International Fuel Technology - Diesolift Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuel Additive

International Fuel Technology (IFT), a United States corporation headquartered in St Louis, Missouri, has researched, developed and industry-tested a new technology, Diesolift, that increases the efficiency of liquid hydrocarbon fuels.

IFT products have undergone independent testing at some of the worlds most accredited engineering research facilities, including the Southwest Research Institute (US), MI Technologies (UK) and Motive Power (US). These were complimented by direct field trails with industry peers such as Indiana Railroad (CSX) and Idaho Northern. The company now has representative offices in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, India, Philippines and Indonesia.

LIQUID HYDROCARBON FUEL-EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT

Unlike traditional fuel-enhancing formulations, which are predominantly hydrocarbon-based (derived from petroleum), IFT's Diesolift proprietary technology is entirely based upon surfactant chemistry, a complex family of chemical molecules.

COMPLETE COMBUSTION FOR LOCOMOTIVES

Surface active compounds decrease the energy required to create area in liquid-air interfaces. This is why the use of IFT's Diesolift technology promotes fuller combustion. Combustion is a fast reaction and its completeness, for the same mass of fuel being burned, depends on the fuel area exposed to air. The larger the area, the more complex the reaction is.

IFT's technology helps to lower overall surface tensions and atomize the fuel to a larger degree than the untreated fuel, thus generating a spray pattern with a much larger interface area per unit mass of fuel, which leads to a more complete combustion.

IMPROVED LOCOMOTIVE FUEL EFFICIENCY

Since Diesolift is able to extract more energy from the fuel, the net result is improved fuel efficiency, which reduces overall fuel consumption for the same level of energy output. The increase in combustion efficiency also leads to significantly lower harmful emissions, including particulates.

In addition, lower overall surface tension in the fuel leads to greater lubricity, co-solvency and detergency. These benefits lower long-term maintenance costs and provide longer engine life.

DIESOLIFT FUEL ADDITIVE BENEFITS

Evaluations of International Fuel Technology's Diesolift fuel additive have been carried out on numerous locomotives worldwide in association with a number of industry peer groups, such as the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) and the Rail Standards and Safety Board (RSSB).

Numerous discussions and agreements have been confirmed around the world as IFT continue to work within the rail industry to provide the necessary focused benefits, including cost savings and emission reductions.

Test on a Cummins NTA855R3 engine with Idaho Northern, USA; on the Indiana railroad (CSX, United States) field trail; on a Perkins 2006 TW-H engine tested on 20% Biodiesel blend; and by America Latina Logistica (ALL) Curitiba, Brazil (using 20% Biodiesel blend) have demonstrated the superiority of IFT's proprietary technology.

LOCOMOTIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION IMPROVEMENTS

Significant improvements include specific fuel consumption across the load range for all the tests, ranging from industry-standard static engines to field trials from a minimum of 4% at full load, increasing to circa 9% at lower loads. This demonstrates a clear combustion improvement on a per kW basis, providing real cost savings to the industry.

LOCOMOTIVE POWER IMPROVEMENTS

Significant power improvements of circa 4% across the load range are recorded when corrected for standard reference conditions. B20 testing showed a 3.5% power increase when corrected for standard reference conditions, coincident with a 4% reduction in the engine boost pressure and 3% fuel improvement, negating any loss and power loss attributed to the use of biodiesel.

REDUCED LOCOMOTIVE EMISSION LEVELS

For the gaseous emissions, nitrogen oxide levels remained unchanged, but significant reductions in hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide were seen. Particulate matter and exhaust smoke also both reduced significantly (circa 15% to 25% and 4% respectively).

The beneficial effects observed during these tests have demonstrated that the Diesolift additive can also produce comparable effects when mixed with biodiesel and diesel blends as when used with standard diesel fuels. Since these tests were carried out globally on different engine types and using different fuel compositions, this provides true confidence and gives the rail industry clear evidence of the significant advantages that Diesolift can provide.

For further information and a complete overview of the work that International Fuel Technology have carried out within the rail industry, complete with report summaries and company profile, please contact us.