The world as we know it is experiencing a serious crisis.

The industrial revolution allowed for the production of machines in mass quantities. These machines are used almost every day by almost everyone and run off of fossil fuels. These fossil fuels not only pollute our atmosphere but the supply of these resources are running low. Our dependence on a depleting resource has alerted many intellectuals to try and find alternative power sources. To find an alternative power source, it needs to not only replicate or improve performance and efficiency of the machine but must also meet strict regulations and laws regarding emission from a machine. Many alternative fuels do not meet these criteria and therefor in-depth research is not conducted. Recent advances in technology has helped make several alternative fuels a viable alternative to fossil fuels. The purpose of this annotated bibliography is to relay information, research and findings to any engineer, specifically mechanical engineers, so they can focus on realistic alternative fuels. Every source in this annotated bibliography comes from a recognized institution or a peer reviewed magazine/journal. Most of the research is the beginning step to creating an alternative fuel along with engines that use this alternative fuel. You must first find optimum conditions to produce optimum results. This can provide a knowledge base to build upon when creating engines that efficiently use the alternative fuel while meeting the strict regulations of emissions. Anbal T. de Almeida, et al. "Impact Of The Electricity Mix And Use Profile In The Life-Cycle Assessment Of Electric Vehicles." Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 24.(2013): 271-287. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. After some research this article can be traced back to the University of Coimbra in Portugal. Anibal T. De Almeida, along with Ricardo Faria, Fausto Freire and Pedro Mouria created a comprehensive review of cars powered by electricity in comparison to

internal combustion cars and hybrids. They gathered basic data about each car such as curb weight, battery weight, fuel or electricity consumption, as well as engine weight. The team then found out main factors that lead to energy consumption in electric vehicles. Next they graphed data of energy consumption in relationship to speed of each car and compared. Emission readings were taken. Life cycles and ownership cost were assessed for each type of car. Anibal and associates concluded that for internal combustion cars, better control over fuel injection, spark timing, and reduced weight could improve energy consumption. Electric vehicles in the long run have the cheapest ownership cost then other types of cars. It was also concluded that the driver has a big impact on how efficient a car can be. This research shows that electric cars are the improved future of the world we live in. With some innovations and manpower, electric cars will become more common than any other means of transportation. Crawford, Mark. "Cars Without Combustion." Mechanical Engineering 135.9 (2013): 38-43. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. This article can be found in the magazine subscription Mechanical Engineering. This is a very credible source for articles on mechanical engineering because many engineers subscribe and read the magazine, giving feedback and information to the editors to improve the accuracy of the articles. Mark Crawfords article is about how recent advances in technology are making the idea of fuel cells as an energy source for transportation a practical alternative to fossil fuels. These fuel cells would meet the tough United States of America emission requirements which usually stops research of alternative fuels before they can be made into a reality. Mark goes in depth on how a fuel cell works using hydrogen, water and electricity. He conducted some research on how

practical fuel cells would be in transportation. He found out that some places, such as California, are building hydrogen fueling stations and hope to be able to refuel a million cars using fuel cells by 2020. This shows that fuel cells will be used in the foreseeable future and gives hope that we are close to creating an alternative fuel that could be used by everyone. Once this dream is made into a reality, a dramatic reduction of pollutants would be witnessed as humans make a step towards a healthier planet. Ergen, Alp Tekin, and Ali Fuat Ergen. "A Multi-Purpose Test-Bed Design for Alternative Diesel Fuels." Transactions of the Institute of Measurement & Control 34.1 (2012): 91104. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. Alp Tekin Ergenc is a mechanical engineer at Yildiz technical University in Istanbul, Turkey. Ergenc, like many others has recognized the need for alternative fuel for the technology we rely on everyday due to the fact that fossil fuel supplies are running low. Since Bio-diesel is an alternative fuel that shows promise, Alp Tekin Ergenc designed a multi-purpose test-bed design that will test the efficiency of bio-diesel at various conditions to find the optimum operating condition. The duration, number of phases, timing and pressure of the injection are all controlled in the test-bed. Once you find the optimum operating condition of an alternative fuel, you can use that knowledge to start designing engines that could use the alternative fuel efficiently which would replace regular fossil fuel engines. This Test-bed is the first step towards a future where we can rely on an alternative fuel source to run our machines and technology that we use every day.

