Thermodynamic characterization of bio-fuels: Excess functions for binary mixtures containing ETBE and hydrocarbons

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2010-02, Vol.35 (2), p.759-763
• Main Authors: Segovia, José J., Villamañán, Rosa M., Martín, M. Carmen, Chamorro, César R., Villamañán, Miguel A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air pollution; Applied sciences; Bio-fuels; Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; Energy; Energy policy; ETBE; Ethanol; Ethyl alcohol; Exact sciences and technology; Excess enthalpy; Excess functions; Fuels; Hydrocarbons; Octane number; Petroleum products, gas and fuels. Motor fuels, lubricants and asphalts; Thermodynamics; Vapor-liquid equilibria
• ISSN: 0360-5442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2009.09.025

European energy policy is promoting the use of bio-fuels for transportation. Bioethers and bioalcohols are used as blending agents for enhancing the octane number. They make gasoline work harder, help the engine last longer and reduce air pollution. They also cause changes in the fuel properties. Development of renewable fuels needs both knowledge of new thermodynamic data and improvement of clean energy technologies. In this context, the use of ethanol of vegetable origin in its manufacture process, increases the interest of ETBE or bio-ETBE as an oxygenated additive. A complete study of the behaviour of ETBE + hydrocarbons mixtures is presented. Some experimental data concerning vapor-liquid equilibria and heats of mixing were determined in our laboratory. All the techniques have a high accuracy. The data were reduced by well-known models, such as NRTL and used to model the thermodynamic properties.