It is more an insight I guess. Actually metyl-alcohol = gas line
antifreeze. Ethyl same as methyl both tie up water from gasoline,
therefore can serve as a carrier of water into the fuel mixture. I do
not know where you come from, but it is rather important here in Canada.
My first experience with the water injection is accidental. A little 1
horsie 2 stroke outboard of then East German origin run a horizontal
shaft under a slant into water. When the wind speed and direction was
right, the spray created by the shaft where it entered water would be
blown into the carburetor intake. The resulting increase in power was
very noticeable.
My later inquiry after i came to Canada led me to the mentioned Edmund
Scientific gismo. I never bought it being worried about the potential
problems as mentioned in my first mail.
Now, methyl-alcohol is probably a poor carrier because it is said to gum
up venturis and jets.
That's what you get from manufacturers of non-methyl alcohol "octane"
boosters.
Ethyl-alcohol is not supposed to do that. Most of Canada's gasoline is
about 10% ethyl-alcohol already. Ethyl-alcohol mixes with water in any
ratio, but that does not mean that it is going to do the same when it is
already in a mixture with gasoline, or when gasoline is added.
You would have to do some experimenting, and it better be scientific at
least to such a degree that you take into your consideration and records
not only the ratios, but also the ambient temperatures.
You are going to face one problem, and that is cold start. It could be
probably solved by dual tank, using straight gasoline for worm up, then
switching to gasoline-alcohol-water mixture.
The ethyl-alcohol probably has the advantage over emulsifiers, because
water does not freeze when in mixture with it. (Ratios and temperatures
are important again here). I do not know about emulsifiers.
Somebody mentioned boosting octane number by adding water. I did not
want to be picky, but since I am typing this anyway, I can as well have
some say.
My chemistry is not all that great, nevertheless I believe I was taught
that octane is a closed hydrocarbon chain in the shape octagon. I do not
see how water can tie non octagon hydrocarbon chains into octagonal
ones. But may be it can, what do I know.
All I know is that liquid water molecules grow tremendously in size when
changing to vapor. Additional heat past boiling point will do the same,
but it becomes less and less efficient. I am almost sure it is geometric
sequence, which is Inverse Square Law.
You have to heat double to get half expansion. This works from O Kelvin
I hear and I do not really know the math of it.
I hope this helps, regards Slavek.
Thinking about it, glycol might do interesting thinks. Anybody better in
chemistry than me?