Sylvie Willis
The need to reduce air pollution and climate change is becoming increasingly urgent, and one solution is to create cleaner-burning diesel fuel. Hydro diesel fuel, also known as e-diesel, is a type of diesel fuel that is made by infusing water into diesel fuel droplets, resulting in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly fuel source. This process not only reduces emissions but also decreases the amount of fuel required, making it a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional diesel. With the development of water-in-fuel emulsion technology, hydro diesel fuel offers a promising solution for reducing our carbon footprint and improving air quality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Process | Heat steam to about 1472 degrees Fahrenheit using renewable energy sources |
| Use electricity from a car battery to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases | |
| Benefits | Cleaner fuel with no sulfur or other contaminants |
| Higher fuel efficiency | |
| Reduced emissions | |
| Reduced health effects on humans and animals from air pollution | |
| Lower costs | |
| Increased engine work output | |
| Carbon neutrality | |
| Reduced environmental pollution | |
| Improved lubricity | |
| Reduced carbon distribution | |
| Increased machine work life |
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What You'll Learn
Mixing water and diesel fuel
Water and diesel fuel are not your typical mix, as water is not combustible and usually doesn't mix well with combustible fuels. However, mixing water and diesel fuel has been found to have its advantages, and the process is known as emulsification.
The process of emulsification involves mixing water into diesel fuel, which requires special chemicals like wetting agents, as well as a special pump and mixer. This results in a stable mixture with the same shelf life as regular diesel fuel. One company, Trillion, has developed a water-in-diesel-fuel nanoemulsion technology called HydroDiesel+®, which infuses a nanometer-sized water chemical solution inside diesel fuel droplets. This technology has been found to have a range of benefits, including lower costs, significant emissions reduction, increased engine output, higher fuel efficiency, and reduced health effects from air pollution.
Another method of mixing water and diesel fuel is through direct injection of water into the cylinder, which is commonly used in large engines such as marine engines. In this case, a separate water injection system is employed, duplicating the existing diesel fuel injection system. A more recent development involves injecting both the diesel fuel and water into the cylinder with the same injector, layering the two liquids and sequentially injecting them. However, this method requires a considerable amount of attention and is only suitable for large engines with competent engine operators.
The benefits of introducing water into the combustion process include reduced temperatures and lower NOx emissions. Research has shown that emulsified fuels are particularly effective at decreasing NOx and particulate matter emissions simultaneously. Additionally, the water/diesel fuel mixing system can reduce undesirable emissions and save fuel by introducing water during engine operation, but it is important to turn off the water supply before shutdown to avoid corrosion in the fuel system.
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Using a water-in-fuel emulsion
Water-in-diesel emulsion (WiDE) is an alternative fuel that can be used in CI engines without requiring any additional engine retrofitting. Water-in-oil emulsified fuels, such as WiDE, are widely used in Europe and typically contain between 5% and 30% water by mass.
The main advantages of using emulsified fuels are environmental and economic. Introducing water into the combustion process reduces temperatures and NOx emissions. Research has shown that WiDE can lead to a reduction in adiabatic flame temperature, resulting in measurable reductions in NOx emissions. The presence of water during the intensive formation of soot particles seems to reduce the rate of formation and enhance their burnout by increasing the concentration of oxidation species.
WiDE also offers more complete combustion, leading to better fuel economy, and cleaner-burning fuel with fewer emissions. The main mechanism causing the reduction in NOx emissions seems to be the decrease in the temperature of the combustion products due to the vaporisation of the liquid water and the consequent dilution of the gas phase species.
The stability of the emulsion is important, and this can be achieved with the help of suitable surfactants. Surfactants have a polar (hydrophilic) head and a nonpolar (hydrophobic) tail. When placed in an oil-water mixture, the polar groups orient themselves towards the water, and the nonpolar group orients towards the oil, lowering the interfacial tension between the oil and water phases.
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Creating a nanoemulsion
Water-in-oil emulsified fuels, such as diesel and biodiesel-water emulsions, are widely used in Europe. These emulsions usually contain between 5% and 30% water by mass. Water-in-diesel emulsions can serve as alternative fuels, offering lower emissions and improved brake thermal efficiency.
Water-in-fuel emulsions have been offered for heavy fuel oil (HFO) and diesel since 2006 by Nonox Ltd. This approach, known as Emulsion to Combustion (E2C), allows for mixing without chemical surfactants, the adjustment of the water-to-fuel ratio based on load, and prevents separation during storage. This system has demonstrated reductions in soot emissions of up to 90% and NOx emissions by 40%, while also delivering fuel savings depending on baseline efficiency.
Microemulsions of fuels have been prepared using specific types of surfactants, which differentiate them from other commercial emulsion fuels. These microemulsions are often utilized in contexts where safety (e.g., fire prevention) or enhanced commercial returns (e.g., improved oil recovery using surfactant flooding) justify the additional costs.
To create a water-in-diesel fuel nanoemulsion, you will need to prepare a mixture of surfactants. Sorbitan monooleate and polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate are commonly used surfactants for this purpose. The Hydrophilic–Lipophilic Balance (HLB) value of these surfactant mixtures can be adjusted to achieve the optimal range of 9.6 to 10.4.
