RAPTECH applies controlled cavitation in a novel way to revolutionize how heavy fuel oil (HFO) and alternative fuels are conditioned. This approach enables cleaner combustion, durable fuel emulsions, and significant cost savings. Below arerecent developments and their relevance to operational performance and the shift toward low-carbon energy.
- Controlled Cavitation for Long-Term Emulsion Stability
A key advantage of RAPTECH’s method is its ability to use cavitation to treat fuel oil and blend it with alternatives of differing density and viscosity. Through thermo-mechanical shear, the process generates fine to ultra-fine dispersions, typically in the 2–15 µm range. The result is uniform, highly stable emulsions with reliable fuel properties.
- Enhanced Combustion and Fuel Characteristics
Blending sustainable feedstocks with HFO while targeting ISO 8217:2024 compliance has yielded strong improvements in fuel quality. The process reduces kinematic viscosity and pour point, while simultaneously boosting calorific value and decreasing ash and carbon residues. These changes simplify handling, improve combustion performance, and even lower the preheating temperatures required for engine operation.
- Engine Validation of HFO–FAME Mixtures
Laboratory metrics such as total sediment and particle size distribution already indicate superior combustion potential, but further verification is underway. An HFO–FAME blend produced with RAPTECH cavitation is being trialed on a Caterpillar MaK 6M20 four-stroke marine diesel engine at FVTR GmbH. Its performance in terms of fuel consumption and exhaust emissions is being directly compared to that of a conventionally blended HFO–FAME fuel.
- Projected 6% Fuel Savings
Considering the combined benefits — better combustion, improved stability, and reduced preheating demand — fuel economy gains of at least 6% are expected. Such efficiency translates directly into cost reductions and supports compliancewith measures such as the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII).
- UADA Technology and the Future of Low-Carbon Fuels
RAPTECH’s Ultrasonic Acoustic Flow Aggregate (UADA) system also provides a versatile platform for advancing low- and zero-carbon fuels, including methanol, ethanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. By enabling micro- to nano-scale emulsification and intense mixing, cavitation produces stable blends—such as alcohol–diesel pilotfuels or NH₃–H₂ mixtures—ensuring better uniformity and smoother engine operation.
In essence, RAPTECH’s controlled cavitation and UADA technologies open the door to efficient,stable, and scalable fuel innovations, bridging today’s heavy fuel oil requirements with tomorrow’s low-carbon energy landscape. Author: Dr. Ahmad Saylam | RAPTECH Eberswalde GmbH
