The Fitch Fuel Catalyst and Fuel
By: Al Berlin, Ph.D Research & Product Development for Advanced Power Systems
Prior to working on the development of the Fitch Fuel Catalyst Dr. Al Berlin
was Director of Analytic Services for United Oil Products, a developer of the
exhaust catalytic converter.
What Is a Catalyst?
A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate, or speed, of a reaction, at some temperature, without itself being transformed. A catalyst does this by reducing the energy required for the reaction to occur, thus saving energy, time and money.
For example a vessel containing hydrochloric acid and tin will be stable. Upon adding a minute dose of a few hundredths of a grain of platinum, hydrogen gas will begin to boil off. At the end of the reaction, the platinum is in its original condition.
The Fitch Fuel Catalyst induces chemical reactions among fuel molecules at low temperatures such as those our vehicles and fuel tanks experience and it returns to its original state at the conclusion of the reaction ready to initiate a new sequence.
Reformulation of Hydrocarbon Fuel via Fitch Fuel Catalyst
Fuels are complex. Most of us think of fuels such as gasoline as a homogeneous commodity without realizing that it is not perfect or uniform. As purchased at the pump fuel is a mixture of about forty primary but as many as a thousand secondary different species of hydrocarbon molecules. If fuel were pure there would be few or only one type of molecule. Natural gas types of molecules are too short and light, and asphalt types of molecules are too long and heavy, yet many of these light and heavy molecules are in the gasoline and diesel fuels available at the pump.
Refineries, where fuel is manufactured from crude oil, cannot remove many poorly performing molecules to make a more ideal fuel. In addition, once fuel leaves the refinery or is stored it is subject to attack by oxygen, ozone, and microorganisms (bacteria, yeast, and mold) that grow in the fuel. All these processes degrade the fuel to make a poorer product that prevents engines from performing at optimum levels.
This poor fuel does not combust completely in engines and does not yield its maximum potential energy. Some of it forms carbon deposits and gums, and some is not completely burned putting unburned hydrocarbons into the exhaust. Over time, engines develop problems caused by sub-optimal fuel. These include gumming and constriction of fuel systems and carbon deposits in the combustion chamber and exhaust system.
This is one reason that today's vehicles need an exhaust catalytic converter to reduce toxic auto emissions. These toxic gasses (Unburned Hydrocarbons UHC and Carbon Monoxide CO) would not exist if the fuel / energy conversion in the engine was perfect. Exhaust system catalytic converters provide an environment for a chemical reaction where unburned hydrocarbons completely combust hence the combustion process continues but outside the engine combustion chamber where no useful energy is extracted. Over time, engines develop problems caused by sub-optimal fuel including gumming and constriction of fuel systems and carbon deposits in the combustion chamber and exhaust system.
With a Fitch Fuel Catalyst it is possible to deal with fuel problems in an effective way. The Fitch Fuel Catalyst reformulates fuel prior to combustion on board the vehicle, preventing oxygen and most diseases from attacking the fuel and reversing any degradation that may have occurred prior to the fuel being introduced to the vehicle. The Fitch Fuel Catalyst assists the combustion process by insuring that fuel is highly uniform, potent, consistent, and stable. It performs its function at the temperatures experienced in fuel tanks without any requirement for elevated temperatures or pressures, which is what makes the Fitch Fuel Catalyst so convenient and useful.
The Fitch Fuel Catalyst is not a fuel additive. It is a special alloy that does not dissolve in fuel. On the alloy surface the fuel is reformulated to a state that is capable of a more complete combustion. As a result, the engine converts the chemical energy in the fuel to mechanical energy in a more efficient manner. The engine power is increased as a result and the toxic exhaust emissions are decreased, frequently by more than half.
The Fitch Fuel Catalyst makes a material difference in an engines' power, fuel economy, and maintenance costs as well as air quality. As engines of all vintages use similar fuel the Fitch Fuel Catalyst can be used on any engine with confidence
What does the Fitch Fuel Catalyst do to fuel to improve it?
One way to describe how The Fitch Fuel Catalyst benefits the consumer or engine builder is by the differences in the composition of the fuel that results from exposure to the catalyst.
In gasoline (C7 - C11) we have measured changes due to the presence of the Fitch Fuel Catalyst. Here are some of the more significant ones and the implication of them
Analyses of the gasoline distribution after contact with the FFC shows changes in the composition of organic compounds in gasoline.
Experimental data confirm that the Fitch Fuel Catalyst successfully:
- Light non-gasoline hydrocarbons present in the untreated fuel like C1 - C4 are markedly diminished and
- Branched hydrocarbons larger than C4 were enhanced
- Suppresses bacterial growth in gasoline minimizing this problem
- Improves the Oxidation Stability of gasoline as measured by ASTM D525
The structure of a hydrocarbon molecule (straight, ring, or branched in shape) as well the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms per molecule is important to how well a molecule performs in a combustion engine. Molecules with the same number of hydrogen and carbon atoms but with different structures behave differently in an engine. Highly branched fuel molecules have been shown to be more desirable than straight chain molecules even when the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms per molecule is identical. An increase in the branched compounds and a reduction in the small light hydrocarbons enhances octane number of gasoline leading to improvement in engine performance and reduction of soot. More complex (branched) fuel molecules such as those produced through the influence of the Fitch Fuel Catalyst reduce power robbing knock. It has been determined through experiment that branched fuel molecules such as iso-octane are much less likely to knock compared to normal pentane.
The distribution curve of the various molecular weights and structures within gasoline show a reduction in the less desirable molecule population after exposure to the Fitch Fuel Catalyst and a marked increase in the concentration of molecules of desirable weight and structure. These modifications in the fuel improvement result in the improvements in power and emissions measured in engine tests.
Higher-octane fuels allow for more advanced spark timing. Advanced spark timings produce higher in-cylinder pressures and temperatures producing greater engine output torque and power.
The high fuel quality resulting from exposure to the Fitch Fuel Catalyst insures quality of combustion. The Fitch Fuel Catalyst is an octane enhancer and fuel stabilizer in one permanent device.
In diesel fuels the Fitch Fuel Catalyst reduces the number of highly oxidized molecules. This increases the cetane value of the fuel and allows the engine to extract more power from a gallon of fuel.
See Performance Reports for specific examples these changes in fuel make in lowering emissions, increasing power, and improving fuel economy.