Introduction of Methanol: A Sustainable Transport Fuel for SI Engines

Shortcoming of fossil energy resources and increasing energy demands lead to a search for alternative energy sources. The utilization of alcohol based fuels seems to be a suitable alternative for spark ignition (SI) engines. The most used alcohol fuels are methanol, ethanol, and butanol. Specific properties of these fuels predetermine them for mass utilization, especially in SI engines. The oxygen content of the alcohol fuels affects the harmful emission formation and combustion efficiency positively. On the other hand, their lower energy content means that in order to maintain the engine performance, it is necessary to increase the amount of fuel delivered to the engine, which may lead to construction modifications in the engine. Methanol is an important alternative fuel for SI engines and therefore this monograph is dedicated to this topic. This monograph focuses on the physical and chemical properties of methanol, utilization in SI engines, and the effect of methanol on formaldehyde emissions.