The main goal of this economic paper is to analyse the importance of LPG as an alternative fuel for the vehicular transport in the Czech Republic and to simplify the decision of potential applicants about the conversion of a car engine to run on LPG. At first this text briefly describes the main kinds of alternative fuels. Then the text focuses on LPG itself that is defined and described including its application in the past and at present. The next section of this paper is concentrated on the individual decision about the conversion of his car engine to run on LPG and the main attention will be focused on the environmental, economic, technical and institutional aspects of this conversion. Then the text compares LPG and CNG because CNG could be considered to be the main competitor of LPG in the field of alternative fuels. At the conclusion the paper summarizes the discovered facts and tries to predict future use of LPG as an alternative fuel in the Czech Republic.

Submitted by Maike Costa (maiksebas@gmail.com) on 2017-06-01T11:40:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3748711 bytes, checksum: 8f8364b8fc3278aa92d66b7d0e9a2400 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T11:40:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3748711 bytes, checksum: 8f8364b8fc3278aa92d66b7d0e9a2400 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-11-04 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / The cost of the kWh at the peak hour in Brazil may be up to nine times higher than the one at normal hours. This fact has served as motivation for industries, shopping malls, hotels, and so on, to utilize electrical generators. These generator sets generally comprise Diesel engines. The problem is that the exhaust gases from these engines are very harmful to health. On the other hand, Natural Gas, thanks to its high calorific power and its low emissions, is considered a clean-burning alternative fuel. Therefore, the Diesel engines converted to Otto cycle may considerably reduce the environmental pollution. Such a conversion, however, may have in turbocharged engines backpressure effects that increase the temperature of the turbine, reducing the energy efficiency of the engine. The present study analyzes the result and consequences of the replacement of the original manifold by another with smoother curves, as well as the cooling effect on the engine performance of the turbine of a Perkins turbocharged model 1104C-44TAG2, converted to the Otto cycle. First, tests were made running the engine with its original manifold without any cooling, and then, having the turbine cooled with room air. After the replacement of the manifold, new teste were performed. Initially, without cooling the turbine or the manifold. Then, after the replacement of the manifold, other tests ventilating the turbine and the manifold were made. In each test, one has registered: the maximum operation power; temperature of the exhaust gases and the engine consumption in terms of the backpressure due to the manifold. All the tests were performed with the aid of a hydraulic dynamometer. It was noted that the use of the new manifold allowed the reduction on the backpressure. Concerning the maximum power registration there was no difference in terms of the original or the new manifold, because what had limited the power was the temperature on the turbine, which was set at 660 oC. Therefore, whenever the temperature reached this limit, the engine was deliberated stopped. This fact also explains why the ventilation has allowed higher engine powers. The new manifold resulted in fuel reductions. / O valor do kWh, no horário de pico, no Brasil, pode ser até nove vezes maior do que aquele cobrado, fora do dito período, estimulando a indústria, shopping centers, hotéis, etc. a fazerem uso de grupos geradores. Tais grupos são, em geral, compostos por motores a diesel e gerador elétrico. O lado negativo destes motores advém da larga poluição ambiental que produzem. Por sua vez, o Gás Natural, graças ao seu elevado poder calorífico e pela baixa contaminação, quando queimado, é considerado um combustível nobre, alternativo ao diesel. Assim, o uso de motores Diesel turbinados, convertidos para o ciclo Otto, pode reduzir significativamente a poluição ambiental. Nessa conversão, um dos aspectos observados é a influência da contrapressão causada pelo sistema de exaustão dos gases de escape, que contribui para o aumento da temperatura da turbina do motor convertido. O presente trabalho analisa os efeitos da substituição do coletor de escape original por outro, de curvas mais suaves, como também o resfriamento da turbina, no desempenho de um motor Perkins turboalimentado, modelo 1104C-44TAG2, ottolizado para gás natural. Os testes foram realizados com os dois coletores de escape, em operações com e sem refrigeração (por ventilação) da turbina e do coletor. A cada teste, eram avaliados: a potência máxima de operação, a temperatura dos gases de escape e o consumo do motor, em função da contrapressão do sistema de exaustão. Tais testes foram realizados, com o auxílio de um dinamômetro hidráulico, e os resultados mostraram que, de fato, houve uma redução da contrapressão, com a substituição do coletor. No entanto, o motor Perkins ottolizado respondeu, de forma semelhante, para os dois coletores, no que diz respeito à potência máxima alcançada, variando somente devido aos efeitos provocados com e sem resfriamento da turbina e do coletor. Deve-se observar, todavia, que a limitação no valor da potência deveu-se às temperaturas alcançadas pela turbina, de aproximadamente 660 °C. Assim, com resfriamento da turbina, o motor atingiu potências mais elevadas. Verificou-se, ainda, que a modificação do coletor contribuiu para a redução do consumo do motor.