Godwin A. Ayoko, et al. "Application Of Multicriteria Decision Making Methods To Compression Ignition Engine Efficiency And Gaseous, Particulate, And Greenhouse Gas Emissions." Environmental Science & Technology 47.4 (2013): 1904-1912. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. One of the major issues caused by industrial revolution is the release of pollutants into the air which harms the environment. Many laws and regulations are put into place to try and minimize the amount of pollutants given off by a piece of machinery. Ayoko Godwin conducted some research at the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health in Australia using the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations and Geometrical Analysis for Interactive Aid (PROMETHEE-GAIA) algorithm. Using this algorithm they tested the impact of alternative fuels, an ethanol fumigation system, and alternative fuel injection systems on a compression ignition engine. Their goal was to find the combination of fuel and design that would produce the least negative impact on human health, air quality and global warming. They also tested different concentrations of substances in an alternative fuel to find the most efficient solution. Ayoko Godwin concluded that alternative combustion strategies such as ethanol fumigation, are recommended with moderate load with ethanol substitutions of around twenty percent. It was also found that a high percentage of soy blends work best as an alternative fuel. Even though they did all of this research and testing they still advise others to conduct research before attempting to practically use the alternative fuels and combustion strategies. Gonzalez, Jorge. "Buildings, Sustainability and Impacts for the Mechanical Engineer." Mechanical Engineering 135.3 (2013): 08-09. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Oct. 2013

This short magazine article and the author Jorge Gonzalez stress the importance of construction, operation and maintenance of buildings and cities to support sustainable living. In a single building, there are multiple opportunities to efficiently use space, electricity and water to reduce the impact on the environment. Jorge Gonzalez wants to motivate engineers to improve the environment by designing and building technology to be used in urban areas that would help produce energy without the use of fossil fuels. The simple application of solar panels and wind turbines at the top of a building could make a building self-sustainable. The more we focus on self-sustainable buildings, the closer we are to reaching our goal of becoming non-dependent on fossil fuels. Ing Wardhana, et al. "A Study of Ethanol Low Grade As An Alternative Fuel for Small Engine." AIP Conference Proceedings 1440.1 (2012): 1164-1168. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. The Faculty of Engineering at Indonesia University conducted a study on an alternative fuel in a small engine. The alternative fuel they wanted to study was bio-ethanol. They compared fuel consumption with distillation rates at various temperatures. Ing Wardhana and her team also tampered with different alcohol concentrations in the alternative fuel. They took readings of OH and HC emissions so they could see if the bio-ethanol met safety emissions standards. They concluded that 90 degrees Celsius produced the optimum results between fuel consumption, distillation, and emissions. What stands out in this report is the amount of grammatical errors. Correct spelling as well as sentence structure are lacking in this Academic journal. This is probably because the study came from a foreign country where English is not the countrys main language. Still the

grammatical errors impede the reports ability to convey research and findings clearly to the audience. Islam, Mazharul, and Ruhul M. Amin. "Renewable-Energy Education For Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Students." International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education 40.3 (2012): 207-219. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. It is accepted that we need to find an alternative source of power, and it is the job of mechanical engineers, as well as all sectors of engineering, to create and test different machines to efficiently use the alternative fuels. Once this is done we can be freed from our dependence on depleting resources. This academic journal was written in the International Journal of Mechanical Engineering which has been proven to be a credible source. The Journal displays data showing the percentage of use and research of certain alternative fuels to show which one has the most promise. This will help undergraduate engineers to focus on research on a certain alternative fuel. Once they are interested in solving the problem, they can take classes that correlate with their decision. This will help better prepare an engineer to brainstorm new ideas that can solve this crisis. M.A. Kalam, et al. "Review On Alcohol Fumigation On Diesel Engine: A Viable Alternative Dual Fuel Technology For Satisfactory Engine Performance And Reduction Of Environment Concerning Emission." Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 26.(2013): 739-751. Academic Search Premier. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. This academic journal looks at the possibility of mixing alcohol with diesel to produce an alternative source of fuel. Alcohol as an alternative source of fuel has much promise so M.A. Kalam wanted to do testes on different percentages of concentration of both diesel

