Evidence that inexpensive device boosts fuel economy by up to 20 percent
September 29, 2008
A new device could enhance fuel economy by up to 20 percent. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Amid sticker-shock fuel prices, researchers in Pennsylvania are reporting results of laboratory tests and road tests verifying that a simple, inexpensive device attached to a car engine's fuel injector can boost gas mileage by up to 20 percent. That translates into several more precious miles per gallon, they say. Their study is scheduled for the November 19 issue of ACS' Energy & Fuels.
In the new study, Rongjia Tao and colleagues describe development and testing of a new fuel economy booster. The small device consists of an electrically charged tube that can be attached to the fuel line of a car's engine near the fuel injector.
The device creates an electric field that thins fuel, or reduces its viscosity, so that smaller droplets are injected into the engine. That leads to more efficient and cleaner combustion than a standard fuel injector, the researchers say.
Six months of road testing in a diesel car showed that the device increased highway fuel from 33 miles per gallon (mpg) to 37 mpg. "We expect the device will have wide applications on all types of internal combustion engines, present ones and future ones," the report states, citing engines powered by gasoline, biodiesel, and kerosene. Further improvements in the device could lead to even better mileage, they suggest.
Article: "Electrorheology Leads to Efficient Combustion", http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ef8004898
Source: American Chemical Society
Sep 24, 2009 |
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My question would be did they test this with a propane injector unit already installed on the vehicle, as a propane injection unit goes from an 80% efficient diesel engine to a 98% efficient diesel engine, and they've been in common usage in the heavy trucking industry for a long time.
Sincerely,
Mobil, BP, Chevron, Etc.
http://www.physor...725.html
enquiring m inds would like to know.
I'm suprised that they don't mention hexane cracking anywhere.
Fuel saving devices that increase the utillity of oil products is exactly what oil companies want; that makes oil harder to replace and allows people to spend just as much money for less oil.
Further, the "big oil" companies you listed are now bit players of little significance to anyone.
Velanarris, It wouldn't do anything for an LPG or natural gas vehicle since those use a gaseous fuel and don't require vaporization of the fuel.
If there would be a 20% gain in fuel efficiency, expect it to be mandatory in the near future, this would be the easiest way to reduce CO2 so far, Its just too easy imo.
I hope its real, but hope alone wont change fuel consumption.
A claimed 20% improvement is enormous, the worlds energy problems would be solved at a stroke. Incredible. Nobel prize material.
Funny there is no mention of it on Professor Tao's webpage:
http://www.temple...tao.html
Also I can find no independant corroboration of the article which does not originate from STWA Inc. who sponsored it.
So don't believe everything you read on the web, even on Physorg.com.
Don't invest until an independent engineer knowledgeable in thermodynamics investigates the workings.
It was an old diesel engine, then I could possibly see a 20% increase. But if it's a recently developed engine, those suckers really atomize the gas through very fine injectors.
The 20% efficiency is useless because it is based on road driving. The road conditions could have changed which would swamp this with error.
Actually, no. Their paper states that such a method could be used but would probably use too much electricity to be practical.
Thanks.
Keely is cool, but as Holm said, keep that skeptic hat on. Just because something is published doesn't mean it's true.
That's a great idea unless you live in a regional climate that is absolutely brutal to do that in. I bet there isn't much bike riding going on in Alaska. I know there is none around MA in winter time.
It is significant on an American car. And they are the world's largest consumers, as well as having the lowest statutory efficiency limits of any country that has such limits.