Scientists accidentally discovered a process that turns CO2 directly into ethanol

Sinbad

Sinbad

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http://koenigsegg.com/agera-r/




I'm wrong about efficiency - the energy density of ethanol is less than that of petrol, so you use more - but you get more power as well

The Agera R has an upgraded fuel and engine management system that allows it to run between 95 Octane and E100 biofuel, or any mix in between. The engine management system senses the fuel mixture and can adjust the engine’s operation ‘on the fly’.

The Agera R’s fuel system has enough flow capacity to generate 1140hp and 1200Nm of torque on E85 and E100 biofuel. As there is less energy content per given volume in these biofuels compared to normal petrol, the fuel system has to manage a flow that is similar to a 2000hp petrol engine, which means that the Agera R’s return-less fuel system had the highest capacity of any car in production at the time.

As 95 octane fuel has less octane than ethanol E85, the power is reduced to 960hp with 1100Nm of torque due to the boost pressure and ignition timing being altered to match the fuel characteristics.
 
The_Librarian

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Sinbad said:
http://koenigsegg.com/agera-r/




I'm wrong about efficiency - the energy density of ethanol is less than that of petrol, so you use more - but you get more power as well

The Agera R has an upgraded fuel and engine management system that allows it to run between 95 Octane and E100 biofuel, or any mix in between. The engine management system senses the fuel mixture and can adjust the engine’s operation ‘on the fly’.

The Agera R’s fuel system has enough flow capacity to generate 1140hp and 1200Nm of torque on E85 and E100 biofuel. As there is less energy content per given volume in these biofuels compared to normal petrol, the fuel system has to manage a flow that is similar to a 2000hp petrol engine, which means that the Agera R’s return-less fuel system had the highest capacity of any car in production at the time.

As 95 octane fuel has less octane than ethanol E85, the power is reduced to 960hp with 1100Nm of torque due to the boost pressure and ignition timing being altered to match the fuel characteristics.
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Ah, so they will need to add some additive to it then... there always will be a way.
 
ToxicBunny

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Its an interesting first step...

Soon we may have huge towers sucking in the air and cleaning out the CO2.... all very scifi and shyte.
 
S

Singularity1

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I don't think this is really useful. Firstly you're taking carbon out of the atmosphere but adding it back again when you burn it so there's no net reduction. Secondly the electrical energy required will always more than the energy in the ethanol or you would be violating the 2nd law of thermodynamics. Thirdly we don't know the efficiency of the process but burning ethanol is around 30-40% efficienct. So unless you're using carbon free electricity you will end up increasing carbon emissions. I think electric cars are probably a better solution.
 
Nerfherder

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Bobbin said:
The yield is 63 percent. Which by my layman translation means that whatever energy they're putting into it produces a 63 percent return. i.e. you burn more energy creating the stuff than the stuff gives back.

But that is not all bad news. If you can use solar, you can store energy in the form of ethanol vs batteries and seeing as CO2 and solar is pretty abundant here this can be used almost everywhere.
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Its also then going to become a potential battery for Solar energy.
 
Nerfherder

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Singularity1 said:
I don't think this is really useful. Firstly you're taking carbon out of the atmosphere but adding it back again when you burn it so there's no net reduction. Secondly the electrical energy required will always more than the energy in the ethanol or you would be violating the 2nd law of thermodynamics. Thirdly we don't know the efficiency of the process but burning ethanol is around 30-40% efficienct. So unless you're using carbon free electricity you will end up increasing carbon emissions. I think electric cars are probably a better solution.
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Solar.

and its reducing the net amount of co2 because the overall amount is not increasing.
 
Xarog

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Nerfherder said:
Its also then going to become a potential battery for Solar energy.
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That is ****ing HUGE for people looking to go off the grid and needing backup power for a rainy day. Instead of spending tons of money on a battery system, you just buy a generator and a converter and storage space.
 
O

Oopsie

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I don't get it. Sucking CO2 out the atmosphere and turning it to ethanol?? it will only be converted back to CO2 when the ethanol is eventually used. A mere 10% may be gained from this.
 
Ockie

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Oopsie said:
I don't get it. Sucking CO2 out the atmosphere and turning it to ethanol?? it will only be converted back to CO2 when the ethanol is eventually used. A mere 10% may be gained from this.
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So it could be a neutral energy sourse for cars. Sure, the CO2 gets released back, but it is CO2 that was already there and not new CO2. Plus, the CO2 gets absorbed back again as the fuel making process continues. Big factor will be where the engergy for the process comes from.
 
Ockie

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The_Librarian said:
how efficient is ethanol at powering internal combustion engines?
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It has a lower energy density than petrol, but much higher octane, so with a engine tweak and higher compression I imagine you can get the fuel economy on par.
 
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