Pure Ethanol Engines Could Pack a Big Punch
https://ethanolproducer.com/blog/article/2014/11/pure-ethanol-engines-could-pack-a-big-punchA Canadian farmer and hot rodder recently talked with me about altering engines for pure ethanol. If E85 were widely available, the work racers are doing in this area could be applied to street vehicles with a positive impact on fuel mileage.
By Holly Jessen | November 17, 2014
A while ago, a reader commented on a story posted to Ethanol Producer Magazine, mentioning that he and other hot rodders are starting to build true ethanol engines that cannot burn even a cup of gasoline and that produce a lot of power from small motors. “FFV actually present ethanol economy very poorly as they tolerate ethanol but are built for gasoline,” he wrote, adding that an “ethanol engine needs 14:1 compression, 9:1 fuel air ratio and advanced ignition timing.”
Keith Jacobs is a grain farmer from Daysland, Alberta, Canada. Jacobs Farms Daysland consists of 5,500 acres of land where wheat, peas and canola is grown. Besides his work on the farm, Jacobs is an oilfield consultant and a former drag racer that sponsors a funny car, a type of drag racing vehicle. It’s in the alcohol class, which is up to 3,000 horsepower, and it burns methanol.
Other than on the race track, legally, mountain climbing is one of the few places where unlimited horsepower can be used. “The object is to spin the track, which is 160 inches long, as fast as possible,” he said. “Kind of like trying to ride a chain saw. … We lighten the machines as much as possible. The best are 400 horsepower and 400 pounds.”
He then pointed out that the same motor (1100 cc and 60 cubic in) could easily power an economy car and get great mileage. Once he has access to E85 in his area, he plans to take the original motor out of one of his two Corvettes and put in an alcohol motor. In fact, if he lived in Iowa, he’d do that right now. “If a really small ethanol motor is used, the car can be made much lighter, as all supporting components such as frame etc., can be lighter,” he said. “In a gasoline-powered car the motor almost always weighs more than two passengers.” The process of altering an engine to use biofuels is one he is familiar with. “I am presently making small mods to my diesel equipment to burn B100,” he said.
