Aquafuel Research

Commercial trial delivers operational cost savings of 39%

SITTINGBOURNE, England - 12th August 2009 - Aquafuel Research Limited, the specialist in renewable power innovation, today published an independent study by Diesel Consult Ltd on its new “Acid Inhibit” Solution.  Based on a commercial trial at a landfill site in Ireland, the study covered Aquafuel’s technology for operating electricity generators burning high acid forming gas fuels. The trial involved Deutz 620B 16 cylinder 1,250kWe spark ignition engines running on gas containing typically 28,000 mg/Nm3 H2S, many times more than the manufacturer’s limit of 3,000 mg/Nm3 at 100% methane levels.  Despite this, the trial ran successfully for over 3,000 hours, during which the lube oil life was almost doubled.  The results gave gross operating cost savings of 39% with no detrimental effect on engines or components.

Landfill gas, like sewage gas and bio gas, contains corrosive hydrogen sulphide (H2S), which shortens the life of the lubricating oil in the engines used for electricity generation. Aquafuel’s technology works by assisting the oil to combat these acid forming gasses, resulting in less downtime and substantial reductions in operational costs and lube oil consumption.

Acid Inhibit technology delivers cost-effective assistance to lube oils in standard reciprocating engines and works by treating only the vital 5% of gas which enters the crankcase, and does so for less than 1/10 of the capital and running cost of conventional scrubbing systems. Aquafuel’s technology also senses and remotely monitors the H2S levels in the incoming gas, and automatically adapts its treatment levels to match.  This means optimum control with no waste of consumables through fixed rate over-dosing.

“As an expert with extensive experience of aggressive gas and liquid fuel burning power generation schemes, I was impressed by the  benefits demonstrated by Aquafuel’s Acid Inhibit”, said John Blowes, Senior Partner at Diesel Consult. “Such technology is often categorised by engine makers as too much of a diversion from normal production, although systems like this can move commercially borderline projects into profit, and as such, are welcomed by the industry as a whole”.

“Acid Inhibit” technology is now commercially available and Aquafuel is looking for partners and distributors to licence it worldwide.

About Aquafuel Research:
Aquafuel Research was formed to develop new technologies and techniques to help companies to reduce their energy costs, unlock new revenues and to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.  Aquafuel is a venture-backed UK company with a set of patented technologies for renewable combined heat and power (CHP). It has a number of commercial projects in development, the first of which started running in July 2009.  Investors include EEA, an environmental investment firm with over $1.7bn under management.

About John Blowes, Senior Partner at Diesel Consult
(Eur Ing J. H. Blowes C Eng FIMarE M I Mech I, FIDGTE) 
John Blowes is an independent consulting engineer with a reciprocating engine design and field service background, for engines burning a variety of fuels at marine and industrial installations. He held senior positions in the industry before starting his own consultancy in1990.

John is a Past President of the Institution of Diesel and Gas Turbine Engineers and has recently completed a 5 year term as the Institution’s CEO.

For a copy of the report, please apply to:
Doug Chaplin
Commercial Manager
Aquafuel Research Limited
dougchaplin@aquafuel.co.uk
+44 7590 442272