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engines

2 stroke 
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wankel 
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fuels 
electric 
batteries 
fuel cells 
propellers 
 

Fuels

storage type

energy density

by mass

by volume

MJ/kg

MJ/L

gasoline [4]

46.9

34.6

diesel fuel / residential heating oil [5]

45.8

38.7

gasohol (10% ethanol 90% gasoline)

43.54

28.06

Jet A aviation fuel [8]

42.8

33

biodiesel oil (vegetable oil)

42.20

30.53

LPG

34.39

22.16

ethanol

30

24

methanol

19.7

15.6

nitromethane

11.3

12.9

- from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_density

 

 

 

 

 


 

Some definitions used

AVGAS 100LL = a high octane aviation gas (liquid fuel actually) Low Lead (2 grams of lead per US gallon)  with a density of 0.72 Kg / L

MOGAS = motor gasoline (petrol)

Energy density of some fuels

 

storage type

energy density

by mass

by volume

MJ/kg

MJ/L

compressed gaseous hydrogen at 700 bar [1]

120

4.7

compressed natural gas at 200 bar

53.6 [3]

10

gasoline [4]

46.9

34.6

diesel fuel / residential heating oil [5]

45.8

38.7

gasohol (10% ethanol 90% gasoline)

43.54

28.06

Jet A aviation fuel [8]

42.8

33

biodiesel oil (vegetable oil)

42.20

30.53

LPG

34.39

22.16

ethanol

30

24

methanol

19.7

15.6

hydrazine (toxic) combusted to N2+H2O

19.5

19.3

liquid ammonia (combusted to N2+H2O)

18.6

11.5

liquid hydrogen + oxygen (as oxidizer) (1:8 (w/w), 14.1:7.0 (v/v))

13.333

5.7

nitromethane

11.3

12.9

ammonal (Al+NH4NO3 oxidizer)

6.9

12.7

hydrazine(toxic) decomposition (as monopropellant)

1.6

1.6

ammonium nitrate decomposition (as monopropellant)

1.4

2.5

lithium ion battery

0.54–0.72

0.9–1.9

Zn-air batteries

0.40 to 0.72

?

compressed air at 20 bar

0.27

NiMH Battery

0.22[27]

0.36

NiCd Battery

0.14-0.22

?

lead acid battery

0.09–0.11[30]

0.14–0.17

ultracapacitor

0.0206 [35]

?

ultracapacitor by EEStor (claimed capacity)

1.0 [36]

?

capacitor

0.002 [38]

?

- from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_density

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Energy Density of Methanol (Wood Alcohol)

The Physics Factbook

Edited by Glenn Elert -- Written by his students, an educational, Fair Use website.

topic index | author index | special index

Bibliographic  Entry

Result

(w/surrounding  text)

Standardized

Result

Caretto, Larry. September 11 Homework Solutions [doc]. Mechanical Engineering 694C Seminar in Energy Resources and Technology. California State University, Northridge. Fall 2002. " In a fuel cell, the maximum work is given by the change in the Gibbs function for the oxidation of methanol is 22.034  MJ/kg." 22.034  MJ/kg
Zittel, Werner & Reinhold Wurster. Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydrogen. HyWeb – the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Information System in the Internet. 1996.
Energy Carrier Form of Storage Energy Density by Weight (MJ/kg) Energy Density by Volume (MJ/l)
Methanol liquid 20.16 15.912
20.16  MJ/kg
Thomas, George. Overview of Storage Development DOE Hydrogen Program. Sandia National Laboratories. May 2000.
Fuel Mass Energy Density (MJ/kg)
Methanol 19.9
19.9  MJ/kg
Bossel, Ulf. The Physics of the Hydrogen Economy [pdf]. European Fuel Cell News, Vol. 10, No. 2, July 2003. " The Higher Heating Values are 22.7, 29.7 or 31.7 MJ/kg for methanol, ethanol and DME, respectively, while gasoline contains about 45 MJ per  kg." 22.7  MJ/kg

Methanol, also called carbinol, methyl alcohol, wood spirit, or wood alcohol, is a colorless, poisonous liquid with very little taste. Its lack of color is an important hazard and often the strong smell of wood alcohol or kerosene is added so that workers will become aware of leaks and spills. Methanol is miscible with water and most organic liquids, including gasoline. It is extremely flammable, burning with a nearly invisible blue flame. Methanol has become a major feedstock for the synthesis of acetic acid and large amounts of methanol are consumed in the production of methyl esters. Methanol itself is employed as an extractant and solvent for many substances, and is sometimes blended with gasoline in cold weather to reduce condensation problems. It was formerly obtained from wood as a co product of charcoal production.

