THE ROOT CAUSE OF VIRTUALLY ALL DIESEL OPERATING ISSUES
Oxygen and Trapped and Entrained Air
The efficiency and reliability of diesel engines are dramatically impacted by the presence of solubilized oxygen, dissolved air, and entrained air. The Plasma Performance fuel additive is the only known technology with the capability to release solubilized oxygen, and dissolved, and entrained air. This capability addresses virtually all efficiency-robbing issues faced in diesel engine operation.
CONTRIBUTING MECHANISMS TO SOLUBILIZED OXYGEN, ENTRAINED AIR, AND DISSOLVED AIR IN DIESEL FUEL
Solubilized oxygen can get into diesel fuel in a few ways. The most common way is through diffusion. When diesel fuel is exposed to air, the oxygen molecules in the air will slowly diffuse into the fuel at a rate determined by the temperature, pressure, and concentration of oxygen in the air. Solubilized oxygen can get into diesel fuel through entrainment. When diesel fuel is pumped or agitated, it creates small bubbles of air that can become trapped in the fuel. These air bubbles can then release their oxygen molecules into the fuel.
Entrained air is air that exists as tiny bubbles in the fuel. It is caused by turbulence or agitation of the fuel, such as during pumping or handling.
Dissolved air is air that is actually dissolved in the fuel molecules. It is caused by the diffusion of air into the fuel over time.
NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON DIESEL ENGINE OPERATION
Issues Related to Solubilized Oxygen
Formation of Peroxides and Acids: Solubilized oxygen can react with the fuel molecules in diesel fuel to form peroxides. Peroxides are unstable compounds that can decompose to form free radicals. Free radicals can then react with other fuel molecules to form gum, which can clog fuel filters and injectors. Additionally, solubilized oxygen can combine with water in the fuel to form acids. Acids can corrode metal parts in the fuel system.
Accelerated Corrosion: The presence of peroxides and acids in diesel fuel can accelerate corrosion of metal parts in the fuel system, including pumps, injectors, and fuel lines. This can lead to leaks, premature wear, and potential component failure.
Reduced Fuel Filter Life: Peroxides and acids can shorten the lifespan of fuel filters by clogging them with sludge and debris. This can restrict fuel flow and reduce engine performance.
Increased Engine Wear: The formation of peroxides and acids, along with the potential for cavitation caused by solubilized oxygen, can increase engine wear and reduce its overall lifespan.
Poor Combustion and Emissions:The presence of solubilized oxygen can disrupt the combustion process in diesel engines, leading to incomplete combustion and increased emissions. This can result in higher levels of harmful pollutants, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons.
Reduced Engine Performance: The combination of reduced fuel efficiency, incomplete combustion, and potential damage to the fuel system caused by solubilized oxygen can lead to a noticeable decrease in engine performance.
Potential Engine Failure: In extreme cases, the buildup of peroxides and acids, along with accelerated corrosion and cavitation, can lead to premature engine failure.
Issues Related to Dissolved Air: Reduced Fuel Efficiency: Dissolved air can reduce the amount of oxygen available for combustion, leading to incomplete combustion and decreased fuel efficiency. This can result in increased fuel consumption and higher emissions.
Increased Exhaust Emissions: Incomplete combustion due to dissolved air can lead to higher levels of harmful emissions, including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons. These emissions contribute to air pollution and environmental concerns.
Reduced Lubricity: Dissolved air can reduce the lubricity of diesel fuel, which is essential for protecting the fuel pump and injectors from wear and tear. Poor lubricity can accelerate wear and shorten the lifespan of these critical components.
Hard Starting: In extreme cases, excessive dissolved air can make it difficult for the engine to start, as the air molecules interfere with the proper formation of the air-fuel mixture.
Reduced Power Output: The combination of reduced fuel efficiency, incomplete combustion, and potential lubrication issues caused by dissolved air can lead to a noticeable decrease in engine power output.
Accelerated Injector Wear: The presence of dissolved air in diesel fuel can accelerate wear of the fuel injectors. Dissolved air can cause cavitation, which is the formation and collapse of tiny bubbles in the fuel stream. Cavitation can erode the delicate parts of the injectors, affecting their spray pattern and fuel delivery efficiency.
Increased Noise and Vibration: Dissolved air can disrupt the smooth flow of fuel and affect the timing of injections, leading to rough idling and misfires. This can cause engine vibration and increased noise levels.
Damage to Fuel System Components: Cavitation caused by dissolved air can damage various components of the fuel system, including pumps, injectors, and fuel lines. This can lead to leaks, premature wear, and potential component failure.
Issues Related to Entrained Air:
Reduced Fuel Efficiency: Entrained air reduces the amount of oxygen available for combustion, leading to incomplete combustion and decreased fuel efficiency. This can result in increased fuel consumption and higher emissions.
Cavitation Erosion: Cavitation occurs when air bubbles collapse, creating implosions that generate shock waves and high localized pressures. These shock waves can erode metal surfaces, particularly in pumps, injectors, and other components of the fuel system. Cavitation damage can lead to premature wear, leaks, and component failure.
Rough Idling and Misfires: Entrained air can disrupt the smooth flow of fuel and affect the timing of injections, leading to rough idling and misfires. This can cause engine vibration, uneven power delivery, and potential engine damage.
