The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. Non Life Sciences
  3. Technology
  4. Could diesel be made clean?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Could diesel be made clean?

  • 9 Replies
  • 364 Views
  • 1 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Petrochemicals (OP)

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • 436
  • Activity:
    24.5%
  • Thanked: 12 times
  • forum overlord
    • View Profile
Could diesel be made clean?
« on: 10/01/2019 12:47:17 »
Not counting efficiency, could the diesil engine be made clean ? Deisel engines where initially used for there high torque output espexially at the low end of engine rpm compared to petrol engines, lorries buses tractors etc used them as they provide lots of slow constant power. It is only in recent years diesils heve become popular because the fuel takes less energy to create ie refine and is more efficient and given that turbo diesils have developed, they also now give higher acceleration, somewhere near that of petrol engines. We have all been told by different mechanisms to buy deisels and then not to, yet it doesnt seem that we will be getting rid of large diesil vehicles any time soon, as even though a bus could run off petrol, it is likely that the efficiency versus the present diesil engine would be far far below the efficiency of having a bus with a diesil engine and that means citys and motorway avenues full of dioxins from diesil.

Unfortunatley as anyone with a brian and a bit of experience could have told the governments of earth before they started pushing diesils,  what comes out of a diesil exaust is very very toxic. Is there any reasonable way to process the exaust gasses such as reburning the exaust ( efficiency not withstanding) whilst the vehicle remains largely as mobile and as maintainance free as prior to modification.
« Last Edit: 10/01/2019 16:14:41 by chris »
Logged
Moon bases now !
 



Online Bored chemist

  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *******
  • 13785
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 291 times
    • View Profile
Re: Could diesel be made clean?
« Reply #1 on: 10/01/2019 12:51:34 »
Quote from: Petrochemicals on 10/01/2019 12:47:17
Is there any reasonable way to process the exaust gasses
Yes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_particulate_filter

On an unrelated note, do you know that some web browsers contain a spelling checker?
Logged
Please disregard all previous signatures.
 

Offline alancalverd

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 6910
  • Activity:
    51.5%
  • Thanked: 421 times
  • life is too short to drink instant coffee
    • View Profile
Re: Could diesel be made clean?
« Reply #2 on: 10/01/2019 14:21:19 »
Diesel exhaust can in principle be much cleaner than petrol exhaust as the initial combustion phase is more complete and the exhaust temperature is fairly constant so you can clean it up with catalysts. The problem is that the peak efficiency is limited to a fairly narrow speed range, which is why trucks have as many as 24 gears - the engine speed may be limited to 950 rpm idle and 1200 rpm maximum.

This isn't a problem on ships, where you can run a huge stratified-charge engine for several weeks at 120 rpm, and may be an advantage in future aircraft running a small turbine at 10,000 rpm and delivering thrust via contrarotating electric propellors. My hope is that someone (I'm too old to start the project now) will produce a diesel-electric drive train for cars with a 100 HP diesel running at 2500 rpm charging a battery for overtaking (150 - 200 HP delivered to short-term overdriven electric motors) and town driving (diesel off, 25 HP from the battery) with 80 HP cruise power available, so the diesel is either at optimum power setting or off.

The best thing to to with government advice, whether on wind power, salt, fat, or diesel emission,  is to ignore it.
Logged
helping to stem the tide of ignorance
 
The following users thanked this post: Petrochemicals

Offline Petrochemicals (OP)

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • 436
  • Activity:
    24.5%
  • Thanked: 12 times
  • forum overlord
    • View Profile
Re: Could diesil be made clean ?
« Reply #3 on: 10/01/2019 19:56:30 »
Quote from: Bored chemist on 10/01/2019 12:51:34
Quote from: Petrochemicals on 10/01/2019 12:47:17
Is there any reasonable way to process the exaust gasses
Yes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_particulate_filter

On an unrelated note, do you know that some web browsers contain a spelling checker?
Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel Deisel

The filter does not remove all particles, leaving the smallest most dangerous there, being the smallest there will be more particles per quantity too. And filters soon become blocked. With it being a fuel oil too, there are more pollutants in the mix than petrol.
Logged
Moon bases now !
 

Offline alancalverd

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 6910
  • Activity:
    51.5%
  • Thanked: 421 times
  • life is too short to drink instant coffee
    • View Profile
Re: Could diesel be made clean?
« Reply #4 on: 12/01/2019 10:21:14 »
At least one manufacturer (Saab) has demonstrated that the exhaust from an optimised diesel engine was cleaner than the city air it was breathing in.

