Gas based fuels - an alternative approach to clean propulsion technologies

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Gas based fuels - an alternative approach to clean propulsion technologies

Ofner, H.

Fuels are closely linked with economics, politics and social and ecological systems. Currently practically 100% of transportation fuels are produced from crude oil. The second large fossil resource available today is natural gas. Even though natural gas has been considered as a transportation fuel for a long time its direct use as compressed or liquefied gas has not been accepted in a large scale. Besides fossil resources, renewable energy resources cannot simply be ignored. Even though they may cover only a small part of the total consumption of fuels they could seriously contribute to environmental improvements. The strategy proposed concentrates on the conversion of both natural gas and synthetic gas as produced from biogenic resources into advanced fuels. This field has gained importance due to new economically viable production technologies, ecological considerations, legislation and also due to new propulsion technologies considered for the future. Within this complex scenario Dimethyl Ether represents the latest innovation. The paper gives an overview on both the most promising gas based fuels and the engine and vehicle technology required for their usage.