and alcohol. They plated the data in tables and presented them through this academic journal. The results were that the alcohol produces much less gaseous emissions than diesel. This report proves that there are many different options for a alternative fuel, we just have to sift through them to find the right ones. Malik, Ashish, and S Mohapatra. "Biomass-Based Gasifiers for Internal Combustion (IC) Engines-A Review." Sadhana 38.3 (2013): 461-476. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. Ashish Malik and S Mohapatra created an in-depth review on the advantages, challenges and disadvantages of using biomass as an alternative fuel. This review is the first step at seriously considering using biomass on a global scale as an alternative fuel. They used many outside sources as well as conducted their own research to create this review. They note many advantages to using biomass as fuel such as it would strengthen the economy of agricultural based countries like India, where the study came from. Another advantage is it is a renewable, biodegradable, non-toxic fuel source made from waste. It is environmentally friendly due to the fact it does not contain sulfur and no major modifications are needed to be made on certain engines for it to work as a fuel. The last major advantage they list is that it is safer than diesel because it has a high flash point. Along with all of the advantages there are still some challenges to take into consideration such as the price is dependent on multiple factors which would mean the cost would fluctuate. Another challenge is long term storage is difficult. Flash point in blends are unreliable Acceptance by engine manufacturers as well as assurance of continuous availability of biomass would be needed before major use of the fuel can be made on internal combustion engines. Ashish Malik also found some technical difficulties which

include the development of cheaper quality testing and engine performance in the long run. These technical difficulties would need to be solved before anyone can take the next step in making biomass an alternative fuel source to be used by the masses. This article is relevant to my research in that it provides all the advantages and disadvantages of an alternative fuel so that engineers can make a decision on whether or not to continue the research. If they do continue the research this article helps make clear to them the challenges needed to be overcome with innovations in technology. Mohammad Mehrali, et al. "A Comprehensive Review of Bio-Diesel as Alternative Fuel for Compression Ignition Engines." Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 28. (2013): 410-424. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. This comprehensive review coming out of the University of Malaya in Malaysia sheds light on not just the positive effects of using Bio-diesel fuel as an alternative fuel source, but also the negative impacts that will come about if the mass population makes the switch. They collected a lot of data from outside sources to back up their clams that switching to bio-diesel fuel can tamper with the food chain. Shortages in the food supply can be a devastating effect if we use the alternative fuel. They also use outside resources to show that bio-diesel fuel is not a perfect alternative fuel for multiple reasons. One reason is machinery would still give off pollutants into the atmosphere. Another reason it is not perfect is because engine performance in various climates fluctuates when using bio-diesel fuel. The use of many outside sources helps add credibility to the claim that we are not ready to start heavily relying on bio-diesel fuel.

