Amphiphilic Zirconium Phosphate Nanoparticles as Tribo-catalytic Additives of Multi-performance Lubricants

The advancement of electric vehicles demands lubricants with multifunction and performance. In this research, we investigated amphiphilic a-ZrP nanoparticles as lubricant additives. Experimetns showed that the nanolubricant produced a tribofilm reduced the friction for 40% and wear 90%, while the electrical conductivity remained to be stable during tribotesting. Surface characterization of the tribofilm showed that there was a layered pyrophosphate on the wear track . The in situ impedance study about tribochemical kinetics revealed that the process in formation of a tribofilm involved synergetic growth and wear. During growth, the coefficient of friction increased with continued formation of such a file. During wear, the material removal rate was a function of friction, i.e., the higher the wear rate, the higher the friction coefficient. The competing mechanisms of film growth and wear resulted in an electrically uniformed surface.

Effects of Deep Eutectic Solvents on H2SO4-catalyzed Alkylation: Combining Experiment and Molecular Dynamics Simulation

To enhance the catalytic performance of H2SO4-catalyzed alkylation, various catalytic additives have drawn considerable attention. Herein, the effects of deep eutectic solvents additives (DESs) on catalytic performance and interfacial properties of H2SO4 alkylation were systematically investigated using experimental methods and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Experimental results indicate that DESs additives with the optimal concentration about 1.0 wt% can efficiently improve C8 selectivity and research octane number (RON) of alkylate. However, DESs additives contribute less to the quality of alkylate at low temperature and to the lifetime of H2SO4. MD results reveal that the phenyl molecules of DESs additives play a major role in enhancing interfacial properties of H2SO4 alkylation, including enlargement of interfacial thickness, promotion of isobutane relative solubility and diffusion to butene, which is probably the main reason for the better quality of alkylate. This work gives a good guideline for the design of novel DESs for H2SO4 alkylation.

Recent Advances in Applications of Co-B Catalysts in NaBH4-Based Portable Hydrogen Generators

This review highlights the opportunities of catalytic hydrolysis of NaBH4 with the use of inexpensive and active Co-B catalysts among the other systems of hydrogen storage and generation based on water reactive materials. This process is important for the creation of H2 generators required for the operation of portable compact power devices based on low-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (LT PEM FC). Special attention is paid to the influence of the reaction medium on the formation of active state of Co-B catalysts and the problem of their deactivation in NaBH4 solution stabilized by alkali. The novelty of this review consists in the discussion of basic designs of hydrogen generators based on NaBH4 hydrolysis using cobalt catalysts and the challenges of their integration with LT PEM FC. The potential of using batch reactors in which there is no need to use aggressive alkaline NaBH4 solutions is discussed. Solid-phase compositions or pellets based on NaBH4 and cobalt-containing catalytic additives are proposed, the hydrogen generation from which starts immediately after the addition of water. The review made it possible to formulate the most acute problems, which require new sci-tech solutions.

Hydrogen generation by hydrolysis of metals and hydrides for portable energy supply

NATO project G 5233 “Portable energy supply” was executed by 4 teams (Institute for Energy Technology, Norway and 3 Institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine). G5233 Project was focused on the development of hydrogen fueled portable energy supply systems integrating hydrogen generation and storage units based on use of light metals, metal and complex hydride materials and portable fuel cells. The weight efficient energy supply device was developed by using these selected materials and performance-optimised NaBH4 complex hydride. Besides, various new relevant units of equipment for the samples preparation and characterization were ordered and accommodated in the participants labs and the program of training of young scientists at IFE, Norway was accomplished. Different types of materials for hydrogen generation were synthesized and characterized (activated aluminium alloys, Mg-Al alloys, MgH2 and their composites, NaBH4 with catalytic additives). The challenging objective of reaching a completeness of the hydrolysis of MgH2 was achieved; the reaction conditions were optimized and the particular focus applications integrating efficient hydrogen generation systems were identified. The mechanism and the kinetics model of the hydrolysis process of MgH2 in water solutions have been proposed which successfully describe the experimental data. In parallel with the hydrolysis reaction resulting in hydrogen generation and formation of Mg(OH)2 , the process involves passivation of the MgH2 surface by the formed Mg(OH)2 precipitate followed by its re-passivation with the rate constants of these processes being established. Increase of the concentration of MgCl2 leads to just a minor increase in the rate constant of the interaction of MgH2 with water but leads to a sharp increase of the rate constant of the repassivation of MgH2 surface. To achieve efficient hydrolysis of NaBH4 , different types of catalysts (heterogeneous on the basis of Pt and "homogeneous" - salts of Ni+2 and Co+2) were studied and optimized. Several systems were selected as candidates to provide the required hydrogen flow to operate a 30 W fuel cell over a given time exceeding 1 hour, based on a use of inexpensive and affordable hydrogen-containing materials and catalytic additives. 3 individual hydrolysis workstations (1 in Norway and 2 in Ukraine) were built, tested and optimized. The plan of the work to reach the objectives of the Project G5233 “Portable energy supply” is completely accomplished, all the milestones are successfully fulfilled and the overall goal of the Project is reached.

