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Didn't Germany at least work on making synfuels during World War II? I remember reading here that they at least tried coal extract for aviation fuel and gasoline and diesel. I'd also say maybe look at biofuels for where that might work (though that wasn't a big deal back then unlike now).
Almost none of the aviation fuel was from the FT plants, the vast majority (probably over 95%) was from the Bergius process plants. The FT plantsYes, Germany had synthetic oil derived from coal (the Fisher-Tropsch process). This synthetic oil production accounted for the large majority of Germany's aviation fuel production during the war.
Nope. See below for a diagram dated 2016 showing distribution of oil and gas reserves across the North Sea area. The physical challenges of developing North Sea oil in the 1970s were huge. The technology to do it didn't exist in the 1930/40s. They are some of the deepest and roughest waters in the world.North sea oil could be a deal maker. Pre war stock building or capture the fields far from the pesky Royal Navy and find a way to protect them. Offshore Drilling History
not in a war its not.The physical challenges of developing North Sea oil in the 1970s were huge. The technology to do it didn't exist in the 1930/40s. They are some of the deepest and roughest waters in the world.
These sorts of engines were supplied in the main from both the limited crude Germany could import, and extract internally, together with the output of the Fischer-Tropsch fuel from coal plants, which were mostly unsuitable for making AVGAS.Many moons ago,davebender made a thread about alleviating the German fuel situation. Perhaps we can give it a second look now?
Of interest is the avgas, gasoline and diesel fuel for military trucks, subs and cars, as well as what to do with fuel required for civilian use (industry, transportation, agriculture).
A realistic approach is appreciated, ie. no 'future sends to Germans 100 fuel-laden tankers in 1939' etc.
This is about as far as offshore technology went in WW2. For placement in shallow waters.not in a war its not.
What a beautiful airplane!
I know that alcohols could've been used in automotive applications, but what chemicals or chemical blends could've been used as aviation fuel? Here's what the Fiat CR.32 used for aviation fuel: "The engine did not use the usual aviation gasoline, but instead ran on a mixture of petrol (55%), alcohol (23%) and benzol (22%)."
In the United Kingdom, benzole or benzol is a coal-tar product consisting mainly of benzene and toluene. It was originally used as a 'motor spirit', as was petroleum spirits. Benzole was also blended with petrol and sold as a motor fuel under trade names including "National Benzole Mixture" and "Regent Benzole Mixture".[1]
Confusingly, in certain languages, such as German, Hungarian, Ukrainian and Russian, the word benzol (or benzole) means "benzene", and in some of these languages, words pronounced like "benzene" (e.g., the German word Benzin) can mean "petrol" or "gasoline."[2]
Almost none of the aviation fuel was from the FT plants, the vast majority (probably over 95%) was from the Bergius process plants. The FT plants
sometimes provided some chemicals used for iso-octane production, but this was an extremely minor constititent by volume and didnt occur after about 1943.
Methanol has long been a popular choice for high performance racing engines where the rules allow. It is/was very popular with aircooled race engines where the charge cooling is very beneficial, not to mention the higher power achievable in many applications, albeit with larger fuel consumption. So, it is also popular in short duration Sprint and Drag racing. The "Fuel" term in Drag racing relates to Methanol, aided by Nitromethane on many applications.
The problems with Methanol and fuel systems are always present, many methanol fuelled engines are carefully purged of the Methanol before being put away after use.
Eng