Damage to Fuel Injectors: Entrained air can cause premature wear and damage to fuel injectors. The collapsing air bubbles can erode the delicate components of the injectors, affecting their spray patterns and fuel delivery efficiency.
Increased Exhaust Emissions: Incomplete combustion due to entrained air can lead to higher levels of harmful emissions, including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons. These emissions contribute to air pollution and environmental concerns.
Reduced Lubricity: Entrained air can reduce the lubricity of diesel fuel, which is essential for protecting the fuel pump and injectors from wear and tear. Poor lubricity can accelerate wear and shorten the lifespan of these critical components.
Hard Starting: In extreme cases, excessive entrained air can make it difficult for the engine to start, as the air bubbles interfere with the proper formation of the air-fuel mixture.
Reduced Power Output: The combination of reduced fuel efficiency, misfires, and incomplete combustion caused by entrained air can lead to a noticeable decrease in engine power output.
All of these issues would be serious on their own, but these issues, then cascade to additional issues that will then lead to more loss of engine efficiency, and expensive repairs. Government mandates require emission control equipment. The emission control items such as exhaust gas recirculation valve (EGR), and the diesel particular filter (DPF) are very sensitive to incomplete combustion and the formation of gums, carbon and soot. It does not take a large amount of deposits to alter the operation of the emission control items. These items then contribute to a further drop in engine efficiency, and additional deposits. Over the life of the engine the emission control items actually contribute to greater emissions.
It should be clear that efficiency, performance, emissions, and engine life issues are addressed most effectively by dealing with air and oxygen issues in the fuel.
LIMITS TO ADDRESSING THE ISSUES
To solve the issues related to solubilized oxygen, dissolved air, and entrained air very difficult physical properties. Prior to the development of the technology that is the basis of Plasma Performance the only methods contemplated to achieve the release of air and oxygen were:
Using additives:Traditional chemistry fuel additives have been added to diesel fuel to reduce its surface tension. Surfactants are compounds that can reduce the surface tension of liquids by weakening the intermolecular forces. Cost effectiveness has been a continuing issue, and achieving a surface tension reduction that released enough air and oxygen to truly address the problems has not been achieved.
Applying ultrasonic treatment:Ultrasonic treatment can break down the intermolecular forces between diesel molecules, thereby lowering the surface tension.
It is difficult to determine an exact surface tension value at which diesel fuel would completely cease to entrain air. Studies have shown that lowering the surface tension of diesel fuel can significantly reduce air entrainment.
One study, published in the journal "Fuel Processing Technology," investigated the effect of surface tension on air entrainment in diesel fuel. The researchers found that reducing the surface tension of diesel fuel from 22.30 mN/m to 18.00 mN/m resulted in a 70% reduction in air entrainment.
Another study, published in the journal "Tribology International," found that reducing the surface tension of diesel fuel from 22.30 mN/m to 15.00 mN/m resulted in a 90% reduction in air entrainment.
Based on these studies, it is reasonable to assume that lowering the surface tension of diesel fuel to around 15.00 mN/m or lower could effectively prevent air entrainment.
The simplest, practical demonstration of success in this goal would be to mix a product into diesel in a clear container and observe if there was an immediate release of air in the form of bubbles. This can be observed with the Plasma Performance products.
PLASMA CHAMBER CHEMISTRY
Plasma chambers can be used to create new liquid chemicals with new properties. This is because the plasma can generate reactive species that can initiate chemical reactions. The specific properties of the liquid chemical will depend on the composition of the plasma and the starting materials.
For example, plasma chambers can be used to synthesize nanoparticles, which are small particles that can have unique properties. Nanoparticles can be made from a variety of materials, including diamonds, metals, semiconductors, and polymers. The plasma can be used to control the size and shape of the nanoparticles, as well as their surface properties.
Plasma chambers can also be used to create new types of polymers. Polymers are long chains of molecules that are linked together by chemical bonds. The plasma can be used to break down existing polymers or to create new polymers from scratch. The properties of the polymer will depend on the type of monomers that are used and the conditions of the plasma polymerization.
In addition to synthesizing new materials, plasma chambers can also be used to modify the properties of existing liquid chemicals. For example, the plasma can be used to functionalize the surface of a liquid chemical, which can change its wettability, adhesion, or electrical conductivity. The plasma can also be used to remove impurities from a liquid chemical, which can improve its purity and performance.
The temperatures and pressures created in a plasma chamber can create much smaller molecules than traditional chemistry. When added to diesel or gasoline, Plasma Performance increases the solvency of the fuel. The fuel itself becomes a solvent that helps clean all surfaces that it comes in contact with, given temperature and load. The removal of the air and oxygen increases the energy density of the fuel.
Plasma chambers are used for the production of advanced semiconductor surfaces, nanoparticles, and the creation of “lab” diamonds. The cost of producing chemicals using a plasma chamber is substantial, so very little work has been done in the area of products for engines. Plasma Performance is the result of people who worked in a very specialized technology with a love of going fast.
Plasma chamber chemistry is the only known methodology to treat diesel and gasoline to address the issues of incomplete and poorly timed ignition. We will provide free product for legitimate trials to add to the database of the proven benefits of the Plasma Performance technology.