Experimental Study of the Effect of Fuel Catalytic Additive on Specific Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Emissions in Diesel Engine

Fuel catalytic additives have been tested for many years. Herein, their influence on the overall efficiency of combustion engines is investigated, and their pro-ecological impact is assessed. The majority of this research concerns diesel engines. Despite many advantages, to this day, the use of catalytic additives has not become widespread. Wishing to clarify the situation, a research group from the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology decided to investigate this matter, starting with verification tests. This article presents the methodology and results of testing an actual diesel engine, and evaluates the effects of the use of a fuel catalytic additive. The focus was on the analysis of fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions from a Doosan MD196TI engine. The tested additive was a commercial fuel performance catalyst (FAMAX) with up to 5% ferric chloride as an organometallic compound. The proportion of the mixture with the fuel was 1:2000. These studies provide an energy and ecological assessment of propulsion in inland vehicles relative to current exhaust emission standards. The tests were carried out in accordance with the ISO 8178 standard, albeit on a much broader scale regarding engine operation than required by the standard. In this way, a set of previously published data was more than doubled in scope. Detailed conclusions indicate the positive effect of the tested fuel additive. The emission values decreased, on average by 16.7% for particulate matter (PM), 10.1% for carbon monoxide (CO), and 7.9% for total hydrocarbons (THC). Unfortunately, the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) increased by 1.2%. The average difference in specific fuel consumption (BSFC) between the fuel with additive and pure diesel fuel was 0.5%, i.e. below the level of measurement error. The authors formulated the following scientific relationship between the thermal efficiency of the engine and the operation of the catalyst: the effect of the catalyst on the combustion process decreases with the increase of the thermodynamic efficiency of the engine. This conclusion indicates that despite the proven positive effect of catalysts on the combustion process, they can only be used in markets where engines with low thermal efficiency are used, i.e., older generation engines.

Analysis of the Impact of Using Catalytic Additives to Fuel on Exhaust Emissions from a Diesel Engine

The results from laboratory tests and field tests, available in the open literature for over ten years, despite the announcement of high efficiency translating into increased energy efficiency and such significant ecological advantages, have not so far resulted in widespread use of fuel performance catalysts (FPC) on a global scale. Wishing to explain why the above situation occurred and to verify the operation of catalytic additives for fuels; this article presents the results of research on the effect of using catalytic additives for fuel in a brand new diesel engine. The article contains an analysis of the results of exhaust gas emission tests from the Doosan MD196TI engine. During the tests, the engine was fueled with a typical diesel fuel and the same fuel with the a catalyst additive. The catalyst was added to the liquid fuel in the form of a commercially available product distributed by ProOne company under the name FMAX. The research was carried out in the form of a test, much more developed than the approval test on a stationary braking station in accordance with the requirements of ISO 8178. The article is concluded with a comparative analysis of exhaust gas emission results illustrating the effects of a catalyst in the form of reduction of solid particles, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and a slight increase in nitrogen oxide emissions. In addition, the effect of the catalyst depends on the product of thermal (brake) efficiency of the engine and the calorific value (CV) of the fuel used.