Page 6 ENERGY (continued from page 5) Alcohol for Auto Use? Currently automobiles consume 13% of the energy used in this country, and yet, alarmingly, the average fuel consumption of American cars has fallen since 1970. There are two basic reasons for this: a) increases in poilution control equipment, which accounts for about 10% of the fuel economy penalty; and b) increased weight and the trend to power equipment which makes up another 10-12% penalty. Car makers could-boost fuel economy by returning to the use of high compression engines, but they would also have to return to using 100+ octane fuels. And, regrettably, it takes more crude oil to produce a barrel of high octane gasoline than a similar barrel of low octane fuel. Curiously, very little attention has been given to the scheme of adding alcohol to low octane gasoline.to gain the effect of higher octane ratings. Studies undertaken at M.I.T. on a number of unmodified, late model cars, show these advantages to a gasoline/alcohol mixture: a) fuel consumption increased from 5 to 13%; b) carbon monoxide emissions decreased by 14-72%; c) exhaust temperatures decreased 1-9%; d) acceleration increased up to 7%; and e) the virtual elimination of engine knock. Interestingly, a 10% alcohol/ 90% gasoline (90 octane) combination yields a fuel with an octane rating of 94, equivalent to the addition of 0.13 grams of tetraethyllead/liter of gasoline. While alcohol is produced rather easily by ordinary commercial methods, the feedstock is ethylene, a petroleum product in rather short supply and needed desperately for commercial fertilizers. Alcohol can also be produced by the fermentation process, in which any carbon containing product can be reduced to alcohol and carbon dioxide in the presence of certain yeasts (a process known to bakers and brewers for centuries). Most first-year biology students have done the experiment in a we~k's lab experience. Any kind of vegetatiOn waste material from canneries tanneries, food processors, etc. could be utilized. Perhaps a small portion of the $20 billion R&D bill now before the president earma_rked for nonnuclear energy might be directed to investigatio!1 of the feasibility of alcohol/gasoline mixtures for extending the supply of gasoline for automobile use. (Energy Office Newsletter, State of Or.) Alternative Sources of Energy Rt. 2, Box 90A Milaca, Mn. 56353 $5 for 6 issues. Most people know of this fine magazine. Dec. 1974 issue has especially interesting articles on algae research, driving with wood, solar CO!lference reports, solar heating in slab construction, recycling auto batteries . .. Producing Your Own Power. Edited by Carol H. Stoner. 322 pp. $8.95. Rodale Press Emmaus, Pa. 1974 This is probably the best introduction available, with sections written by ASE oldtimers like Henry Clews (Solar Wind Company), Don Marier (Alternative Sources of Energy), Ken Kern (Owner Built Home). Sections on wind, water, fire, solar, general energy needs. Good bibliographies and source listings. For both educational and practical applications. z 0 5 E FOSSIL ~ EGYP.TtAN BIRTH OF FUEL TIM: EMPI1RE I I I I I CH71ST I A;E I 6000 B.C. 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 1000 2000 3000 If we enlarge the graph from the year 1860 to the year 2060 it would appear a. follows: u a: ~ .. "' ~ iii :r ~~--~.,...,1 TIME 1--+--+--+--11---f--+--+--f-+--t1860 FOSSIL FUEL AGE (George H. Ramsey, Mother Earth News) INFORMATION SOURCES ON THE LEGAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES: AERO (Alternative Energy Research Organization Kye Cochran Northern Plains Resources Council 421 Stapleton Bldg. Billings, Mont. 59101 406-248-1154 They promote renewable energy sources and, as some members have built and are building ASE devices, will be able to contribute some ideas about costs and problems they have encountered with laws, if any. February 1975 Office of Energy Research & Planning Joel Schatz, Director Executive Dept. 185 13th St., N.E. Salem, Oregon 97302 503-378-4345 Ask for their complete array of studies including the July 1974 Interim Energy Study. They study energy economics using "net energy" analysis. Office of Energy Conservation & Allocation Ms. Julie Seltz State of Oregon Salem, Or. 97 302 503-452-0340 or 378-8444 They publish our State Energy Newsletter which often contains tidbits you might find useful, and Ms. Seltz can direct you to many more specific sources of information. Energy Information & Consetvation Center George Harvey 4220 E. Martin Way Olympia, Wash. 98504 206-75 3-5420 They also publish a newsletter which can keep you in touch with legal and economic energy news, as well as direct you to more specifically expert information sources. Prof. Jeffrey Cook College of Architecture Arizona State University Tempe, Az. 85281 602-965-7298 Source for information on 3-dimensional or "sun-rights" zoning for solar heating, costs of solar heating in new and old ("retrofitted") homes. Prof. John Schade School of Architecture University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wise. 53201 414-964-4134 or 963-5339 He has written on the economics of renewable energy sources, life-cycle costing vs. present energy accounting systems and serves as an advisor on Wisconsin energy policy now being formed. MITRE Corporation Westgate R~search Park McLean, Va. 22101 703-790-7492 Request four reports on solar energy, MTR-6513, -6516,-6537, and -6544, being sure to get -6513, Systems Analysis of Solar Energy Programs, which identifies possible problems with solarbased energy systems. The phone will get you Mr. Richards, the Document Control Librarian.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc4NTAz