.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Flieger

Well, I hope they do start to make more methanol. It's a better fuel than gasoline or ethanol. If it were available at corner gas stations I'd be at the front of the line to convert a car to CH3OH.

How is Methanol Made? - Methanol Institute

It's highly poisonous, it is hygroscopic and corrosive when exposed to air and eats many types of rubber, and it has a very low BTU value by volume compared to gas so the MPG would be significantly lower as would be the HP output.

But other than that its great!

The only advantage to methanol is that it allows an extremely high compression ratio which has the potential for high torque. but you'd have to build a custom engine to take advantage of that.

[island911]

+1

Thanks Sam.

I expect this tech may be better for helping methanol fuel cell tech. - we'll see.

The great news is that we have more and more energy options, with all of the NG finds.

[john70t]

I'm guessing that any use as an addition to any standard engine(pick one off the dealer lot) would be limited to:
1). An extremely specialized tank/hose/valve/controller injection system?
2). Used only during WOT/Knock drive cycle conditions?
3). Also, a after-run purge cycle to remove trace elements from corrupting the engine and exhaust?..
4). Into the air? Or in water and absorbed by the skin? (Cough, EPA).

Not to knock methanol in itself.
It can be made from paper garbage sawdust and farm clippings.
The potential environmental detriments with widespread use of those systems are a separate discussion.

Everything has its advantages somewhere.
But using it in a conventional ICE by the stupid general public would be a catastrophe IMO.
It should belong with the theory of powdered-thermite as a fuel: potential and experimental.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

It's highly poisonous, it is hygroscopic and corrosive when exposed to air and eats many types of rubber, and it has a very low BTU value by volume compared to gas so the MPG would be significantly lower as would be the HP output.

But other than that its great!

The only advantage to methanol is that it allows an extremely high compression ratio which has the potential for high torque. but you'd have to build a custom engine to take advantage of that.

Your miles per gallon will be about half. Your horsepower will be more. I think "highly corrosive" is a bit of an overstatement. It's not rocket science or rocket fuel (at least not common rocket fuel). Even drag racers can understand it.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by john70t

It can be made from paper garbage sawdust and farm clippings.
The potential environmental detriments with widespread use of those systems are a separate discussion.

?

Heaven forbid we use our own waste to make fuel! Oh yes, we must mine it out of the ground or buy it from guys that hate us. That is the only safe way.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by Flieger

Your miles per gallon will be about half. Your horsepower will be more. I think "highly corrosive" is a bit of an overstatement. It's not rocket science or rocket fuel (at least not common rocket fuel). Even drag racers can understand it.

and gasoline is non-toxic and non-corrosive.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by nynor

and gasoline is non-toxic and non-corrosive.

Yeah, I don't see anyone drinking gasoline...

I guess Sammy wants us all to be using E100 then.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by Flieger

Yeah, I don't see anyone drinking gasoline...

I guess Sammy wants us all to be using E100 then.

i'd imagine that it would actually be e99, as the other 1% would be something really nasty.

however, biodiesel is claimed to be very benign.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by nynor

i'd imagine that it would actually be e99, as the other 1% would be something really nasty.

however, biodiesel is claimed to be very benign.

Most of the methanol is used up in the chemical reaction turning grease into biodiesel. You also loose some of the energy and cetane rating of the base oil.

But it's not like you will die if you get it on your skin. It is a cumulative injury thing.

[nynor]

right. i was referring to the finished product. i did a little research into the stuff when i was at the university. its been a while.

also, it seems that there were other ways of getting biodiesel, without the methanol.... again, its been a while.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Flieger

Heaven forbid we use our own waste to make fuel! Oh yes, we must mine it out of the ground or buy it from guys that hate us. That is the only safe way.

Please don't get defensive and take this the wrong way. Please.
I've read your posts for several years, and my impression is of a young man with potential, drive, a bit of frustration [get in the fk'n back of line buddy], intelligence, growing and evolving wisdom, and experience.
Don't change anything.

Stay hungry until you die.
You'll understand later.

My two very random suggestions on experience:
1). Don't make solid judgment on anything until you've experienced from all sides, and then again from completely outside the situation.
Then decide what should be "right", and what works for right now.

2). Don't waste your time in life trying to make something happen, that should happen, but there is no possibility. Pick your battles and conserve your brainpower. Go to where your life-energy is appreciated.

[john70t]

Sorry, almost forgot.
3). Don't waste time arguing with idiots.