Natesan, N. Kapilan. "The Enhancement Of The Performance Of A Biodiesel Operated Diesel Engine." Energy Sources Part A: Recovery, Utilization & Environmental Effects 35.17 (2013): 1648-1656. Academic Search Premier. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. One of the setbacks for using biodiesel fuel is that it does not match the performance of diesel in an engine. Kapilan Natesans academic journal article is a experiment to try and improve the performance of biodiesel in an engine. Biodiesel has a higher viscosity than regular diesel so the experiment was to preheat the biodiesel. It was hypothesized that this would increase the efficiency of biodiesel in an engine. The experiment was carried out using a single cylinder direct injected truck engine. The results where that preheating the biodiesel fuel improves thermal efficiency and even reduces emissions. A simple chamber in which to preheat the biodiesel could be added to most engines nowadays so it could efficiently use the alternative fuel. Tests still need to be made to see the long term effects on an engine using biodiesel but this experiment is a big accomplishment in moving forward with using biodiesel as an alternative fuel source. Shahram Kalilarya, et al. "Influence of Initial Charge Conditions On Engine Performance and Emission of A DISI Hydrogen-Fueled Engine Under Various Injection Timings." Turkish Journal of Engineering & Environmental Sciences 35.3 (2011): 159-171. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. Influence Of Initial Charge Conditions On Engine Performance And Emission Of A DISI Hydrogen-fueled Engine Under Various Injection Timings is an academic journal written in the Turkish Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences. This research was conducted with the prospect that hydrogen can be used in spark ignition engines as an alternative fuel. Prior research has proven hydrogen produces very little emissions that

can pollute the Earth. Engine specifications as well as the algorithms and their origins are given before showing data represented in multiple graphs. It was found that early injection of hydrogen into the cylinder produces more power in a single combustion. The journal concluded that higher initial temperature produce more emissions then lower initial temperatures. Also higher initial pressure improves performance and produces a more suitable result then lower initial pressure. These results are proof that with more research we can find a suitable alternative power source so we do not have to rely on depleting fossil fuel resources. Taymaz, Imdat, and Mehmet Coban. "Performance And Emissions Of An Engine Fueled With A Biodiesel Fuel Produced From Animal Fats." Thermal Science 17.1 (2013): 233-240. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. Our dependence on fossil fuels as a civilization could be the death of us. An alternative source of power is needed to power engines and other machines while keeping the same or improving the performance of a fossil fuel. It also needs to work under strict emission regulations. Imdat Taymaz and Coban Mehmet believe the answer to this difficult riddle is biodiesel specifically produced using Animal Fats. They conducted research using a single cylinder, four-stroke direct injected diesel engine. This engine was used to take readings on physical and chemical properties of the biodiesel, as well as engine performance. The research led to the conclusion that biodiesel produces a more desirable percentage of emissions than regular diesel, but when it came to engine performance diesel was the favored. Once the performance is improved people will seriously consider making a switch to the alternative fuel.

Zhongjian, Sun, and Tang Zhibo. "Experimental Study on a Model of Bulk Wind Energy Collecting System." Modern Applied Science 5.2 (2011): 143-148. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. The School of Naval Architecture and Civil Engineering at Zhejiang Ocean University worked with Zhongjian Sun and Zhibo Tang to conduct research and experiments on wind energy systems. One piece of equipment used that is not normally seen on wind turbines was the use of a baffle. The baffle will guide random changes of wind to the blades to increase efficiency and to get more power out of the wind currents. Multiple experiments were made to find the number of blades and baffles that would be most efficient. They also adjusted the angle between blades and baffles. They concluded after much experimentation that a 45 degree angle between the blades and baffles would produce the maximum power output. These findings are key to moving towards a wind powered future because it cost a lot of money to build wind turbines so you need to find the most efficient design so that you can get the maximum amount of power out of the wind. Zimmerman, Greg. "Tuned To The Forces Of Nature." Mechanical Engineering 132.5 (2010): 46-49. Academic Search Premier. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. Tuned To the Forces of Nature is another magazine article found in the magazine subscription Mechanical Engineering, which is peer reviewed by many to ensure credibility. In this magazine article the task of improving the longevity and efficiency of wind turbines is accomplished. Diagrams and pictures help visually show changes in gearboxes as well as engines. A gearbox with self-lubricating bearings improves performance and increases the life cycle of a wind turbine. The improvement of a wind

turbine means that wind power is becoming a promising solution as an alternative power source for some people. If experiments and successful improvements like this continues in all forms of alternative energy then soon humans will become independent from depleting fossil fuels.