Synthetic Fuel
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
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From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Synthetic Fuel
Thought about this when I was looking at the diesel Vett question.
1. We use synthetic lubs etc.
2. Chemical Companies come out with 230 new chamical compounds per month worldwide.
3. The WWII German formula for synthetic gasoline gave them 67 octane fuel which they added chemicals to to make it 101 octane Avgas.
With all of the chemicals on the market today, why is it that there is not one synthetic gasoline substitute on the market?
About ten years ago they had a gallon jug of gunk that you could carry in your car and if you ran out of gas you poured it in your tank. It was synthetic and it was called "Emergegas" I believe.
Would you like to own a chemical company that came out with synthetic High Octane??? Adios OPEC.
1. We use synthetic lubs etc.
2. Chemical Companies come out with 230 new chamical compounds per month worldwide.
3. The WWII German formula for synthetic gasoline gave them 67 octane fuel which they added chemicals to to make it 101 octane Avgas.
With all of the chemicals on the market today, why is it that there is not one synthetic gasoline substitute on the market?
About ten years ago they had a gallon jug of gunk that you could carry in your car and if you ran out of gas you poured it in your tank. It was synthetic and it was called "Emergegas" I believe.
Would you like to own a chemical company that came out with synthetic High Octane??? Adios OPEC.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
Interesting question. Would Ethanol be considered 'synthetic'? No, because it's organic based, or yes, because it's not petroleum based?
How about fuel cells? Could they be considered 'synthetic'?
The only reason I can think of why it hasn't been mass produced is because it would be too expensive.
How about fuel cells? Could they be considered 'synthetic'?
The only reason I can think of why it hasn't been mass produced is because it would be too expensive.
7th Gear
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: the woodlands tx
alcohols can be synthesized as well as methanol, deisel and methane and some more complex molecules at least through deisel and jet fuel by the Fisher-tropsh process with different materials favored by different catalysts, temperature and pressures.
It is a high temperature process high pressure process. Companies involved include Syntroeum symbol synth and a south african company, Sasol and a company called Headwaters. Montana I beleive has a small coal to liquid fuel plant. The process generates lots of CO2 that must be used somehow. Currently it is being injected into oil fields.
It is a high temperature process high pressure process. Companies involved include Syntroeum symbol synth and a south african company, Sasol and a company called Headwaters. Montana I beleive has a small coal to liquid fuel plant. The process generates lots of CO2 that must be used somehow. Currently it is being injected into oil fields.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
From: Fountain hills AZ
Absolutely. In one sense it is a shame to burn petroleum because the long chain hydrocarbons are SOOOOO hard to synthesize and we need them for polymers from which we build everything from clothing to cars. The synthetic fuel program back in WWII used coal - lots of coal to provide raw material and heat to generate the chemical synthesis reactions. Not cheap, but the Germans had no other source and the chemistry remains unchanged. It works.
Plant biomass generating alcohol is very appealing for a couple of reasons - the plants and bugs do the synthesis and greenhouse effect is neutral. The problem is the amount of fuel needed and the low cost of petroleum which is cheaper today than it has ever been in constant dollars.
Plant biomass generating alcohol is very appealing for a couple of reasons - the plants and bugs do the synthesis and greenhouse effect is neutral. The problem is the amount of fuel needed and the low cost of petroleum which is cheaper today than it has ever been in constant dollars.
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If they could get the cost down, it would be an interesting alternative.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
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From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Two new fields in Kwiet and Saudi,
New Eastern Gulf Of Mex fields.
The fileds in southern Georgia & Siberia ( former Soviet states)
South China sea oil fields that are very very large
The likely hood of very very large field in Alberta Canada
Plus the US stratigic reserver oil fields off the VA and NC coast.
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