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Alternative Fuel Vehicles
An Introduction


Prof. David Bernstein
James Madison University

Computer Science Department
bernstdh@jmu.edu

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Traditional Fuel Vehicles
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  • Components:
    • Fuel tank
    • Internal combustion engine - fuel/air mixture is ignited causing an explosion that moves the pistons
    • Fuel pump - transfers fuel from the tank to the engine
    • Carburetor or fuel injection system - creates the fuel/air mixture
    • Transmission - Transfers mechanical power from the engine to the wheels
  • Fuels:
    • Gasoline - ignition occurs as a result of a spark (e.g., from the battery to start)
    • Diesel - ignition occurs as a result of compression (i.e., without a spark)
Alternative Fuels for Internal Combustion Engines
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  • Gasoline Engines:
    • Ethanol (i.e., ethyl alcohol)
  • Diesel Engines:
    • Bio-Diesel
    • Dimethyl Ether
  • Custom Engines:
    • Ammonia
    • Compressed Natural Gas
    • Liquefied Natural Gas
    • Hydrogen
Electric Vehicles
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  • Common Components:
    • Motor
    • Controller - manages the flow of electrical energy controlling both the speed and torque of the motor
    • Transmission - transfers mechanical power from the motor to the wheels
  • Different Sources of Power:
    • External Source - third rail or overhead, wireless transmission, solar
    • Battery - lithium-ion, carbon-fiber structural
    • Non-Battery Storage - supercapacitors, flywheels
    • Internal Source - hydrogen fuel cell, formic acid fuel cell, internal combustion engine
Electric Vehicles - Interesting "Twists"
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  • Electric Regenerative Braking:
    • Uses a motor "running backwards" (in addition to the traditional friction braking system) to generate electricity that is stored in capacitors
  • Hydraulic Regenerative Braking:
    • The vehicle's kinetic energy powers a pump that sends fluid from a low-pressure tank to a high-pressure tank
  • Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G):
    • Electricity Return - The vehicle sells electricity in response to increased demand/price
    • Throttling - The vehicle changes its charging schedule as a result of changes in the price
Air Engine Vehicles
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  • Main Components:
    • Compressed air tank (e.g., carbon fiber)
    • Piston engine
  • Pros:
    • No need for cooling, emissions control
    • Low self-discharge rate
  • Cons:
    • Expanding air must be heated
    • Long refueling times
    • Low efficiency (about half of internal combustion engines)
Steam Vehicles
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  • Components:
    • Fuel Tank
    • Heat Source - combustion chamber, furnace
    • Boiler - pressure vessel containing the water to be boiled and a heat transfer mechanism (e.g., water-tube or fire-tube)
    • Water Pump supplies water to the boiler
    • Motor - a reciprocating piston or turbine
    • Cold Sink - emits waste heat
  • Types:
    • Simple Engine - the expansion process in completed in the cylinder
    • Compound Engine - the steam passes through a series of cylinders (e.g., side-by-side or end-to-end) with decreasing pressure
There's Always More to Learn
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