Three mixed surfactant concentrations were prepared at 6%, 8%, and 10% to identify the optimum concentration. The optimum concentration will depend on the specific surfactants used and the desired properties of the nanoemulsion. Once the optimal HLB value and surfactant concentration have been determined, you can prepare the nanoemulsion using a high energy method. The droplet size of the nanoemulsion can be controlled by adjusting the HLB value, surfactant concentration, and water content.
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Using renewable energy sources
Renewable diesel, also known as green diesel, is a hydrocarbon produced by hydrotreating, gasification, pyrolysis, and other biochemical and thermochemical technologies. It is a replacement for diesel and can be blended with it in any amount. It can also be used anywhere ultra-low sulfur diesel, gasoline, or crude oil is used without requiring modifications to engines or pipelines.
One method of producing renewable diesel involves the use of green solvents and hydrogen donors for the HDO (hydrodeoxygenation) of fatty biomass. This process is environmentally friendly and economically beneficial, as it produces in situ H2 through the dehydrogenation or aqueous phase reforming of hydrogen donors, facilitating the feedstock catalyst contact in the presence of external H2. The use of water in the HDO process is useful when the feedstock contains considerable amounts of water, such as waste cooking and algae oils. Formic acid is a promising candidate for hydrogen storage due to its low toxicity, high stability, and ease of transportation and handling.
Another method of producing renewable diesel is through hydrothermal processing, which uses high pressure and moderate temperature to initiate the chemical decomposition of biomass or wet waste materials to produce an oil that can be catalytically upgraded to hydrocarbon fuels. This process has gained traction in western states, with additional large plants expected to come online through 2024.
E-diesel, or "blue crude," is another form of renewable diesel created by using renewable energy sources to power a process that combines carbon dioxide, water, and electricity to create a liquid energy carrier. This liquid energy carrier is then refined to generate e-diesel, a carbon-neutral fuel that does not extract new carbon. The current process involves high-temperature electrolysis powered by electricity generated from renewable energy sources to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The next two chemical processes create blue crude, which is then refined to create e-diesel.
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Reducing environmental pollution
Diesel fuel is a major contributor to environmental pollution. It is responsible for harmful emissions such as ground-level ozone, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide, which is a significant greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. To combat this, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented standards for the sulfur content of diesel fuel and emissions from new diesel engines. These regulations have led to the development of Ultra-Low-Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel, which has a maximum sulfur concentration of 15 parts per million. However, despite these advancements, diesel fuel use still contributes significantly to air pollution, as older diesel engine vehicles continue to be in use.
One innovative solution to reduce diesel emissions and environmental pollution is HydroDiesel+®, developed by the company Trillion. HydroDiesel+® is a water-in-diesel-fuel nanoemulsion technology that infuses a nanometer-sized water chemical solution inside diesel fuel droplets. This technology offers multiple benefits, including lower costs, significant emissions reduction, increased engine output, higher fuel efficiency, and reduced health impacts from air pollution. The ability to use existing diesel fuel manufacturing and distribution infrastructure further enhances the attractiveness of HydroDiesel+®.
Another approach to reducing environmental pollution from diesel fuel is through the use of hydrogen technologies. Clean Hydrogen Gas can improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon pollution. The Hydro Dynamo Booster, developed by Hydro Dynamics HHO, LLC, is one such example, helping to save fuel and protect the environment. Hydrogenated diesel/H2O2 blend fuel has also been studied, demonstrating reduced emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), unburned hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
Additionally, the production of green diesel through hydrotreating processes offers an opportunity to mitigate environmental pollution. Hydrotreating involves reacting renewable organic materials with hydrogen at elevated temperatures and pressures in a catalytic reactor to produce hydrocarbons similar to those in petroleum-based diesel. This process can utilize vegetable oils or oil and renewable organic material, resulting in diesel that meets legislative specifications. By increasing the proportion of renewable organic material in the feed, economic benefits can also be achieved.
Overall, addressing environmental pollution from diesel fuel requires a combination of innovative solutions, regulatory standards, and the adoption of cleaner fuel alternatives. By implementing these measures, we can reduce emissions, improve air quality, and move towards a more sustainable future.
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Frequently asked questions
Hydro diesel fuel is a blend of water and diesel fuel. This mixture is created by infusing water into diesel fuel droplets, which results in a more sustainable fuel alternative.
Hydro diesel fuel offers several advantages over traditional diesel. It reduces emissions, including CO2, NOX, SO2, and soot, by 40-90%. It also decreases the amount of fuel required by 20% while increasing the total volume to 125%. This leads to reduced costs and a lower tax burden.
One method of producing hydro diesel fuel involves using a SMART Blending System, which treats the diesel fuel during the manufacturing process. Another approach, known as "125 hydrogen diesel oil", involves mixing diesel oil with a microemulsion and then adding clear water, ammoniacal liquor, a catalyst, ethanol, and oleic acid in a specific sequence.
