California Air Resources Board (CARB) Certification
The California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board (CARB) verified HMWPIB # as a strategy for controlling emissions of PM from diesel engines under its Diesel Emissions Control Strategies Verification program. #Commercial product Viscon
EPA Registration Viscon is an EPA-Registered Fuel Additive under the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 40 CFR Part 79.
Lab Testing of HMWPIB Diesel
California Environmental Engineering (CEE) conducted a series of dynamometer tests using a Detroit Diesel series 60 heavy-duty diesel engine. Data from the three-mode steady state test showed a reduction of 95.61% in PM and a reduction of 21.97% in NOx when HMWPIB was added to the fuel. CEE is the only automotive test lab that is both EPA-recognized and certified by California Air Resources Board. (HMWPIB commercial product Viscon)
Laboratory Tests in Diesel and Gas Turbine Engines. Studies at University of Illinois, University of California Irvine (UCI), and University of Dayton Research Center (UDRC) demonstrate effects of HMWPIB on fuel spray in diesel and gas turbine engines. In all tests, Sauter mean diameter (SMD) of spray droplets was significantly reduced close to spray centerline and distribution of fuel was more uniform across the spray cone. The UDRC test recorded virtual elimination of superfine droplets, 98% below baseline. Superfine droplets burn explosively with a high rate of heat release, producinNOx. The produced vapor is a creates a fuel vapor with greater homogeneity of fuel species. (HMWPIB commercial product Viscon)
HMWPIB Increases Combustion Efficiency
Combustion efficiency is the fraction of a fuel's chemical energy that is released during combustion. Accepted theories assume an upper limit of 40% combustion efficiency for diesel fuel. HMWPIB technology proves this theory wrong, demonstrating that HMWPIB technology increases the percentage of a fuel's extractable chemical energy.
The ASTM D 240 bomb calorimeter is the standard method for measuring the chemical energy a multi-compound liquid hydrocarbon fuel. In this test, a small sample of fuel is burned to completion under ideal conditions. The product is the fuel's heating value. The assumption is that a fuel's heating value represents the total available chemical energy that can be released. A series of bomb calorimeter tests were carried out at a Bureau Veritas laboratory to determine whether HMWPIB increased the heating value of gasoline containing different molecular weights of polyisobutylene. Each of the HMWPIB samples had greater heating value than the untreated gasoline. The degree of increase followed the molecular weight of the polymer.
Fuel BTU/lb Increase
Gasoline 19572 0.00%
HMWPIB 1 20271 3.51%
HMWPIB 2 20965 7.11%
HMWPIB 3 21120 7.90%These results prove HMWPIB increases the percentage of chemical energy that is released during combustion. It demonstrates that HMWPIB increases the combustion efficiency.
Texas Low-Emission Diesel (TxLED) Program
The Texas Commission On Environmental Quality approved fuel treated with HMWPIB as an alternative diesel fuel formulation under their low emission diesel (TxLED) program. As required an alternative formulation it was required to match or exceed the PM and NOx reductions achieved by reformulated diesel fuel produced by the refineries under a statutory TxLED formula.*
Viscon is currently being used in the State of Texas as a part of its low emissions diesel (TxLED) program. Viscon was approved for this program after completing an EPA Heavy Duty Diesel Transient test protocol.
Water-Quality Safety
“Viscon [HMWPIB] is comprised of 1% ultra high molecular weight polyisobutylene (PIB) and 99% CARB diesel. PIB is a non-toxic, colorless, tasteless, odorless food trade substance which is insoluble in water. ....
Exposure Pathways: Exposure pathways for Viscon in aquatic ecosystems in relation to both human and ecological receptors are reduced when compared to those for neat CARB diesel, the major component of Viscon. The 1% PIB component of Viscon adds viscoelastic properties to the 99% CARB diesel component.
Studies have demonstrated that addition of viscoelastic properties to a hydrocarbon liquid reduces the tendency of the liquid to disperse in water and to spread on the surface of water. Studies have also demonstrated that the cohesiveness of a viscoelastic hydrocarbon increases the capability of spill containment and recovery equipment. The changes in behavior of a spilled hydrocarbon when viscoelastic properties are added reduce potential contacts with human and ecological receptors when compared to the neat hydrocarbon.”