This is potentially a quick interim fix to diesel pollution that could be quickly adopted at the refining industry level by a handful of major oil companies rather than through vehicle purchases that could take decades to phase in.
Scientists are exploring a surprisingly simple way to clean up diesel engines: adding tiny droplets of water to the fuel. During combustion, the water rapidly vaporizes, triggering micro-explosions that improve fuel mixing and lower combustion temperatures.
Studies show this technique can slash nitrogen oxide and soot emissions by more than 60% while sometimes even improving engine efficiency. Because it works in existing engines without redesign, it could provide a quick path to cleaner diesel use.
From Science Daily citing:
Chukwuemeka Fortunatus Nnadozie, et al. "Advancements in diesel emission reduction strategies: a focus on water-in-diesel emulsion technology" 4(1) Carbon Research (2025) DOI: 10.1007/s44246-025-00210-y
3 comments:
Hum, from reading the paper it seems like this stuff has been around for a while and the big diesel engine folks haven't picked it up. Since that is a very technological and competitive field, that implies that the impacts on reliability and efficiency (which are hand waved a couple of times in the paper) are major impediments. The big marine diesels built by Sulzer and Mann are, I believe, the most efficient IC engines in the world and their biggest selling point is reliability.
@Guy Or, maybe they just need a little nudge.
Rescanning the paper for efficiency impacts it seems that all the proposed changes affect efficiently negatively and often increase CO2 emissions.
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