国外甲醇汽油的发展与启示

国外甲醇汽油的发展主要经历了研究开发、示范推广、衰退3个阶段。由于20世纪70年代两次石油危机,德国、瑞典、美国等先后开展了甲醇替代能源的研究。20世纪80年代,在改善大气环境质量的推动下,甲醇被列为清洁燃料,得到了进一步的示范推广。但20世纪80年代末以后,在欧洲甲醇汽油逐步被乙醇汽油取代。1998年后,美国甲醇燃料汽车和甲醇燃料也都开始减少。人们不愿意接受甲醇汽油的根本原因是其暴露出的诸多缺点,包括:甲醇有毒,易造成人员伤害,严重时可导致失明甚至致命;腐蚀性强,短时间难以察觉,缩短汽车使用寿命;热值只有汽油的一半,限制了车辆的行驶距离;甲醇汽油冬季冷启动困难,而夏季又易发生"气阻"现象;甲醇汽车尾气中甲醛等非常规排放远高于普通汽油,而甲醛为强致癌物质。同时经济上失去竞争力也加速了甲醇汽油的衰退。根据对国外甲醇汽油发展过程的调查和分析研究,建议中国应禁止使用甲醇汽油;即使要强行使用甲醇汽油,也应做好各方面的充分准备。实际上,在中国推行甲醇汽油,最终受益的将是中东和新西兰甲醇生产商,而非中国甲醇行业。

Methanol Gasoline Development in Foreign Countries and Enlightenment to China

Methanol gasoline has undergone three major stages of development in foreign countries - research and development,demonstration and promotion,and declining.Following the two oil crises in the 1970s, some countries including Germany,Sweden and the United States started the research on methanol as an al- ternative energy source.In the 1980s,pushed by the motive to improve the quality of the atmosphere,methanol was listed as a clean fuel and its use was further demonstrated and promoted.However,after the end of the 1980s,methanol gasoline was gradually replaced by ethanol gasoline in Europe.After 1998,the number of methanol-fueled automobiles and the use of methanol fuel in the United States began declining.The fundamental reason why people are reluctant to accept methanol gasoline is that this fuel has many drawbacks. Methanol is toxic and thus may hurt people.It may cause blindness or even death.Methanol is highly corrosive.Its corrosion,which can hardly be detected in a short period of time,shortens the life of a vehicle. Methanol＇s heat value is only half that of conventional gasoline and this will shorten the travel distance of a vehicle.A vehicle running on methanol gasoline is difficult to cold start in winter and air lock takes place easily in summer.The amount of unconventional pollutants,including formaldehyde,in the tail gas from methanol-fueled automobiles is far greater than that in the tail gas from ordinary gasoline.Formaldehyde is a strongly carcinogenic substance.The loss of economic competitiveness has also contributed to the decline of methanol gasoline.Based on her investigation and study on the history of development of methanol gasoline in foreign countries ,the author of this article suggests China forbid the use of methanol gasoline and that adequate preparations be made in case of emergency even if the use of methanol gasoline cannot be stopped for some reason.According to the author,as a matter of fact,spreading the use of methanol gasoline in China will eventually benefit the methanol producers in the Middle East and New Zealand instead of the Chinese methanol industry.