[Bioconversion] Re: opinions needed for sustainable-fueledmotorcyle adventure trip

[AJH]

On Fri, 22 Apr 2005 09:46:53 +1000, doelle wrote:

>I'd like to try a Kalle style gasifier (on a trailer) supplemented
>with alcohol fuel.
>
>Grass track racers in my youth ran on a methanol:castor oil mix in two
>strokes (two strokes have a total loss lubrication system so there is
>an issue if you cut the fuel off as the engine seizes). OK it needs
>70% more volume of fuel carried but in other respects it's close to
>current engines. 

>doelle >Why don't you use an engine which can run on 100% ethanol ? You have plenty 
>doelle >of cars running in Brazil on ethanol alone.  This is the easiest biofuel in 
>doelle >my opinion in any case.
>doelle >

I agree that as long as rubber items in the fuel system are replaced
with something that will withstand the alcohol this is the single
easiest conversion, the carburetor needs a 70% bigger jet also and
range will be commensurately lower. Advantage should be taken of the
higher octane rating by raising the compression ratio, I imagine this
improvement in thermodynamic efficiency and hence power will enable a
higher final drive gear, clawing back a bit of the fuel use.

The reason I mentioned alcohol rather than ethanol is that a few
gallons of methanol can be recovered from the charcoal making so its
production and use could fit in with the gasifier option.

The thought being that peak power is only occasionally needed,
normally with higher rpm, so the slow burning but high octane CO
provides the base load and then when higher power is required methanol
is used, interesting control problem though.

AJH