Shell Tests its Nitrogen Enriched Diesel

[Fuel Miser]

Shell Tests its Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel in Select Markets

HOUSTON -- Shell Oil Products US announced a test of Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel. In an extensive test of heavy-duty vehicles, the fuel has proven to reduce fuel consumption, the company stated. Shell released the new fuel on a trial basis beginning this week and it will be offered to both commercial and retail customers at select points of sale in the Nashville, Tenn., Baltimore, Md. and Richmond, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Va. areas -- however, the new fuel will only be available to commercial customers in the Atlanta, Ga. area.

The company stated the test of its Nitrogen Enriched Diesel extends the company's exclusive "Nitrogen Enriched" advanced cleaning system to diesel.

Jim Macias, a senior fuels technology manager for Shell said in a released statement, "We are very excited about this latest opportunity to test an advanced ultra low sulfur diesel fuel. It is well-suited for the evolving cleaner-burning diesel fuel market demand because Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel is designed for use in both traditional as well as new ultra-clean diesel engines with advanced emission controls. Additionally, the exclusive 'Nitrogen Enriched' advanced cleaning system is also fully compatible with biodiesel blends, which positions Shell to supply a high-quality product to help fill the growing demand for renewable fuels."

Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel is an ultra low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD) with an exclusive advanced cleaning system that helps protect your diesel engine against performance robbing gunk build-up on fuel injectors with continual use, according to the company. Gunk build-up can impair optimal fuel flow and can result in increased fuel consumption and associated CO2 emissions.

Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel also helps protect investments in both heavy duty commercial and personal light duty vehicles -- cars and pickup trucks -- alike by guarding against corrosion, according to Shell. Like the Shell-branded ULSD in the market today, Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel contains lubricity agents to help prevent fuel pump and injector wear and damage. Anti-gel agents for colder winter climates will also be available where needed, the release stated.

According to the company, extensive heavy-duty truck fleet trials of Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel demonstrated a 4.8 percent reduction in fuel consumption in more severe stop-and-go city service and a 1.3 percent reduction in fuel consumption in less severe long-haul highway service as compared to regular ULSD.

Motorists will soon notice signage and point-of-purchase materials at stations participating in the Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel test. Additionally, Shell Customer Care is available at (888) 467-4355 to provide motorists with a list of participating sites. Commercial customers in these areas that are not currently participating can contact the Shell Business Solutions Center at (866) 447-4355.

http://www.csnews.com/top-story-shel...ets-57974.html

[dieselmech]

Interesting considering nitrogen is a suppresent. Logically nitrogen would hinder the burning, but, logically putting water in a gas engine should do the same but in reality boosts power if metered right.

I guess I don't have an opinion, just very interesting reading.

[theholycow]

How does added nitrogen boost power in a gasoline engine? It's already 78% of the air that the car intakes.

I'm not saying it doesn't, just asking how...I've never heard of it (other than in Shell gasoline), unless you're talking about nitrous oxide (totally different stuff).

[Sludgy]

I'm speaking as a chemist:

Shell developed additives with nitrogen chemically bound to fuel, not atmospheric nitrogen or "N2". The organic nitrogen apparently has detergent properties that keep injectors clean.

Curiously, Shell doesn't mention "fuel NOx". A large proportion of the NOx produced by combustion of coal or heavy oil is produced from organic nitrogen in the fuel. (The other major source of NOx is "thermal" NOx, caused by high temperature, direct reaction of atmosphereic N2 with O2.)

So, why doesn't Shell nitrogen enriched fuel produce more NOx pollution than normal fuel?

[milocyrus]

Originally Posted by Sludgy

So, why doesn't Shell nitrogen enriched fuel produce more NOx pollution than normal fuel?

Yes, this is my number one question, too. I would think that if you inject something like hydrogen it would oxidize with the oxygen in the air and become water vapor. But, I would also think that if you inject nitrogen and oxidize it with the oxygen in the air it would become nitrous oxide. I've not yet seen reports about this in Shell's new fuel, though.

[kamesama980]

Originally Posted by Sludgy

I'm speaking as a chemist:

Shell developed additives with nitrogen chemically bound to fuel, not atmospheric nitrogen or "N2". The organic nitrogen apparently has detergent properties that keep injectors clean.

Curiously, Shell doesn't mention "fuel NOx". A large proportion of the NOx produced by combustion of coal or heavy oil is produced from organic nitrogen in the fuel. (The other major source of NOx is "thermal" NOx, caused by high temperature, direct reaction of atmosphereic N2 with O2.)

So, why doesn't Shell nitrogen enriched fuel produce more NOx pollution than normal fuel?

Maybe they aren't worried about it because all the new diesels have NOx scrubbers and only tailpipe emissions are measured. in other words, it DOES produce more NOx but the increased NOx along with the baseline get dealt with by the emissions equipment. Just a thought.

[mammasat]

Hello,
Shell use special apparatus for creation of N2+ state for bond with gasoline or diesel. You need an "activate status of nitrogen" because normally nitrogen molecular N2 is not reactive.

[Sludgy]

Originally Posted by mammasat

Hello,
Shell use special apparatus for creation of N2+ state for bond with gasoline or diesel. You need an "activate status of nitrogen" because normally nitrogen molecular N2 is not reactive.

This does not answer my question. Fuel-bound nitrogen should increase NOx production. Does nitrogen enriched diesle make more NOx than traditional diesel?