testing a new diesel/water emulsion

[coghill]

We are looking for a reputable laboratory to test a newly developed fuel composed of diesel and water for vehicles. Could anyone suggest one? Ideally they should be UK based near London. We are happy to pay all fees up front.

 

[mattsooty]

Hi Coghill,

when you say you want to have the fuel tested do you mean that you want an engine that is running the fuel to be put on a dyno or do you mean a chemical analysis of the fuel???

If you want to have the fuel tested in an engine on a dyno then there are a few companies that you might want to conside Lotus Engineering (near Norwich), Ricardo Engineering (Shoreham-on-sea) or Janspeed (Salisbury). If you want the chemical stuff done then I don't really know.

As far as the fuel being 'new' I think that Ricardo done some research on the subject of water/diesel emulsion a few years back, the benefits where said to be a reduction in Nox emissions. The biggest drawback was the tendency of the fuel to degrade (diesel and water separating) after a few weeks standing.

Matt

 

[jmw]

Fuel Water Emulsions are a hot topic with large (low speed) diesel engines. These are burning heavy or residual fuels which are milled and then homogenised before injection.
MAN B&W favour this approach over water injection into the air inlet. Both approaches are designed to procvide "No Smoke" operation of the engines even at reduced loads.
Fuel is a critical topic for engine manufacturers and users and hence CIMAC (the International Council on Combustion engines) at

http://www.cimac.com

has a working group on fuels.
In the UK the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in London (Haldane House?)should also be able to advise on appropriate facilities.
Other than that, what happened to NIFES in Slough? the National Industrial Fuel Efficiency something or other. Are they still there?

 

[stroker]

In my opinion,the best approach to this project is to develop the engine and the fuel together. Without an optimized engine even the best fuel will produce mediocre results. I tried to convince Rudy Gunnerman...no luck...he's still trying to push a rope!

 

[paddy]

My old Tech College lecturer did his MSc on this. The reality is that up to 3-4% of water fully emulsified can help the combustion process by atomising the fuel better as water droplets explode into steam.
Over this level the heat to evaporate the water, lowers the thermodynamic efficiency. It is the old trade-off again.
It probably helps the emissions as well.

In WWII tthe Spitfire went better on foggy days or in cloud for the same reason but these were carburetted not injected engines.
Universities probably have test facilities available still in their laboratories.

 

[stroker]

paddy....The moisture/water that was ingested into the Spitfire engine cooled the intake charge(a denser charge= more power) and supressed detonation.

 

[ivymike]

The evaporation of water droplets during compression should also act as an in-cylinder intercooler, and result in higher "compressor" efficiency, right?

 

[Goatman]

RE: COGHILL
I hope you have found a reputable laboratory to test your work. In the future, I work for a "CERTIFIED EMISSIONS TESTING LABORATORY" here in Canada.

 

[RBoehne]

I recall some research having been done on DI diesel engines injecting water with the fuel, the idea being to disperse the fuel within the cylinder by rapidly boiling water droplets within the fuel. However, I don't recall the source. Perhaps the most reputable dyno testing lab in the world, certainly the UK, is Ricardo Consulting Engineers in Shoreham, near Brighton. Ricardo has been doing this sort of work since 1915.
As far as I can recall, the tecnique of injecting water with fuel reduces emissions and fuel sensitivity but suffers from other practical problems in the field. Namely, you must carry distilled water, with an additive to prevent freezing, and use a fuel pump capable of injecting the mixture.
In DI diesel engines the fuel is often the only lubricant that some parts of the pump see, so having a significan amount of water in the fuel changes the requirements of the materials in the pump. Ricardo Software

http://www.ricardo.com

 

[pow]

Does anyone know of a good method to determine the emulsion drop size of a jet fuel/water mixture after coming through an emulsifier? I have heard that optical microscopy can be employed, but I have been unable to find any type of testing procedure (ASTM or the like).
Any suggestions would be appreciated.