WPC Inc., a Terracon company, in conjunction with Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) performed diesel engine emissions and fuel efficiency monitoring for the GPA's diesel vehicle.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether a fuel additive - PowerKleen, manufactured by Hydrotex, was effective in reducing pollutant emissions and increasing engine fuel efficiency.
The result of this study indicates that PowerKleen reduces EPA Criteria Pollutant emissions and improves fuel efficiency.
Beginning in January of 2010, WPC and GPA began conducting baseline monitoring. The diesel vehicle fleet, for the purposes of this study included 64 rubber-tire gantry cranes (RTGs) and 40 jockey trucks.
Baseline monitoring of the fleet consisted of the collection of emissions and fuel consumption data over an approximately four-week period. During this period all vehicles utilized low-sulfur diesel fuel as normal.
Following this period, PowerKleen was added to the GPA fuel storage tanks and the fleet utilized the additive-enhanced fuel for a period of approximately eight weeks to allow effective "burn-in" of the engine.
After this eight-week period, WPC and GPA resumed monitoring activities for a three-week period while the fleet vehicles continued to use the PowerKleen enhanced fuel.
Emissions and fuel consumption monitoring were conducted separately and concurrently over this period in order to minimize data variance.
For the emissions monitoring, the study measured the EPA Criteria Pollutants: CO, SO2 and PM10.
During monitoring of engine emissions, WPC collected data for the combustion byproducts at both engine idle and throttled, or revved, conditions for both the RTGs and jockey trucks. Fuel consumption and operating hours were measured to develop a consumption rate in gallons per hour.
Results of the study indicated a decrease of approximately five percent in fuel consumption. Reductions in EPA Criteria Pollutants were more significant. PM10 reductions averaged as high as 71 percent, while NO2 decreased as much as 20 percent and CO decreased an average of 19 percent. SO2 results were inconclusive.
To read the full report, visit the Hydrotex website at www.hydrotexlube.com in the Sustainability section.
