CATI/851202 December 1985 Multi- Fuel Engine Research Activities 1980-1985 ll^ll VV^« |£ ^^^jgirpTU^ 1»| California Rgricuitxiral Tachnology Inaiitufca California State University, Fresno School of Agriculture and Home Economics Department of Industrial Technology Fresno, California 93740 PREFACE The California Agricultural Technology Institute (CATI) provides a bridge between development of new technology and its use. Through the Institute, farmers and others involved in agriculture become familiar with new techniques and discoveries. CATI also serves to communicate the need and interests of agribusiness to those involved in the exploration and development of new agricultural technologies. CATI is located at California State University, Fresno (CSUF), in the heart of the "Agribusiness Capital of the World". Fresno County is the richest agricultural area in the country. It consistently ranks among the top producers of a wide variety of crops. This county reported a record $2.1 billion in gross returns on agricultural crops and livestock for 1985. Located in this center of agribusiness, CSUF has a 1,190 acre farm on its 1,490 acre campus. The farm produces almonds, grapes, tree fruit, citrus, vegetables, cotton, alfalfa, cereals and other crops on a commercial scale. It also provides fields and facilities for raising cattle, sheep, horses, goats and pigs. Some plots are devoted to ornamental horticulture, including turfgrass and flower culture. Agricultural mechanics, industrial technology, enology, laboratory and food science facilities expand the university*s role as an agribusiness community of its own. Multifuel Engine Research (MFER) was first formed as a program under the Agricultural Energy and Technology Project (AETP) sponsored by the California State Department of Agriculture. Hence, it was carried into CATI as an energy study component for agricultural biomass fuels and applied engine research. Laboratory facilities are located in the Department of Industrial Technology Transportation Laboratory. MULTIFOEL ENGINE RESEARCH and FUEL PRODUCTION FACULTY MFER: Professors L. Aldrich, H. Martin, C. Cullen, M. Garcia, R. Newcomb, G. Grannis, D. Leue Fuel Alcohol Production: Professors G. Muller, B. Gump, D. Zellmer, D. Leue Fuel Methane Production: Professors H. Martin, J. Kim 1 INTRODUCTION The U.S., with 65S of the world's population, currently consumes over one-fourth of the world's oil production. All signs indicate that the gap between consumption and production is widening. At one time, nearly half of this nation's oil was imported. Conservation and various energy efforts have cut this to one-third. But, the one-third imported oil is two-thirds of our balance of trade deficit problem, and the imbalance is still growing. Putting it another way, even if the decline in gasoline prices continues, it will have little effect on the oil deficit problem. Most tractors and trucks run on diesel oil. Therefore, one answer is to switch to non-oil fuels such as methane gases or alcohols. California uses only one-third of its energy for stationary activities. The other two-thirds is used for transportation. Obviously, research work on the larger part (tractors, trucks, mobile machines) is vitally important. A companion problem is the alarming increase in air pollution which now accounts for over one billion dollars in California crop losses each year (more than 20SS estimated crop yield losses in the San Joaquin Valley). One must be mindful that agriculture is the state's number one industry. MFER ACTIVITIES TITLE: Alcohol Injection Fumigation of Diesel Engines INVESTIGATORS: G. Harper, S. Authier PUBLICATIONS: C. Hanson, L. Aldrich Reducing pollutants, while increasing power and conserving diesel fuel, are some of the areas of study and research being performed at the Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) under the supervision of the MFER team at California State University, Fresno. A six cylinder Model 1708 turbocharged Caterpillar diesel engine has been coupled with a Peabody Floway 40 horse power water pump in the CIT fluids testing laboratory. The engine has been modified with an injection fumigation system invented by Dwayne Fosseen and manufactured by Mid West Power Concepts in Radcliffe, Iowa. The system consists of a fuel pump, fuel filter, a pressure regulator, an injection nozzle, pressure gauges and several switches. The nozzle injects an alcohol-water blend (100- 140 proof) after the turbocharger and into the intake manifold. It is capable of maintaining a predetermined diesel-alcohol ratio by volume throughout varying engine speeds and in direct proportion to horse power changes. This feature is significant because the alcohol fuel works best under heavy loads when there is greater demand for