Transamerica Delaval Will Study Oil-Water Fuel Mixtures In Diesels

The Maritime Administration has entered into an $860,000 costshared research contract with the Engine and Compressor Division of Transamerica Delaval Inc., Oakland, Calif., to measure the performance levels of emulsified fuel oil-water mixtures used to power diesel engines. MarAd's share will be $360,000. Transamerica Delaval will bear the remaining costs of the project.

Experiments conducted aboard the U.S.-flag tug Seabulk Challenger in 1978 revealed that an emulsion of fuel oil and water reduced fuel consumption, emissions, and deposits on components in diesel engines, compared to the burning of diesel oil by itself.

Transamerica Delaval's experiments will use emulsions composed of water and heavy blends of marine fuels to determine if emulsification would permit those fuels to burn more efficiently in medium-speed diesel engines. The study also will examine the effect of varying percentages of water and engine settings on engine performance. The proposed test program will cover one month of emulsification system engineering study followed by approximately 900 hours of engine testing using a six-cylinder, DRS-46, medium-speed diesel engine.

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.