Going Green Fuel Style The Test of Alcohol

Going Green, Fuel Style!! The Test of Alcohol & Lamp Oil Tagen Bryant, Ernest Mc. Donald, Lauren Reed, Eric Wickliffe

Introduction Gas prices on rise Average: $4. 10 Gasoline is infecting the environment

Purpose By testing the energy output of denatured alcohol and lamp oil, we are able to tell which form of fuel is the better buy. However, we need to find a fuel that will not hinder the environment. In this test we were also able to watch the fuels burn and see which fuel burned cleaner. Both fuels that are being tested are lower & safer forms of the ethanol and petroleum gas.

Hypothesis If we burn each fuel for 7 minutes then, the alcohol will burn cleaner, but produce less thermal output and lamp oil will burn dirtier, but produce more thermal output.

Denatured Alcohol Uses: • To kill insects • In mouthwash • For camp stoves • To remove excess dust from sanding wood Advantages: Low cost, its ability to be extinguished by water, and its easier to transport Disadvantages: Hazardous because the flames are invisible.

Lamp Oil Uses: • Emergency indoor lighting • Mood Lighting • Alternative to candles Advantages: None Disadvantages: • More expensive than denatured alcohol

Materials • 1 Alcohol Burner • 1 Erlin Meyer Flask • 1 Stand • 1 Clamp • 1 Coffee Can (calorimeter) • 1 L Hydrocarbon • 1 L Biofuel • 1 Thermometer • 1 Stopwatch • Water (in excess) • Ice

Procedure 1. Cool 125 m. L water to 17⁰C. 2. Set up stand clamp on flat surface. 3. Put 200 m. L degenerated alcohol into alcohol burner and place under stand. 4. Put chilled water and calorimeter can on stand above alcohol burner. 5. Take initial temperature of water and weight of burner. 6. Light burner and begin stopwatch.

Procedure Cont’d 7. Heat water for 7 minutes. 8. Take temperature of water immediately after 7 minutes. 9. Take weight of alcohol burner recording all data and observations. 10. Repeat steps 4 through 9 for At least 2 more trials. 11. Repeat steps 3 through 9, replacing alcohol with hydrocarbon in step 3, and its trials. 12. Calculate thermal output in calories per grams used

Results Alcohol Trial 1: 1197. 605 cal/g Trial 2: 1186. 260 cal/g Trial 3: 1345. 609 cal/g Hydrocarbon Fuel Trial 1: 1577. 670 cal/g Trial 2: 1580. 135 cal/g Trial 3: 1735. 358 cal/g

Results Cont’d Average Alcohol – 1243. 158 cal/g HC Fuel – 1631. 054 cal/g

Conclusion Our hypothesis was proven correct. Things that could have been done if we had more time and resources: Use ethanol and petroleum gas Mix two fuels to see if thermal output is higher or lower than the other two.

Citations • http: //www. mygtv. net/wpcontent/uploads/2008/04/ap_gas_price 1_070521_ ms. jpg • http: //farm 4. static. flickr. com/3165/2514770621_1 aca 2 f 2565. jpg? v=0 • http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Denatured_alcohol • http: //www. wisegeek. com/what-is-lamp-oil. htm

Thanks!!! • • Mrs. Morgan Mrs. Scott Mr. Dain Mr. Smith Ms. Gallegos Ms. Johnson Mrs. Gossage