More Engine Developments Involving Ethanol Blended Fuels .

[discopotato03]

Hi all , a while back I read an article from Autospeed (JE) that made me stop and think .

Google EBDI or ethanol boosted direct injection and there's a bit to read , this PDF one looks interesting .

http://www.ethanolboost.com/LFEE-2005-01.pdf

Just as a taste I believe some of the manufacturers are trying to find ways to close the gap on fuel consumption between Unleaded Petrol and Ethanol blends of which E85 is one .

The thing that was always going to be the stumbling block for ethanol blended fuel was the greater usage and how to make that cost neutral or even cheaper .

Well it seems that ways are being found by upping the static CR's and I'd say playing with dynamic (effective CR's) with sophisticated variable valve lift/duration valve trains .

I haven't had time to read much yet but I get the feeling that direct injection and evaporative cooling properties of Ethanol are helping with detonation supression and I'd imagine NOx emissions .

I think what the manufacturers are trying to achieve is more power from smaller than usual capacity engines run in a higher state of tune . The smaller capacity engines have the ability to get better consumption but they have to be able to make acceptable torque to haul the typical SUV barge around .

I think there's a shift towards lowering C02 output as well so the manufacturers are obviously concerned about political correctness , Kermit customers and the real danger of this #@^&*ng carbon credit scheme business .

All I care about is interest in ethanol fuels and the available blends ratio increasing .

I think the secret with fuel consumption is higher CR's but detonation and NOx have to be delt with .

Thoughts , cheers A .