Diesel engines power everything from trucks and agricultural equipment to generators and industrial machinery, and they are characterized by their power, durability and fuel efficiency.
However, diesel exhaust is a major source of air pollution, as it releases gases and particles that harm humans and contribute to worsening environmental problems.
To solve this problem, researchers from the Owerri Federal University of Technology in Nigeria have come up with an innovation that may help address it. This technology, known as "water-in-diesel emulsion," mixes tiny water droplets into diesel fuel, significantly reducing harmful emissions while maintaining and improving engine performance. It also provides a practical way to make diesel engines cleaner without the need for costly redesign processes.
Why does diesel pollution pose a challenge?
Professor Chukwuemeka Fortunatos Nadozie, Vice-Chancellor of Owerri Federal University of Technology in Nigeria and lead author of the study, told Al Jazeera Net: “Diesel engines are widely used in transportation, electricity generation, agriculture, construction, mining and industry due to their durability and efficiency.”
He adds: “In many developing regions, diesel generators are widely used to generate electricity, which exacerbates their environmental impact. Diesel combustion produces harmful pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, and carbon dioxide, which contribute to smog formation. Particulate matter can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, posing serious health risks, in addition to the effects associated with climate change. Therefore, it is crucial to develop solutions that can reduce both types of pollutants simultaneously and in a cost-effective manner.”
At first glance, adding water to diesel fuel may seem illogical. Water and fuel are usually considered an undesirable mixture inside the engine, but in this technology, water is not poured into the fuel tank. Instead, small droplets of it are distributed evenly throughout the diesel using compounds known as surfactants, which act as stabilizers, helping the water to stay suspended in the fuel and preventing the mixture from separating.
Chukwuemeka says: "In fuel, microscopic droplets of water are distributed within the diesel phase. During the combustion process, these droplets evaporate rapidly, generating micro-explosions that break the fuel into smaller droplets and improve air-fuel mixing, thus reducing soot formation by limiting fuel-rich areas."
He adds: "At the same time, the evaporation of water absorbs heat and lowers the combustion temperature, which reduces nitrogen oxide emissions and reduces fine particulate matter, but the water content must be carefully controlled to avoid combustion instability or increased carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions."
The new method brings diesel engines closer to building an "environmental friendship" (Pixabay)
The new method brings diesel engines closer to building an "environmental friendship" (Pixabay)
Promising results
Tests on this technology showed impressive results compared to conventional diesel fuel, as the water emulsion technology in diesel reduced nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 67% and particulate emissions by up to 68%. It also showed improvements in brake thermal efficiency, which is a measure of how effectively the engine converts fuel energy into useful mechanical energy, meaning that a larger portion of the fuel energy is used to do work instead of being lost as heat.
Chukwuemeka said: “Our research in this technology shows that it can significantly reduce nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions when properly prepared and installed, while maintaining acceptable engine performance. However, performance depends largely on installation factors.
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