Ever thought what would happen if you drank a dose of methanol? You probably think no one would do it but if it happened for prolonged periods, methanol can cause blindness or death. It can also be absorbed through the skin.

Methanol's chemical formula is CH3OH. It has a molecular weight of 32.04 and boils at 64.7  °C and freezes at -97  °C. Energy density is measured by the amount of energy per mass. The standard unit for energy density is megajoules per kilogram (MJ/kg). The energy density for methanol is around 22  MJ/kg.

Jenny Hua -- 2005

- from http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2005/JennyHua.shtml

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Energy Density of Gasoline

The Physics Factbook

Edited by Glenn Elert -- Written by his students, an educational, Fair Use website.

topic index | author index | special index

Bibliographic  Entry

Result

(w/surrounding  text)

Standardized

Result

Zittel, Werner & Reinhold Wurster (Ludwig-Blkow-Systemtechnik). Hydrogen in the Energy Sector. Chapter 2: Physical Properties. HyWeb.
Energy Carrier Form of Storage Energy density by weight (kWh/kg) Energy Density by volume (kWh/l)
Gasoline Liquid 12.7 8.76
45.7  MJ/kg
Caldirola, Manuela. Physics of High Energy Densities. Amsterdam: Academic Press, 1961.
Battery Type Energy Density (W-hr/kg) Energy Density (J/kg)
Gasoline (not a battery!) (for comparison) 13, 200 47,500,000
47.5  MJ/kg
Thomas, George. Overview of Storage Development DOE Hydrogen Program [pdf]. Livermore, CA. Sandia National Laboratories. 2000.
Fuel Hydrogen Weight Fraction Ambient State Mass Energy Density (MJ/kg)
Gasoline .16 Liquid 44.4
44.4  MJ/kg
Nommensen, Arthur. List of common conversion factors (Engineering conversion factors). IOR Energy.
Liquid Fuel MJ/litre litre/Tonne GJ/Tonne
Gasoline, automotive 34.2 1360 36.4
Gasoline, aviation 33.0 1412 49.6
36.4-49.6  MJ/kg
Harrison, Reid R. Low Power Circuit Design, Lecture  1: Why is Low Power Circuit Design Important?[pdf]. Spring  2001.
Gasoline 4.4  ×  107  J/kg 12,000  Wh/kg  =  1.3  ×  108  J/gallon
44  MJ/kg

Energy density is the amount of energy stored in a given system or region of space per unit volume or mass. It therefore has units of energy per length cubed or energy per mass. Gasoline has an energy density of about 45 megajoules per kilogram (MJ/kg).

Gasoline is a mixture of the lighter liquid hydrocarbons used chiefly as a fuel for internal-combustion engines. It is produced by the incomplete refinement of petroleum by condensation or adsorption from natural gas by thermal or catalytic decomposition of petroleum or its fractions by the hydrogenation of producer gas or coal or by the polymerization of hydrocarbons of lower molecular weight.

Gasoline is one of the most important fuels used in the transportation industry. Most gasoline is used in engines that move automobiles and light trucks. Gasoline engines also power other vehicles and machines, including airplanes (aviation), motorboats, tractors, and lawn mowers.

Arthur Golnik -- 2003

- from http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2003/ArthurGolnik.shtml

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Lubricants

Among the polyalkylenes polybutylene, a copolymer formed by the polymerization of isobutylene and butene, is preferred. Typically polybutylenes will have an average molecular weight of from about 300 to about 2000 and a viscosity index of from about 70 to about 122 (ASTM D2270). Various grades, corresponding to different average molecular weights, are commercially available from Amoco Chemical Company (Chicago, Ill.) under the name Indopol.RTM.. Thus by way of example only, Indopol L-50.RTM. has an average molecular weight of 420 and a viscosity index of about 90 when measured by ASTM D2270 whereas Indopol H-100.RTM. has an average molecular weight of 920 and a viscosity index of about 109. Suitable polybutylenes include:

Polybutylenes

Ave. Mol Wt.

Viscosity Index

Indopol L-14 .RTM.

320

69

Indopol L-50 .RTM.

420

90

Indopol L-100 .RTM.

460

95

Indopol H-15 .RTM.

560

96

Indopol H-25 .RTM.

610

97

Indopol H-35 .RTM.

660

100

Indopol H-50 .RTM.

750

104

Indopol H-100 .RTM.

920

109

Indopol H-300 .RTM.

1290

117

Indopol H-1500 .RTM.

2060

122

Indopol H-1900 .RTM.

2300

122

- from http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5525358.html

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