Efficiency gains from the fuel – Can it be done?

One of the reasons for the diesel engine’s success was due to the original goals laid out in Diesel’s design. In order to compete and win public support for his engine he needed to create an engine with maximum thermodynamic efficiency. Steam engines of the day had ratings of about 12% and the original diesel engine was about 25%. That seems like a modest gain but as history shows, it was more than enough to outperform the steam engine. But today over a hundred and fifty years later that efficiency gain is modest and well under 50%. Computer controls, advanced materials etc. have dominated the search for efficiency and yet there have been no advances in some technological means of effectively allowing the fuel energy compounds to combust more efficiently in the presence of charged air within the cylinder.

Fuel additives can chemically provide some of this efficiency but the negative tradeoffs just aren’t acceptable in today’s world.

Cleaner Diesel Fuel Additive – How might this be done?

A review of the literature provides some clues.

A pure low molecular weight (1-2 million) hydrocarbon polymer, polyisobutylene, is currently used in many industrial processes to exert a viscoelastic effect where other hydrocarbons in the mix are made to relax and thus improve the outcome. The details have been extensively studied and this viscoelasctic effect on hydrocarbons has also been shown to improve their combustion in fuels.
The details have been reported and we can look at them in the next entry. For now… check this reference material on viscoelastic effects.