Diesel engine modifcations, some interesting stuff (article) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JamesDean · #1 10-31-2007, 04:11 PM

Found this article on digg.com today thought some of you might be interested:

heres some of the more interesting parts...any thoughts on what he's doin?

Quote:

But Goodwin wanted more. While researching alternative fuels, he learned about the work of Uli Kruger, a German who has spent decades in Australia exploring techniques for blending fuels that normally don't mix. One of Kruger's systems induces hydrogen into the air intake of a diesel engine, producing a cascade of emissions-reducing and mileage-boosting effects. The hydrogen, ignited by the diesel combustion, burns extremely clean, producing only water as a by-product. It also displaces up to 50% of the diesel needed to fuel the car, effectively doubling the diesel's mileage and cutting emissions by at least half. Better yet, the water produced from the hydrogen combustion cools down the engine, so the diesel combustion generates fewer particulates--and thus fewer nitrogen-oxide emissions.

"You can feed it hydrogen, diesel, biodiesel, corn oil--pretty much anything but water."

Goodwin began building on Kruger's model. In 2005, he set to work adapting his own H1 Hummer to burn a combination of hydrogen and biodiesel. He installed a Duramax in the Hummer and plopped a carbon-fiber tank of supercompressed hydrogen into the bed. The results were impressive: A single tank of hydrogen lasted for 700 miles and cut the diesel consumption in half. It also doubled the horsepower. "It reduces your carbon footprint by a huge, huge amount, but you still get all the power of the Duramax," he says, slapping the H1 on the quarter panel. "And you can feed it hydrogen, diesel, biodiesel, corn oil--pretty much anything but water."

pmari · #2 10-31-2007, 04:34 PM

Most likely running a HHO unit.

http://www.overunity.com/index.php/board,8.0.html

winmutt · #3 10-31-2007, 05:46 PM

Water injection works as well..

JamesDean · #4 10-31-2007, 06:24 PM

i've heard of people doing water/methanol injection before but this is the first i've read of hydrogen. i wonder how much of a mpg boost this would give the 617?

patbob · #5 10-31-2007, 06:54 PM

See this thread I started from a few weeks back... Lets talk Hydrogen Injection

Basically, my research so far is indicating that all the claims are pretty much valid (reduced emissions, better engine efficicncy resulting in better milage). Better yet, you even get more torque at the low RPM end. However the gains are slight, as in under 10%.

Now if you get into injecting highly compressed hydrogen in with the fuel (still required as the hydrogen won't auto-ignite on its own), hings are different. He could be doing that, but it would take a significant amount of rework of the injection system to inject two vastly different fuels, a compressed gas and a flammable liquid, simultaneously. Just inducting the hydrogen into the intake starts replacing so much of the air needed for complete combustion that you start to loose power (and get severe knocking from the explosive burn, from what I've read).

Quote:

One of Kruger's systems induces hydrogen into the air intake of a diesel engine..

Doesn't sound like he's reworked the injection system, so he's probably just getting the above-mentioned effects and assuming that the increased torque he's getting at lower RPMs would hold throughout the entire RPM range (it doesn't). Gotta admint, it probably feels great to be faster off the line in such a beast of a vehicle though

Take my words with a grain of salt -- I've only had time to get through two papers on it so far, so I certainly don't know everything. There may be some subtlety to what he's doing that invalidates all my comments.

toomany MBZ · #6 10-31-2007, 09:06 PM

Do I need a special tank and plumbing? Sounds like. May I obtain hydrogen locally? Not that I'm aware of. There has been some chat on this, I can add only that it's interesting, yet hardly practical.

But that didn't stop, even slow down, Thomas A. Edison.

Let's find out!

Matt L · #7 10-31-2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmari

Most likely running a HHO unit.

http://www.overunity.com/index.php/board,8.0.html

A hydrogen tank implies that he is not.

Deni · #8 11-01-2007, 04:44 AM

Quote:

It also displaces up to 50% of the diesel needed to fuel the car, effectively doubling the diesel's mileage and cutting emissions by at least half.

You're just substituting one fuel for another. What's the cost of hydrogen compared to diesel?

#9 11-01-2007, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deni

You're just substituting one fuel for another. What's the cost of hydrogen compared to diesel?

That's just what I was about to type.

I bet that if you do the math, he is actually spending more.

Deni · #10 11-01-2007, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

That's just what I was about to type.

Great minds think alike

.

pmari · #11 11-01-2007, 09:44 AM

Yep, your right. It's not going to be cost effective if you not producing your own "Brown's gas" (AKA), HHO & HOH. http://www.takeaction.com.au/hoh/

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt L

A hydrogen tank implies that he is not.

300sd_al · #12 11-01-2007, 10:17 AM

That system looks to bulky to be car mounted interesting though. I'd experiment with that it looks like a cheaper(wiser) investment for me as i live in a winter zone where WVO and biodiesels are impractical.

Deni · #13 11-01-2007, 11:16 AM

What do you fuel that system with? Tap water or pure water?

patbob · #14 11-01-2007, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deni

Great minds think alike

.

Unfortunately, those minds are not correct this time

Yes, it's a fuel substitution, but he's likely getting more power out as well than with just the equivalant amount of diesel.

bulletproofair · #15 11-01-2007, 05:29 PM

more power not to mention better mileage too, I believe, for the price vs. diesel.

I saw GreenBenz selling a water injection & biodiesel ready 300sd on Ebay not too long ago. It was so nice. The car was in basically perfect condition, not to mention it got great mileage with the water setup. I truly believe in these systems and am all for "greener" fuels. This world is going to waste faster than anyone can probably even know...

If I remember, isn't hydrogen injection kind of comparable to a nitrous setup on a gas engine? My mind is a little fuzzy these days.

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