Tag Archives: fuel

Fuel and oil additives

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Additives, especially cleaning additives and ones of unknown makes, are not to be overdone in winter. A cleaning additives can dislodge all sediment from the tanks and fuel line and cause fuel pump contamination. The filter might not be able to protect the pump. The result is usually costly repairs of the pump and/or the engine. A good thing to have in winter is anti-gel. Add it to fuel as instructed in the manual and all the way to fuel cloud point, after which the additive loses its efficiency, although good diesel fuel should not form too much gel at moderate low temperatures (about -10… -15°С). It is best not to fill the tank full with fuel of known or doubtful fuel, the optimum being 10 – 15 liters, which is enough for 200 – 400 km, so as to expend the low quality fuel faster.

A recommended additive is REDEX molybdenum additive. First, the molybdenum compounds in this additive create a thin molecular protective layer on friction parts in the motor, reducing wear and friction. Second, these compounds heal micro cracks and tiny surface dents. It lasts long, i.e. the protective layer is not washed away when oil is changed. In practice this additive manifests itself by significant noise reduction of the motor and better fuel economy.

It is also advisable to occasionally add some of the so called conditioners, i.e. additives improving fuel performance. Producers usually claim their product has magical qualities, such as water binding, cetane number increase, fuel consumption reduction etc.

Try to get all additives and fuel from one company. Although generally compatible, mixing additives from different manufacturers is not a good idea. Neither are experiments with additives to increase compression when ring change is in order. It is impossible to really help the engine, while damaging it is quite so.

Fuel economy

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Fuel economy is a constant factor both for motorists and large research facilities. The increase fuel price make it necessary to search for efficient methods, which can help save money. An average car may have an annual mileage of several thousand miles. In term of fuel expenses, it is quite an amount which may be costly for any budget, be it a small business or a family. The internet has a wealth of information on fuel economy, and this is an attempt to look at them in more detail.

In modern European vehicles, nominal and actual fuel consumption are practically identical, which cannot be said about older vehicles. Those consume a lot more fuel. In real numbers, European cars consume 4 to 6 liters of petrol per 100 kilometers even in city traffic.

Hydrogen and Brown gas. If gasoline is used together with cheap alternative fuels, economy is very real. At this time many vehicle manufacturers are researching ways to develop electrolytic generation of hydrogen. Such devices are called Brown gas generators or hydrogen generators. They generate not the dangerous H2, but a more safe compound, called Brown gas, HHO, made in catalytic electrolysis cells. The gas is then injected with fuel and air into the cylinders, saving fuel. This is due to the reduction of the amount of fuel mix fed into the cylinders and intensification of the combustion process. All processes from generation of gas to optimization of the mix are completely automated and are managed by a single processor.

Water-gasoline emulsions. First experiments in saving fuel by forming water-fuel emulsions began in the 1970s. This is when the research into increasing economy by injecting water into the cylinder along with the fuel. Back then there were no electronic control systems reliable enough to commercialize the technology. With time, the process was automated. Such devices may be installed either on injector or carburetor engine.

Water enters into the manifold through the nozzle. There it is mixed with air, forming micro drops. After fuel injection, these droplets become covered with a thin fuel film, increasing the fuel’s surface area. In the result the combustion of the fuel is improved. Combustion products and water vapor move the pistons.

For implementation of such systems it is enough to correctly set up the injection system or improve the carburetor engine somewhat.

Projected economy with the use of such systems is up to 30% or more, if the vehicle run on low octane fuel.

Oxygen ionizers. Again, the modern electronic control systems allow to use oxygen ionizer. The latter enters the combustion chamber and polarizes hydrogen molecules, freeing active oxygen radicals. The fuel-air combustion in the chamber is quite intensive and happens faster. Manufacturer estimate 8 to 10% fuel economy and potential ability to switch from 95 to 92 octane petrol, saving 5 to 7% more.

The above methods require complex technology to implement. However, there are simple general recommendations, tested and tried by motorists. Although the economy is not that significant, they are still worth following.

Driving style. Smooth driving without pushing the pedal to the metal saves fuel. This is easy for drivers with automatic transmission. For manual transmission, the driver has to keep track of engine rpm and shift accordingly many times a minute without the help of automation.

Air conditioning is another factor. All extra devices are powered by the engine. Air conditioning consumes significant amount of power, so it should only be used when it is really necessary. Never turn AC on with open windows.

Drag. When the vehicle is moving, the oncoming air creates drag, especially with open windows. In some cases it is better to turn on the AC than to pull the windows down.

