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The problem with ethanol is it absorbs water, which at greater altitudes (lower temperature and pressure) freezes and blocks fuel lines. For that reason aviatio
by throw_into_air 7y ago
The problem with ethanol is it absorbs water, which at greater altitudes (lower temperature and pressure) freezes and blocks fuel lines. For that reason aviation fuels have limits on ethanol content.
- thisisbrians 7y agoCould we redesign the fuel system to (safely) remove the water somehow? Or prevent the fuel from absorbing moisture in the first place?
- selectodude 7y agoIt would have to be hermetically sealed from creation to combustion at 37,000 feet. I’m sure it’s theoretically possible but so difficult as to be untenable.
- vilhelm_s 7y agoMaybe you could chill it to precipitate the ice just before loading it on the plane?
- chr1 7y agoAlternatively we could use ethanol in fuel cells, and use electric motor, unfortunately it requires either finding new catalists or a cheap source of platinum https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-ethanol_fuel_cell https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-ethanol_fuel_cell