Fuels and pollution controls

Question 1

What are the different fraction of Crude oil?

Answer 1

Petroleum gas- Heating

Naphtha- Solvents, polymers, fuel

Gasoline- Fuel

Kerosene- Aircraft fuel

Gas oil- Diesel fuel

Lubricating oil- Cooling, motor oil, lubricant

Heavy fuel oil- Industrial fuel

Residuals- Roads

Question 2

Cracking?

Answer 2

Heating up long chain alkanes to 800C without oxygen to break C-C bonds

Question 3

What does the Octane rating specify?

Answer 3

The resistance a Hydrocarbon has to auto-ignition

Question 4

Automotive Fuel Requires?

Answer 4

• Volatility- Too volatile causes vapour lock
• Auto-ignition- In Petrol not wanted as early igition causes knocking. In Diesel wanted.
• Octane rating rates a fuel on this
• Additives- Anti-knock, Lubricants

Question 5

What is the RON Number?

Answer 5

Research Octane Number

Question 6

What are the different polutants emitted from cars?

Answer 6

• Carbon Dioxide- Combustion
• Carbon Monoxide- Incomplete Combustion
• NOx SOx Volatile Organic Compounds- Unburnt fuel
• Paritculates- Unburnt fuel

Question 7

How to reduce polutants from cars?

Answer 7

• Improved fuels
• Engine control
• Lean-burn tech
• Catalytic converters
• Alternative fuels

Question 8

How do improved fuels reduce polution?

Answer 8

Reduces Sulphur and Aromatics and eliminates Lead

Question 9

How do Engine control reduce polution?

Answer 9

Ensures complete combustion

Question 10

How do Lean-burn tech reduce polution?

Answer 10

Operating engines at high air/fuel ratios reduces unburnt fuel and CO as well as improving fuel economy.

Ratio should be 65:1.

Question 11

How do Catalytic converters reduce polution?

Answer 11

• Converts CO, NOx and VOC’s to safer compounds.
• Uses Platinum, Rhodium and Palladium.
• They work at high temp. and are useless when the engine starts

Question 12

What are and how do Alternative fuels reduce polution?

Answer 12

• LPG- Less poluting
• Alcohol- Sustainable, High RON, Less polluting, less energy dense, deforestation
• Electric- No polution from the car
• Sustainable Biodiesel- Sustainable, just as polluting as normal, gels at low temps
• Hydrogen fuel cells- Produces water, Hydrogen hard to find

Question 13

Lubricants Requirements

Answer 13

• Reduce friction
• Stable at operating temp.
• Prevent corrosion and oxidation
• Correct viscosity
• Coat all surfaces
• Environmentally friendly and safe
• Help heat transfer

Question 14

Composition of Lubricants

Answer 14

Hydrocarbon oils and greases- Mineral Oils

Synthetic lubricants- Silicone grease

Solid lubricants- Graphite, Teflon