Tire pressure. This should be kept within the limits specified by the manufacturer. Higher pressure reduces fuel consumption, but reduces tire lifetime and comfort. Overpressure is not recommended: the saved fuel will probably not cover the cost of tire replacement.

Lighten the vehicle. Every pound in the trunk increases fuel burn.

The gap between spark plug electrodes should be kept at manufacturer specified maximum. This is usually 1 mm. The correct gap improves combustion and reduces fuel burn.

Fuel purification filter

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A fuel filter consists of a case containing a special filtering element. They are classified depending on their purpose, location, fineness, design, principle of operation and regeneration type.

The main purpose of the filter is to remove solid particles and/or water from oil. In terms of location, filters can be stock, installed and supplied with the engine, or used in the process of fuel preparation. There also filters for bunker fuel facilities.

In terms of filter material, there are mesh, fiber, slot, fabric, metal-ceramic, pa,per, plastic and cardboard filters. This list is likely incomplete, since new materials come into use all the time for better purification of oil.

Depending on the way of contaminant capture, there are surface and depth filters.

The former capture contaminants on the surface of the filtering material. Such filters have a large cross section area at fuel inlet. The filtering element is usually cardboard, fabric, paper or similar material.

The latter differ from surface filters by capturing contaminants not only on the surface, but also throughout the volume of the filtering material. They have smaller cross section area, but thicker filtering material (over 20 mm usually). Materials used are thick cardboard, metal-ceramics, felt, fibers or plastic.

The advantage of depth filters is the ability to capture particles of varying size. Devices made of fibrous or granular materials tend to form through channels. Some fuel may pass through them with insufficient purification.

Depending on the number of uses, filter can be single or multiple use. The former operate for a certain amount of time and must then be replaced. The latter can be reused, obviously, after rinsing or some other form of reactivation. The drawbacks of depth filters are the time required for purification, and in some cases impossibility of filter restoration.

In terms of fineness, there are fine and coarse filters.

Fine filters must not let through particles from 1 to 20 micron. This allows for normal operation of engine and fuel system.

Coarse filters are used for removal of 80 – 100 micron particles. Their main task is to guarantee normal operation of a fine filter.

The use of diesel fuel compliant with norms and regulations in terms of solid particles and water content, the stock fuel purification devices of the engine are usually sufficient. However, in some cases fuel quality is an issue and may require additional filters (separators, inline filters) in the fuel preparation system.

The role of oil and gas in modern world

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Energy is a key resource in today’s economy. National production development is largely defined by the consumption of energy. The importance of energy resources is emphasized by the fact that over 70% of mineral resources are sources of energy.

The main energy sources today are coal, oil, natural gas, hydropower and nuclear power.

Oil and gas have become the leaders in world energy since the 1960s. In Germany and the UK, for instance, oil and gas account for 55-60% of total energy consumption, while the the US and Japan the number is even higher: 75 – 80%.

Some of the advantages of oil and gas as energy sources are relatively low production cost, waste-free processing with production of various types of fuel and chemicals. However, world deposits of oil and gas are not limitless. They are significantly lower than coal, shale and asphaltic sand. At the same time, the production of oil and gas by far exceeds that of other combustible minerals.

The high level of oil consumption causes the concern that the world supply of oil may be exhausted in the relatively near future. It is commonly accepted that oil is due to run out by the end of the 21st century.

As oil became the main energy source, its political and economic significance has increased. Availability of own oil, the ability to organize export of oil and oil products has allowed some countries many achievements in their economic and social development. At the same time, the fluctuations of the world’s oil prices and the market condition lead to significant changes in the policy of both oil producing countries and those countries with economy based on imported oil.

The world oil prices have been fluctuating in recent  years.  In the first years after World War II, the price of oil was dictated by the International oil cartel, dominated by the US. The cartel purchased oil from exporters, developing nations, at low price (22 USD per 1 cubic meter in 1970), while selling oil products to importers at relatively high prices.  To protect their economic interests, the developing nations created OPEC in 1960. OPEC includes Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Venezuela, Indonesia, Libya, Nigeria, Algeria and Ecuador.

Considering a sharp increase of demand in the world market, OPEC increased their pressure on the oil monopolies in 1972-1973 and increased the price four times. The increase lead to unstable oil supply in several industrialized countries and oil shortages.

The West implemented measures to decrease their dependence on foreign oil by increasing their production of own oil and coal,  reducing consumption and the use of other energy sources (solar, nuclear and geothermal). These measures caused the world oil price to drop.