This project evaluates the opportunity to convert a three-cylinder automobile piston engine (the Tiny Friendly Giant) to an aircraft engine from an environmental and practical point of view. The problem of increased emissions from aviation calls for technical and socioeconomic solutions, which is the reason why this report is written. The main goals are to choose the best fuel for the piston engine in aviation, as well as to study emissions, engine cooling and practical challenges with conversion. The structure resembles a feasibility study where the problem is solved using literature in a trade study, together with emission estimations using The Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies Model framework and Boeing Fuel Flow Method 2. An estimation for engine cooling is done using a semiemprical method from Lycoming, showing air cooling can be sufficient for the Tiny Friendly Giant in aviation. The results furthermore show that none of the alternative automobile fuels are appropriate for use in aviation and that alternative pathways to jet fuel are more suited for high altitude. The conclusion is thus that the engine should be converted to jet fuel compatibility. To avoid large turning moment fluctuations, two-stroke can be applied. Conversion and use of the engine in aviation is not considered to be feasible because of practical limitations - instead the study concludes designing a new engine from scratch is easier and most likely quicker. The study shows that reducing carbon dioxide emissions also lead to reductions in water and sulfur- and nitrous oxides. However, the same mitigation strategy leads to increase in carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. In general, the conclusion is that alternative fuels can significantly reduce aircraft emissions. / Detta examensarbete utvärderar möjligheten att konvertera en trecylindrig bilkolvmotor (Tiny Friendly Giant motorn) till en flygplansmotor från en miljömässig och praktisk synvinkel. Problemet med ökade utsläpp från flyget kräver tekniska och socioekonomiska lösningar, vilket är anledningen till att detta arbete är genomfört. De största målen går ut på välja det bästa bränslet för kolvmotorn inom flyget, samt att studera utsläpp, motorkylning och praktiska utmaningar med konvertering. Strukturen liknar en förstudie där problemet löses med hjälp av litteratur i en paramterstudie, tillsammans med utsläppsuppskattningar med hjälp av The Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies Model ramverket och Boeing Fuel Flow Method 2. En uppskattning för motorkylning är beräknat med en semiemprisk metod från Lycoming, som visar att luftkylning vara tillräckligt för Tiny Friendly Giant motorn inom flyg. Resultaten visar vidare att inget av de alternativa bilbränslena är lämpliga för användning inom flyget och att alternativa vägar till flygbränsle är mer lämpat för hög höjd. Slutsatsen är att motorn bör konverteras till flygbränslekompatibilitet. För att undvika stora vridmomentfluktuationer kan tvåtakt användas. Konvertering och användning av motorn inom flyget anses inte vara genomförbart på grund av praktiska begränsningar - istället drar studien slutsatsen att design av en ny motor från grunden är enklare och med största sannolikhet snabbare. Studien visar att minskade koldioxidutsläpp också leder till minskningar av vatten och svavel- och dikväveoxider. Samma strategi leder dock till en ökning av kolmonoxid och kolväten. Generellt sett är slutsatsen att alternativa bränslen avsevärt kan minska flygplanens utsläpp.