power. Thus, the system can make the engine run above its rated performance. Work cycles are in progress, and information is being collect ed on various diesel-alcohol fuel ratios at different load levels. The Caterpillar engine can be run on diesel fuel only or in conjunction with the alcohol. Testing is continuing to determine the use of CSUF farm produced ethyl alcohol for improving emission power and diesel fuel savings. TITLE: Superflow System—Dynamometer Engine Test Cell, Multifuel Analysis INVESTIGATORS: J. Ouimet, J. Hansen, B. Wilcox, C. Panos PUBLICATIONS: J. Hansen, C. Panos, J. Ouimet, L. Aldrich Volatile governments and unstable O.P.E.C. styled economics pose a real threat to world oil supplies. The research and development of alternate fuel sources and engines are important steps in finding solutions to this continued threat. Modern computer technology has become an integral part of this research. The Superflow dynamometer system tests for power output, emissions, and fuel consumption; and helps to formulate performance comparisons of propane, ethanol, methanol, gasoline, methane gas. and biomass diesel fuels. Alcohols and methane gasses are presently under study focusing on two spark ignited engines, a "small block" Chevrolet 350 V-8 and a "big block" Chevrolet 454 V-8 engine. TITLE: Establishing Alternate Fueled Cogeneration Demonstration and Applied Research Stations INVESTIGATORS; J. Martinez, P. Damron PUBLICATIONS: J. Martinez Cogeneration is the simultaneous production of electricity and steam from the same fuel source. The process reduces fuel consumption by improving the thermal efficiency of an engine generator set. Several meetings and discussions have resulted in funding and donations of equipment for the establishment of cogeneration research stations in the Industrial Technology Energy Laboratory and dairy farm at California State University, Fresno (CSUF). Leaders in this effort are PG&E Industrial Power Engineer Lee Nave, other PG&E management staff and Cogeneration Consultant Gary Olson. Also included are CSUF professors L. Aldrich, C. Cullen, G. Grannis, D. Leue, H. Martin and R. Newcomb; Chief Maintenance Plant Engineer Mike Cuneo and researcher James Martinez. The cogeneration power plants will be an invaluable learning laboratory for agriculture and technology students. The facility will allow students and researchers to study alternate fuels, establish a working process control system, demonstrate examples of heat recovery boilers and absorption chillers, show utility grid interconnection requirements and provide a study area for economic considerations of cogeneration power plants. TITLE: The Production of Methane Gas From the CSUF Farm Dairy and Engine Use Characteristics INVESTIGATORS: P. Damron, J. Neufeld PUBLICATIONS: P. Damron, H. Martin A digester was formed at one end of the new dairy lagoon (176* by 460'). Methane gas is being collected from under a floating cover and piped to an engine generator located near the milking barn. Anaerobic digesters are designed to be used on farms where large quantities of manure are available. The methane produced can be used as a fuel for stoves, agricultural dryers, or internal combustion engines. A digester is basically an insulated, airtight container where gases from decaying organic wastes are trapped. The process is simple and cheap. Bacteria breaks down the waste at low temperatures—between 59 F and 122°F at atmospheric pressure. The gas produced is a mixture of different gases--CH2,, CO^, N,^ H«, Co, 0^ and H^S. It is mainly methane (about 60%) Ind (JarbcTn dioxide (about 40^), however, and is called "biogas" or "methane". It is not pipeline quality (natural gas is 1000 btu's per cubic foot) and must be scrubbed to remove contaminants. Due to kO% carbon dioxide content, the btu's per cu. ft. drop to 600; this means a larger amount of fuel must flow through the engine mixer. The carbon dioxide flows through as an inert gas but could be removed for greenhouse use. Cogeneration is also included in the methane fueled engine study. Heat from the engine is programmed for use in dairy water heating and to run absorption refrigeration. TITLE: Superior Farming Company Cogeneration Plant Training: June 1-September 1, 1982 INVESTIGATOR: T.E. Gilland Kern Community College District requested assistance in training operators for the cogeneration plant that was under construction at the Superior Farming Company (SFC) facilities north of Bakersfield. This was CETA Title 7 training at Bakersfield College. Mr. T.E. Gilland, MFER consultant, responded to the request and provided the required instruction. Of the thirty students only four were bilingual (Spanish/English) and the others were Spanish speaking. Despite the language barrier, these students were