Would it be possible to power a locomotive on paint thinner? Would an E.M.D. or G.E. run better on acetone?
keep asking, keep learning
good questiong…but i think that kind of stuff would play hell on any of the rubber hoses
csx engineer
Use some of those flexible metal hoses.
I would think Goodyear Industrial makes synthetic rubber hoses for just about any application.
Jim
The military used to have engines referred to as “multifuel.” Not sure what all they would run on, but it wasn’t limited to diesel.
And that is a good question - would love to hear from someone with knowledge in the field weigh in. It still comes down to economics, though. If acetone or paint thinner were cheaper than diesel, they’d already be using it…
I heard a rumor on this forum that India is developing a nuclear powered steam locomotive. That should be a better fuel than paint thinner. Or maybe not…
it would blow up the whole engine when the pistons compressed it. paint thinner is very explosive.
Diesel probably provides a higher “higher heating value” per unit mass. This means that for each pound of fuel they can get more power. Why bother anyway? They all come from the same source.
ericsp is right. It is all derived from oil. And I believe that diesel is the cheapest, most effecent fuel out there, but correct me if i’m wrong. But I wonder, what other fuels could be used? Maybe a mixtue of different fuels would be more efficent.
All liquid fuels, from gasoline down to Bunker C, are derived from the destructive distillation of raw petroleum: the refining process. It should be remembered that not all petroleum is alike; Middle Eastern petroleum is lighter and is better suited for gasoline while Venezuelan and Pennsylvania crude are heavier and are better for producing lube oils.
There was an article in TRAINS about 20 years ago about diesel fuels which explained everything pretty well.
Their engines were basicly diesels and I never herd of any othe fuel being used except in tests. I don’t remember what other fuels could be used other than kerosene and gasolene. Since they were not optimized for any specif ic fuel they were said to run poorly on all of them but diesel was the best. Their replacements were straight diesels.
I didn’t have much to do with them since my truck was a 5/4 ton gas powered jeep.
Their engines were basicly diesels and I never herd of any othe fuel being used except in tests. I don’t remember what other fuels could be used other than kerosene and gasolene. Since they were not optimized for any specif ic fuel they were said to run poorly on all of them but diesel was the best. Their replacements were straight diesels.
DScmidt’s correct. The Army tried “multifuel” engines on 2 1/2 ton trucks. The fuel used most often on those was diesel fuel. In theory, you can also run an M1 Abrams tank or an armored personnel carrier on straight gasoline, but it’s definitely NOT recommended.
Erik
They would run on gasoline, diesel , jet fuel and kerosene. My fire dept. had a duce & a half water tender that ran best with a 50/50 mix of gas & diesel.
According to the Army: “These fuels included regular gasoline, aviation kerosene, compression-ignition fuel (CITE), and diesel fuels.”
If you want to find out about types of diesel engines and the multifuel engine in particular go to
https://hosta.atsc.eustis.army.mil/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/accp/od1001/ch2.htm
It is interesting!
Deisel is the best, diesel has a more lubricating property then gas and “paint thinner”, this halps reduce wear and tear. There are many other advantages to deisel for trains so for every “advantage” found in other potential fuels one must compare the whole picture.
Anyways the “disadvantages” with diesel is it’s dirty and cheap. Diesel could be brewed much cleaner to create very low emitions, but that would be expensive in dollars wich we cannot afford even though deisel exhaust as it is now is bad for your health, but we can afford that. I still beleive deisel is best but needs to be cleaned up ((for autos too)).
440cuin is right, diesel needs to be cleaned up for cars, too. Federal law is requiring diesel vehicles to become cleaner not too many years from now. So far, no one has a plan, but the engineers are going to have to develop some technology, or we need cleaner fuel.
I believe the story I read (in Motor Trend I think) stated that diesel sold in western Europe is refined to a much cleaner state than diesel sold elsewhere.
Jim