Editing Methanol (section)

====Fuel====
{{Main|Methanol fuel|methanol economy}}
Methanol is occasionally used to fuel [[internal combustion engine]]s. It burns forming carbon dioxide and water:
:{{chem2 | 2 CH3OH + 3 O2 -> 2 CO2 + 4 H2O }}
Methanol fuel has been proposed for ground transportation. The chief advantage of a methanol economy is that it could be adapted to gasoline internal combustion engines with minimum modification to the engines and to the infrastructure that delivers and stores liquid fuel. Its energy density, however, is less than gasoline, meaning more frequent fill ups would be required. However, it is equivalent to super high-octane gasoline in horsepower, and most modern computer-controlled fuel injection systems can already use it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2011/12/methanol-wins-robert-zubrin/|title=Methanol Wins|website=[[National Review]]|date=December 2011|access-date=7 June 2022|archive-date=7 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607191556/https://www.nationalreview.com/2011/12/methanol-wins-robert-zubrin/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Methanol is an alternative fuel for ships that helps the shipping industry meet increasingly strict emissions regulations. It significantly reduces emissions of [[sulfur oxide]]s (SO<sub>''x''</sub>), [[NOx|nitrogen oxide]]s (NO<sub>''x''</sub>) and particulate matter. Methanol can be used with high efficiency in marine diesel engines after minor modifications using a small amount of pilot fuel (dual fuel).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Methanol as a Marine Fuel |publisher=Methanex Corporation |url=https://www.methanex.com/about-methanol/methanol-marine-fuel |access-date=10 April 2021 |archive-date=21 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121005930/https://www.methanex.com/about-methanol/methanol-marine-fuel |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |last1=Andersson |first1=Karin |first2=Carlos |last2=Márquez Salazar |title=Methanol as a Marine Fuel Report |url=http://www.methanol.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/FCBI-Methanol-Marine-Fuel-Report-Final-English.pdf |publisher=FC Business Intelligence |year=2015 |access-date=10 April 2021 |archive-date=10 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410034653/http://www.methanol.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/FCBI-Methanol-Marine-Fuel-Report-Final-English.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

In China, methanol fuels industrial boilers, which are used extensively to generate heat and steam for various industrial applications and residential heating. Its use is displacing coal, which is under pressure from increasingly stringent environmental regulations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Methanol as an Industrial Boiler Fuel |publisher=Methanex Corporation |url=https://www.methanex.com/about-methanol/methanol-industrial-boiler-fuel |access-date=10 April 2021 |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120232602/https://www.methanex.com/about-methanol/methanol-industrial-boiler-fuel |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Direct-methanol fuel cell]]s are unique in their low temperature, atmospheric pressure operation, which lets them be greatly miniaturized.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Kamitani | first1 = A. | last2 = Morishita | first2 = S. | last3 = Kotaki | first3 = H. | last4 = Arscott | first4 = S. | title = Miniaturized microDMFC using silicon microsystems techniques: Performances at low fuel flow rates | doi = 10.1088/0960-1317/18/12/125019 | journal = Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering | volume = 18 | issue = 12 | page = 125019 | year = 2008 | bibcode = 2008JMiMi..18l5019K | s2cid = 110214840 | url = https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02347363/file/kamitani_et_al_2008.pdf | access-date = 30 October 2021 | archive-date = 21 November 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211121004627/https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02347363/file/kamitani_et_al_2008.pdf | url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Kamitani | first1 = A. | last2 = Morishita | first2 = S. | last3 = Kotaki | first3 = H. | last4 = Arscott | first4 = S. | title = Microfabricated microfluidic fuel cells | doi = 10.1016/j.snb.2009.11.014 | journal = Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical | volume = 154 | issue = 2 | page = 174 | year = 2011| bibcode = 2011SeAcB.154..174K }}</ref> This, combined with the relatively easy and safe storage and handling of methanol, may open the possibility of fuel cell-powered [[consumer electronics]], such as laptop computers and mobile phones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.compukiss.com/populartopics/tech_gadgetshtm/article887.htm|title=Methanol Laptop Fuel|author=Berger, Sandy|publisher=Compu·Kiss|date=30 September 2006|access-date=22 May 2007|archive-date=3 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203144642/http://www.compukiss.com/populartopics/tech_gadgetshtm/article887.htm}}</ref>

Methanol is also a widely used fuel in camping and boating stoves. Methanol burns well in an unpressurized burner, so alcohol stoves are often very simple, sometimes little more than a cup to hold fuel. This lack of complexity makes them a favorite of hikers who spend extended time in the wilderness. Similarly, the alcohol can be gelled to reduce risk of leaking or spilling, as with the brand "[[Sterno]]".

Methanol is mixed with water and injected into high performance diesel and gasoline engines for an increase of power and a decrease in intake air temperature in a process known as [[Water injection (engines)|water methanol injection]].