07-13-2005, 01:24 PM
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Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
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Real Name: Erick
Location: Coquitlam, B.C.
Hybrids: 2001 Prius
Posts: 1,045
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Re: Do You Get Better Fuel Economy Just After a Rain?
Looks like they are working on using water injection to reduce NOx after all!
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005...of_contin.html
Quote:
Vancouver-based Rival Technologies is working to adapt Continuous Water Injection (CWI) technology to retrofit light- and medium-duty diesel engines for reduced NOx emissions. The company is installing a prototype system on a Dodge Ram pickup truck with a 5.9-liter in-line six cylinder, 24 valve, turbocharged Cummins diesel engine.
The prototype will be operational this month. Ongoing testing and adjustments are estimated to be completed in May, 2005.
Rival acquired its CWI technology from M.A. Turbo/Engine, which had originally developed it for use in large marine diesels (e.g., a ferry).
CWI systems work on the principle of reducing NOx formation by injecting measured amounts of water to reduce peak flame temperature. This is related to the new EPA Clean Diesel Combustion engine (earlier post) in concept—i.e., reduce combustion temperature to reduce NOx formation—but it clearly uses a different approach.
Test and trials of different CWI systems on stationary diesels and marine engines point to a reduction in NOx of approximately 30%, with some wide variation. Engine power and fuel efficiency seem basically unaffected, with some positive increases noted in some of the tests.
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