All flters can get blocked but a modern DPF has an automatic  cleaning cycle that oxidises the deposits or flags up its condition if it can't be cleaned. This resolves the particulates problem for cars and trucks, which occasionally travel long distances at high speeds (when the DPF can get hot enough to clean itself) but probably not for city buses and taxis. Sadly, our lords and masters seem keen to prevent cars and trucks from entering their domains, and to promote the public transport that causes the problem.
Logged
helping to stem the tide of ignorance
 



Offline chris

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 7478
  • Activity:
    16%
  • Thanked: 242 times
  • The Naked Scientist
    • View Profile
    • The Naked Scientists
Re: Could diesel be made clean?
« Reply #5 on: 12/01/2019 11:21:07 »
Quote from: alancalverd on 10/01/2019 14:21:19
Diesel exhaust can in principle be much cleaner than petrol exhaust as the initial combustion phase is more complete and the exhaust temperature is fairly constant so you can clean it up with catalysts. The problem is that the peak efficiency is limited to a fairly narrow speed range, which is why trucks have as many as 24 gears - the engine speed may be limited to 950 rpm idle and 1200 rpm maximum.

This isn't a problem on ships, where you can run a huge stratified-charge engine for several weeks at 120 rpm, and may be an advantage in future aircraft running a small turbine at 10,000 rpm and delivering thrust via contrarotating electric propellors. My hope is that someone (I'm too old to start the project now) will produce a diesel-electric drive train for cars with a 100 HP diesel running at 2500 rpm charging a battery for overtaking (150 - 200 HP delivered to short-term overdriven electric motors) and town driving (diesel off, 25 HP from the battery) with 80 HP cruise power available, so the diesel is either at optimum power setting or off.

The best thing to to with government advice, whether on wind power, salt, fat, or diesel emission,  is to ignore it.

Very interesting post @alancalverd

You refer to drive trains for cars based on a diesel electric hybrid principle. You might recall we covered a similar technology for London's ageing bus fleet:
https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/interviews/hybrid-buses-are-coming-london
Logged
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception - Groucho Marx
 

Offline Petrochemicals (OP)

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • 436
  • Activity:
    24.5%
  • Thanked: 12 times
  • forum overlord
    • View Profile
Re: Could diesel be made clean?
« Reply #6 on: 14/01/2019 21:48:15 »
AlanCalvert heve you a link on this please, as i cannot seem to find one.

The city bus link only states the better mpg because of no idling, so does this mean significant losses in the conversion to electric.
Logged
Moon bases now !
 

Offline alancalverd

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 6910
  • Activity:
    51.5%
  • Thanked: 421 times
  • life is too short to drink instant coffee
    • View Profile
Re: Could diesel be made clean?
« Reply #7 on: 14/01/2019 23:13:04 »
Nothing more detailed from me, I'm afraid, but I think the transcript was a bit inexplicit. The trick he explained was that the diesel engine is either running at peak efficiency or switched off, but without actual figures it's difficult to see if the system could be extended as I suggested to deliver short-term overpowering of the electric motor. This probably isn't necessary for a city bus, which has a limited speed range and doesn't need to overtake anything faster than a bicycle.

Logged
helping to stem the tide of ignorance
 

Offline Galaser

  • First timers
  • *
  • 7
  • Activity:
    3.5%
  • Naked Science Forum Newbie
    • View Profile
Re: Could diesel be made clean?
« Reply #8 on: 24/01/2019 01:17:39 »
Looking forward to one.
Logged
 



Offline nekS576

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • 20
  • Activity:
    7%
  • Naked Science Forum Newbie
    • View Profile
Re: Could diesel be made clean?
« Reply #9 on: 25/01/2019 14:58:03 »
I'm waiting for it
Logged
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags: diesel 
 

Similar topics (5)

Can we make a robot that could make a smaller robot that made a smaller robot?

Started by acecharlyBoard Technology

Replies: 11
Views: 4466
Last post 08/02/2019 07:55:33
by Zer0
Who made the "mouse"?

Started by SimulatedBoard Famous Scientists, Doctors and Inventors

Replies: 16
Views: 18218
Last post 13/01/2019 12:26:45
by WarnerGet
How are antidotes to poisons made from poisons?

Started by that mad manBoard Physiology & Medicine

Replies: 2
Views: 7640
Last post 19/04/2008 22:29:39
by that mad man
Could a man be made to "fly like a bird"?

Started by gurpalBoard General Science

Replies: 14
Views: 6636
Last post 08/09/2018 03:55:12
by Professor Mega-Mind
How do holograms work? How are holograms made?

Started by JollyBoard Technology

Replies: 11
Views: 7807
Last post 19/12/2015 00:42:04
by Jolly
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 0.209 seconds with 61 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.