European researchers come up with a solution to redesign engines better adapted to biofuels

A consortium of researchers from the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Finland and the United Kingdom set out to redesign engines, so that they could adapt to non-conventional fuels. They tackled the challenge by rethinking each component's finishing, as opposed to modifying their traditional structures. With this idea the team has come up with a solution that could eliminate the corrosive effect of biofuel and restore faith in biofuels.

This team of researchers formed as part of a EUREKA cluster for research, has proposed to modify the design of engines to suit non-conventional fuels. As a result of the research a new generation of engines adapted for biofuels would possible, engines that would also be less noisy and longer lasting, and that would restore confidence in biofuels alternatives by providing with effective uses.

According to the members of the project, its primary purpose was to improve a technology already available to suit the types of fuel blends most commonly used, from E10 to E30. As pointed out by these researchers, a new generation of biofuels is approaching which is not based on foodstuffs. For this reason, for the purposes of the project the so-called second generation of biofuels as well as those based on algae has been used, as one of the very promising future source of energy. This project paves the way for future research aimed at the introduction of fuel blends with a higher concentration of ethanol.

Hhybrid automotive fuels such as E10, which is composed of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline, have lost popularity rapidly in some parts of Europe. According to a recent survey, nearly 70% of German drivers are sceptical about bioethanol and they consider it detrimental to the engine of the car. In addition, as pointed out by one of the main industrial partners in the project, the European market might not be ready for the introduction of this new technology. This is why during the project results were tested in Brazil and Venezuela, since consumers in these markets consider biofuels a viable solution. In this regard, the European Commission has intensified in recent years collaboration in research and development of biofuels with countries such as Brazil, providing funds from the Seventh Framework Programme.

EUREKA Platform for European Research

The team of researchers involved in this project is part of a EUREKA research cluster. EUREKA is a platform for research and development (R&D)-performing entrepreneurs in Europe and is made up of 39 partners including the European Commission. The Platform, which was founded in 1985, aims to become the leading platform for R&D-performing entrepreneurs in Europe and beyond by taking an industry-led, applied, close-to-market approach to research and innovation.