Americas News
MMA Receives Patent for Glycerol Hybrid Bunker Fuel
A drop-in hybrid fuel made partly of glycerol has received a U.S. patent, Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) said in an emailed press release.
The "Eco-Hybrid" fuel was developed by a faculty member at the school, George Harakas, with colleague Scott Eaton, and both researchers are part of SeaChange Group LLC, a private company formed to develop the fuel.
The fuel is intended as a low-cost, low-emissions substitute for current fuels used in the marine, rail, and power-generation industries.
"I did not envision that a patent would come out of this research, which began as a capstone project," said Harakas.
"The interdisciplinary collaboration between engineering and chemistry is key to taking the research projects from the laboratory into the field."
Professor of Engineering Richard Kimball noted that SeaChange is now testing the fuel on work boats at Maine Maritime Academy as part of the school's Marine Engine Testing and Emissions Laboratory (METEL).
"We'll be evaluating fuel performance through sea trials as part of the METEL mission, which is to research and develop practical solutions for emissions reductions and efficiency for marine diesel engines," he said.
Initial tests of the hybrid fuel found that it reduced smoke emissions by 25 to 50 percent compared with ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), while nitrogen oxides (NOx) declined by 5 to 15 percent.
