....doesn't make sense to me
Why synthetic oil but no synthetic gasoline?
- Thread starter mjoekingz28
- Start date
- Status
I'd say cost and perceived benefit. What benefits do you see synthetic gasoline having over what we use now?
The USAF is currently testing synthetic jet fuel.
The USAF is currently testing synthetic jet fuel.
The Fischer Tropsch (sp?) process was used to make synthetic fuel in Nazi Germany and South Africa. Expensive. It generally uses coal as a feed stock basically to produce CO and H2. I saw that W. Va. is applying for a permit to build such a plant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fischer%E2%80%93Tropsch_process
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fischer%E2%80%93Tropsch_process
Last edited:
Shussssssh! A marketer may hear you and realize the hydro cracked and reformed gasoline is just as snythetic as some oils. Look what Valvoline dig for brake fluid.
A little late but what exactly do you mean by synthetic?
Kestas
Staff member
We can measure the advantages of synthetic oil. What advantages would you expect from synthetic gasoline?
most gasoline is a syn by todays standards
Originally Posted By: Kestas
We can measure the advantages of synthetic oil. What advantages would you expect from synthetic gasoline?
Better cold starting ,Stands up to heat better, longer oil change intervals, more mpgs, longer engine life!!! Just like the advantages of syn oils.
We can measure the advantages of synthetic oil. What advantages would you expect from synthetic gasoline?
Better cold starting ,Stands up to heat better, longer oil change intervals, more mpgs, longer engine life!!! Just like the advantages of syn oils.
Alkylate, a major component of modern gasoline would be considered "synthetic" by the same definition as synthetic oil. The main advantage is higher antiknock index (octane) rating without lead. This allows for higher compression ratios, resulting in more power and mpg's. Another advantage is high purity, preventing the gum and varnish deposits that used to be common in fuel systems.
Ethanol is produced by simple distillation, hardly "synthetic", but Methanol is made from natural gas in a way that could be called synthetic. Fuels made from coal or natural gas by the Fischer Tropsch process are synthetic, but you get diesel and jet, not gasoline, without a lot of further processing.
Ethanol is produced by simple distillation, hardly "synthetic", but Methanol is made from natural gas in a way that could be called synthetic. Fuels made from coal or natural gas by the Fischer Tropsch process are synthetic, but you get diesel and jet, not gasoline, without a lot of further processing.
Last edited:
You can produce synthetic gasoline fron about anything containing carbon. It would require a LOT of energy. Nuclear reactors could make the process quite in-expensive. John--Las Vegas.
I was thinking something similar the other day, but I took it a step further: I was wondering if it'd be possible to "build" hydrocarbons like gasoline by combining carbon (perhaps by splitting carbon dioxide) and hydrogen (perhaps from electrolyzing water) directly in some high-volume way.
While theoretically possible, the energy costs for doing so would be immense, completely negating any possible benefit.
It'd be far cheaper to lay inductive coils in roads across the nation and have cars charge internal batteries while they drive. Far, far cheaper.
While theoretically possible, the energy costs for doing so would be immense, completely negating any possible benefit.
It'd be far cheaper to lay inductive coils in roads across the nation and have cars charge internal batteries while they drive. Far, far cheaper.
I fully agree with your 1st paragraph. I am skeptical of the rest of your post. Not being argumentative but nuclear energy is essentially free. Alas, the whole concept is severely politicized and objectivity is discounted. John--Las Vegas.
Do you want to pay double for gasoline too?
Originally Posted By: TaterandNoodles
For your pleasure.
http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1981/jul-aug/becker.htm
http://www.fe.doe.gov/aboutus/history/syntheticfuels_history.html
Very informative post. I have those articles (along with many others) Best regards. John--Las Vegas.
For your pleasure.
http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1981/jul-aug/becker.htm
http://www.fe.doe.gov/aboutus/history/syntheticfuels_history.html
Very informative post. I have those articles (along with many others) Best regards. John--Las Vegas.
JHZR2
Staff member
F-T fuels utilizing NG or coal as a feedstock to make syngas that can be "polymerized" into hydrocarbons is a tough process. Depending upon the selectivity parameter and distribution of hydrocarbons, you get various cuts, all of which need significant treatment to produce a proper usable gasoline fuel.
The synthesis plants slated to build are tens of billions of dollars to build, and definitely have capitalization issues right now. There are plants in the mid-east and south africa running and to be started.
They are not clean, not environmentally friendly. You get lots of marginally useful product, lots of CO2, and lots of other junk coming out.
The catalysts are not tolerant to sulfur, so the syngas needs to be EXTREMELY clean to prevent deactivation of the catalyst. This adds cost for zinc oxide or other processes t strip H2S gas.
There are other means too... but nothing is cost effective right now, IMO.
The synthesis plants slated to build are tens of billions of dollars to build, and definitely have capitalization issues right now. There are plants in the mid-east and south africa running and to be started.
They are not clean, not environmentally friendly. You get lots of marginally useful product, lots of CO2, and lots of other junk coming out.
The catalysts are not tolerant to sulfur, so the syngas needs to be EXTREMELY clean to prevent deactivation of the catalyst. This adds cost for zinc oxide or other processes t strip H2S gas.
There are other means too... but nothing is cost effective right now, IMO.
Heypete, see my post above about Fisher process. That is really what you are describing. Do a Google search on "Fischer - Tropsch" )spelling may be a bit off).
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
