Demonstration of Fischer-Tropsch Diesel Fuel in Cold Climates

摘要

The main objective of this project was to study the potential use of ultra-clean Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthetic diesel fuel in cold-climate transit applications. Project activities included a winter transit bus demonstration of F-T fuel in Fairbanks, Alaska; a soil biodegradability analysis to determine the environmental effects of potential F-T fuel leaks; a feasibility study of the utilization of F-T fuels for hydrogen production in association with future transit fleet applications of reformer/fuel-cell power systems; and summarization of all of the transit-relevant emissions results to date for Syntroleums F-T diesel fuel. Major project findings include: F-T fuel can directly replace conventional (non-F-T) diesel fuel without modification to engines or significant changes in performance. Diesel fuel can be routinely stored, dispensed, and run successfully in buses at the cold temperatures. F-T fuel has a significantly higher rate of biodegradation than conventional diesel fuel. F-T fuel can reduce diesel exhaust emissions to levels significantly below those obtainable with even the lowest-emission conventional diesel fuels. F-T fuels could be utilized in hydrogen production in association with future transit fleet applications of reformer/fuel-cell power systems. However, on-board reformation is likely only an interim approach to a large-scale hydrogen fuel infrastructure.