Influence of MtG qualities on fuel stability and emission behaviour

In order to achieve both the politically set and environmentally required climate targets for mitigating climate change, the market integration of alternative, liquid energy sources is indispensable. Especially due to their high energy density and quantitative availability, liquid hydrocarbons are indispensable and should therefore be produced regeneratively. The so-called methanol-to-gasoline process (MtG for short) is already a well-known process. In this process, potentially green methanol, e.g. from methanol synthesis processes with regenerative resources, is catalytically synthesized into a gasoline cut. The process is already known and described in the literature. Within the framework of a public BMWi project (C3 Mobility) a pilot-scale MtG plant (about 1 t/d) is operated at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg. Within the project a clear influence of the operating conditions and the catalyst materials on the MtG product and its quality as fuel was revealed. Within the C3 Mobility project, no far-reaching investigations could be carried out, especially with regard to the technical catalyst material. Therefore, in the now planned research project different technically relevant catalysts shall be used and their influence on the quality and stability of the MtG gasoline shall be investigated. In addition, the influence of different MtG qualities on emissions is to be investigated. The aim of the research project is to define or produce a MtG premium fuel with an octane number greater than 99.

In a total of five work packages, MtG is synthesized in various ways, analyzed, and examined for its application properties. Preparations are made in work package A; both the procurement of resources and a final search for the catalysts to be used take place here. Work package B includes MtG synthesis with technically relevant catalysts and upgrading by distillation and hydroprocessing. In work package C, the analysis of the MtG qualities produced takes place and a selection is made with which further experiments are carried out on a larger scale. These will take place in the two work packages D and E. Ageing tests will be carried out and mixing behaviour and emission behaviour will be investigated. In addition, the corrosion behaviour will be examined by static tests. Finally, the synthetic fuels will be used in a single-cylinder test engine and at the same time a possible additivation will be considered.