LOUISVILLE. Considered by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board to be an alternative fuel, emulsified fuel has the potential to significantly reduce fleet owner’s fuel costs, said Fierce Fuel Systems this week at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
Fierce Fuel System is showing its X2O fuel optimizer, which it said can reduce diesel fuel consumption up to 20%. The X2O is engineered for all pre-emission, Class 8 truck engines, including Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Volvo, and CAT, the company explained.
“Since fuel costs represent approximately 40% of fleets’ budgets, 20% savings can potentially double owners’ profit margins. Our mission is to help legacy truck owners increase profitability, reduce emissions, and extend truck life by optimizing diesel fuel,” said Lou Conti, CEO.
Emulsified fuels are known to, decrease fuel consumption in an amount relative to the amount of water added, reduce NOx and PM emissions, and lower operating temperatures. Independent tests on the X2O found 17.3% fuel savings, and 500,000 mi. of field tests show an average of 20% savings, regardless of fuel prices, Fierce Fuels said.
The X2O “performs the micro-emulsification process” onboard a truck using domestic diesel fuel, micro amounts of emulsifier additive, potable water, and the truck’s air and 12VDC power, the company said.
The way the system works is that diesel, water, and an emulsifier additive are mixed together to create micro water bubbles encapsulated in diesel fuel. These droplets are small enough to pass through the fuel pump and injector nozzle spray holes. When the emulsified fuel droplets are injected into the combustion chamber, the water super heats, expands, and creates a micro explosion, which disperses the fuel into a fine mist. The fuel is atomized beyond the unit injector's capability, increasing the surface area between fuel and air by four times and diesel droplet density by 64 times. This process creates low temperature combustion and enables the fuel to burn more efficiently than regular diesel.
Fierce Fuel Systems is now looking for fleets interested in beta-testing the X2O fuel optimizer. Interested fleets can submit their truck style and mounting configurations to www.fiercefuelsystems.com.
The X2O is a turnkey system that requires no engine or electronic control module retrofits. It leaves the OEM systems intact and connects to fuel- and air-lines and 12VDC.
