Research looks into ethanol opportunity

Ethanol is commonly used as a gasoline substitute, but an engineering startup sees the potential to use the corn-based fuel as a cleaner, renewable substitute for diesel fuel as well.

BJ Johnson, a mechanical engineer and CEO of ClearFlame Engines, said his company is optimizing a high-efficiency compression ignition engine that runs on ethanol to improve performance and lower soot particle emissions.

ClearFlame Engines is currently participating in the Chain Reactions Innovations program at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago which provides funding and lab space to support entrepreneurs as they develop new technologies from idea to prototype.

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