Independent Tests Show Drew Ameroid's Amergize® Cuts Fuel Consumption

—Results Available Independent laboratory tests of Amergize™ deposit modifier/combustion improver have proven a significant reduction in specific fuel consumption, carbon deposits, exhaust smoke levels, and metallic deposits in a test engine operated on a residual oil blend containing high levels of carbon residue, vanadium, sodium and sulfur. Drew Ameroid® Marine, producer of chemical products and technical services through its worldwide network, introduced Amergize earlier this year.

For the purposes of the fuel additive tests, an instrumented test engine was selected to be used with a poor burning fuel having high contaminant levels. These conditions allowed short-term testing with maximum deposit and corrosion development.

The engine was operated at conditions that would produce exhaust temperatures above vanadium-compound deposit melting points (in excess of 537 degrees C).

Three tests were completed: 1) Baseline test using neat fuel (no additive), 2) Amergize test used at concentrations of 1:250 or one liter additive to 250 liters of fuel, an overly rich ratio and 3) Amergize test used at concentrations of 1:2000 or one liter additive to 2,000 liters of fuel, within the recommended dosage range.

The engine was fully instrumented to monitor engine speed, power output and pressure and temperatures throughout the lubricating, cooling, intake and exhaust systems.

Fuel consumption rate was determined using an automated weight system which measured the amount of time required for the engine to ccr^UIne tnree pounds of fuel. Smoke density was measured by the Bosch method every two hours, and all other data was recorded every hour.

Heat exchangers, utilizing the engine cooling water as a heat source, were used to heat the fuel. A fresh charge of oil was used for each test, For the tests, a petroleum product containing asphaltenes extracted from residual fuels was used. The asphaltenes were diluted with diesel fuel to meet properties required for use in the diesel test engine. Tests on a sample obtained prior to purchase indicated a cetane number between 45 and 50, which indicated that the fuel probably did not con- tain any cracked stocks.

In the Brake Mean Effective Pressure (BMEP) measurement, showing how much engine power is produced, the engine operated most stably during the 1:250 dosage test indicated by the relatively constant, highest level carrot symbols. In the Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) measurement, the lowest and most desirable rate is shown by the additive test symbols, and the highest, by the baseline. Smoke levels, using the BOSCH Method, giving capacity of exhaust emissions, were likewise lowest when using 1:250 additive and highest during the baseline test.

These are significant savings in fuel cost, since a specific fuel consumption decrease of only one percent covers the treatment cost. Added benefit of reduced metallic deposits and lower carbon residue increase the cost savings.

Carbon deposits, fuel consumption and smoke decreased as the quantity of Amergize increased. The results prove that combustion was more complete when using Amergize.

Metallic deposits were at a minimum when using the additive at a ratio of 1:2000. An optimum dosage, therefore, for increased combustion with reduced metallic deposits can be determined to meet specific operator needs.

For further test data and information on the Amergize deposit modifier/combustion improver, Circle 37 on Reader Service Card