Save fuel with ethanol

Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers say injecting small amounts of ethanol into the engine when the car is accelerating or climbing can save about 20-30% of fuel.

(Photo: typepad) Such a system can help automakers use smaller engines in vehicles as this will reduce the weight and increase fuel consumption performance compared with the engine appending 'hybrid'. It is estimated that the installation of the ethanol pump system will cost about $ 1,000 and the car using the system will be mass-produced in 2011.

The system uses only small amounts of ethanol and the fuel tank in the car needs to be refilled after 3 months. The turbocharger is installed to produce electricity. The ethanol pump system with the turbo charger will allow for more electricity than conventional motors of the same size.

The higher pressure and temperature of a turbo-compressor can lead to shock - occurring when fuel and air in the engine burn early to degrade performance and can damage the engine. MIT's technology avoids that problem by injecting ethanol into the engine when a shock is likely to occur. Ethanol will evaporate and cool the fuel mixture - air, preventing it from exploding until the engine is ready to start.

N.MINH