Synthetic automotive fuels
Zbigniew Stępień
Abstract
The article explains the differences between synthetic fuels of first and second generation. The potential of e-fuels to reduce GHG emissions was indicated. The application requirements that synthetic fuels need to meet in order to be used for powering internal combustion engines have been described. The possibility of using synthetic fuels as "drop-in" fuels, in blends with conventional petroleum-derived fuels as well as by themselves was discussed. E-fuels developed and optimized to power compression ignition and spark ignition engines were characterized. The possibilities of synthetic fuels to reduce emissions of regulated and unregulated exhaust components and to improve the work and operational parameters of the engine were also analyzed using the research carried out so far as basis. At the end of the article, forecasts for synthetic fuels development and applications were presented in the form of a SWOT analysis.