John KimCHE35911/25/08

Search for Alternative FuelsPeak Oil is approaching or already

passed.Oil market is becoming more and

more volatile.Need for immediate change without

an infrastructure overhaul.Slow down greenhouse gas

emission.

Methanol Based EconomyInitially proposed by Dr. Greg Olah,

Winner of the 1994 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Methanol is a short term and long term solution.

Use methanol for energy storage, fuel, fuel cells, feedstock for synthetic hydrocarbons.

Production of MethanolSyn-Gas method is use for almost all

production of MethanolCO + 2H2 ↔ CH3OH

CO2 + 3H2 ↔ CH3OH + H2O

CO2 + H2 ↔ CO + H2O

Natural gas incompletely burned (preferred fuel over coal).

Methanol can be produced directly from CO2 and H2.

Methanol Based Economy

Production of Methanol

Methanol as a FuelHalf the energy density of gasoline.Octane rating of 100 higher

compression ratios higher efficiency.Higher flame speed results in more

complete fuel combustion.Burns at lower temperatures use

air-cooling instead of liquid-cooling lighter vehicles.

Methanol in Fuel CellsHydrogen fuel cells use onboard

methanol reformers to create hydrogen.Methanol is hydrogen rich.98.8g of H2 in liter of Methanol.70.8g of H2 in liter of liquid Hydrogen.Onboard reformers have 80% efficiency.Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC’s)

Methanol Storage & DistributionDoes not require a complete overhaul in

infrastructure.Retail station conversion costs $20,000.$1 billion could allow 10% of gas

stations in the US to dispense methanol.Costs are relatively inexpensive when

compared to Hydrogen economy.

Price of MethanolMost of methanol produced comes

from natural gas.Average wholesale price has been

about $175 per ton.Methanol could be produced for less

than 30 cents a gallon.Crude oil costs $1.20 to $1.80 per

gallon.

Price of Methanol

Methanol and the EnvironmentLess CO, NOx, SOx, and VOC’s.Onboard Methanol Reformer

emissions are less than SULEV standard.

DMFC emissions are virtually zero.Readily degraded through

photooxidation and biodegradation.Degrades in almost all environments.No evidence of bioaccumlation.

Methanol as FeedstockMethanol is used largely as feedstock

for many chemicals.Formaldehyde, acetic acid, polymers,

paints, adhesives, construction materials.

More chemicals could be produced from methanol.

Methanol could become more readily available (Methanol economy).

ConclusionsShort and Long term solution.Resource potential is unlimited

(water as source for H2 and atmosphere as source for CO2).

Gradually move away from fossil fuels.

Gradual change in infrastructure.