abstract
-
The goal of this project was to investigate the performance, durability and emissions of an alternative alcohol-water fuel and catalytic ignition system on fleet vehicles operating under road condition using as test vehicles a public transit van provided by Valley Transit of Lewiston, ID and a pickup truck used by the Energy Division of the Idaho Department of Water Resources.
The following were products of the research:
- Gasoline transit van was converted to operate on both gasoline with spark plugs, and ethanol/water mixture with catalytic ignition. Fuel and ignition changeover takes about three hours.
- Fuel system was monitored for corrosion and incompatible components were changed.
- A process to prolong injector life and reduce corrosion and improve cold start was implemented.
- Major gains were seen in the established procedures for dynamometer operations that will support consistency of future work using such equipment. Proper operating procedures were outlined in a Master’s thesis delivered to ITD.