Diesel Fuel Testing Device Wins Award

A new method quickly and inexpensively rates the ignition quality of diesel fuel, which could result in lower prices at the pump

The IQT method has been accepted as a draft standard test in the United Kingdom and is being examined for approval by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) in the United States and other nations.

A new device for determining the quality of diesel fuel has earned an R&D 100 award, placing it on a list of the year's 100 best inventions as determined by R&D Magazine.

Southwest Research Institute conceived and initially developed the Ignition Quality Tester (IQT(tm)). Under license, Advanced Engine Technology Ltd. of Ottawa, Canada, further developed, commercialized and manufactured the technology.

The IQT increases refinery profitability by minimizing the potential for producing higher-than-specified cetane number, sometimes known as "cetane number giveaway," and significantly reduces the cost of testing for fuel blending. Either factor could result in lower prices at the pump.

The IQT is faster and simpler, more accurate, less expensive and also needs less fuel per test than the engine test currently used for rating the ignition quality of diesel fuel. The IQT is likely to become a part of all fuel laboratories and most refineries and fuel blending operations around the world.

Already accepted as a draft standard test method in the United Kingdom, the IQT is being examined for approval by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) in the United States and other nations.

Ignition quality, measured by cetane number, is one of the most important combustion characteristics of diesel fuel. Ignition characteristics affect the fuel's ability to ignite during cold-start and the rate of preparation of the injected fuel within the cylinder during the ignition delay period. If ignition delay is long, the resulting pre-mixed fuel burning leads to higher combustion temperatures and increased emissions of oxides of nitrogen. For newer diesel engines that use exhaust gas recirculation, evidence indicates that raising the cetane number may reduce emissions of unburned hydrocarbons when operating in a low-temperature environment.

"Receiving the R&D 100 award for the IQT is a great honor. I believe that it represents a breakthrough in fuel testing," said the IQT's principal investigator for SwRI, Dr. Thomas W. Ryan III. "Application of the technique in diesel fuel blending will have significant cost advantages for refiners over the currently used method."

Since 1971, SwRI has won 24 R&D 100 awards for nondestructive evaluation technologies, unique engines and vehicle suspension systems, and traffic barriers, among other developments.
 

Published in the Fall 2001 issue of Technology Today®, published by Southwest Research Institute. For more information, contact Maria Martinez.

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