From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Translated digest from a report by the Italian Government Department of Agriculture on the patented fuel 'Alcoolina'.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27a\4\ Scan295 | |
| Date | 15th February 1934 | |
| CONFEDERAZIONE NAZIONALE FASCISTA DEGLI AGRICOLTORI (The Italian Government Department of Agriculture) (Translated digest from Report of Professor Domenico Toschi) of the Department By authority of the High Commissioner, Dr. Muzzarini. dated February 15th, 1934. "Alcoolina" is patented by Signor Guglielmo Barbini, of Siena whose relative Professor Raffaello Nassini, an illustrious Italian chemist, now deceased, has contributed to the studies made thereon. There is no petrol used in "Alcoolina". Alcohol at 95° is the main constituent. Numerous tests were carried out under mo control, with the following results:- (a) It gives favourable results without modification of engine or carburettor, and therefore its substitution for petrol offers no difficulty. (b) The results given are equal to those with petrol but with easier starting, and the greater engine elasticity results in less gear changing. (c) There is no acid formed on combustion. (d) Combustion being complete, the exhaust gases are not harmful. (e) For the same reason there is practically no carbon deposit. (f) It is "anti-knocking", so higher compression can be effected than when petrol is used. (g) The engine does not heat up even after long runs. From the above it will be seen that "Alcoolina" as compared with other alcohol mixtures has very special properties. It must be borne in mind that tests carried out up to now, although giving undoubtedly good results, have been on a small scale and call for confirmation by more prolonged and methodical tests on the various types of combustion engines. "Alcoolina" must give very good results in ordinary and super-charged engines which have so many uses in Aviation to-day, but tests for this purpose have not yet been carried out. This opinion is restricted to the technical side the substitution of petrol being dependent commercially on so many varied conditions in different countries. NOTE: "Alcoolina" is the name under which B.I.M.S. is patented and exploited in Italy | ||