November
2016
25
HYDROCARBON
ENGINEERING
A
s British sailor Alan Priddy prepares to
attempt a round the world powerboating
record using emulsified diesel, one might ask
if there is any future in this old and (as many
believe) failed concept? The answer is a simple,
resounding yes. While there are certainly a number of
problems with the marketability of emulsions, the
science is convincing.
Diesel engines dominate mass transportation, heavy
industries and the marine sector as they offer superior
fuel to power conversion and better fuel economy.
Despite this, diesel engines are one of the major
pollution contributors to the environment. Pollutants
emitted from diesel engines include particulate matters
(PM), black smoke, nitrogen oxides (NO
X
), sulfur oxides
(SO
X
), unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide (CO)
and carbon dioxide (CO
2
). Emulsified fuel provides an
alternative fuel for combustion engines and can be
used in almost any existing engine setup, with little or
no costly additional modification or retrofitting.
Regulatory issues
The fact that none of the major players operating
within the petroleum sector are currently producing or
