SFA International

Specialty Fuel Additives for Hydrocarbon Fuels

SFA International Technical Article Library

New Technical Articles Hyperlinked Below

This is a partial repository of technical papers and related articles written by SFA professionals, principals, friends and associates of SFA. This library also contains guest articles submitted or contributed by fellow scientists and engineers or experts in the field of fuel additives and combustion improvers for combustion turbines, Diesel fuel, and boiler and process heater fuel applications.

Petroleum Fuel Treatment Articles

"The Function of Fuel Borne Metallic Catalysts in the Reduction of NOx in Exhausts of Natural Gas Fuel Engines",W. R. May and J. M. Lang.  A presentation of data for NOx reduction in spark-ignited reciprocating engines operating on natural gas fuel.  A reduction of 75% and higher NOx was observed at oxygen levels where stable high power operation was not possible.  Use of FuelSpec® combustion catalyst allowed operation of the engine at full power.  A mechanism for catalyst action based on atomic spectra analysis and the thermodynamics of NOx formation and equiilibrium are presented.

"The Technological Contributions of SFA International, Inc. to Combustion Catalyst Technology - 1996 to 2009", W. R. May.  A review of contributions SFA International has made to understanding combustion catalysts, their mechanism, how they function and issues regarding dosing and mixing into fuels.  There have been significant advances in this technology with major contributions from SFA International.

"Marine Emissions Abatement", W. R. May.  A review of methodology and economics for removal or reduction of carbon dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides from marine emissions.  Regulatory agencies world-wide are implementing tighter limits on all emissions.  Scrubbing equipment are an expensive method and substitution of higher quality fuels may not be possible due to refining restrictions.  Combustion catalysts offer an effective alternative with a cost savings due to reduced fuel consumption.  Magnesium and calcium additives offer an alternative to scrubber technology for sulfur oxide removal. 

"Nitrogen Oxide Suppression with Combustion Catalysts",  W. R. May.  New data reveal a significant reduction of NOx in engine exhausts with use of SFA's iron - magnesium combustion catalysts.  Reductions are in the 30% to 70% range.  This is a very significant discovery in relation to new regulations on emission of nitrogen oxides worldwide.  More tests are underway and this paper will be updated as those data become available.

"Solubility of Ferrocene in Organic Solvents."  W. R. May.  This article addresses ferrocene solubility issues in organic solvents.  Poor results using solid forms of ferrocene as a fuel additive are attributed to slow rates of dissolution in hydrocarbon fuels.  The use of "crumbs" should be only with vigorous in-tank mixing.  The use of "caplets" should be stopped.

"Effects of High Molecular Weight Condensed Molecules on Catalyzed Combustion Reaction Rates." W. R. May.  This article discusses the comparison between combustion of condensed aromatic hydrocarbons in asphaltenes with similar molecules found in coal.

"Hydrocarbon Fuel Combustion: Effects of Sulfur on Reaction Rates", W. R. May.  Presented to the American Chemical Society, Division of Fuel Chemistry, Philadelphia, PA, Poster Presentation, August 18, 2008.  Oral Presentation, August 21, 2008. This article presents new findings correlating catalyst activity with sulfur levels of fuels.  Sulfur content is an indication of complex molecular structures that are more difficult to react in the combustion process. A mechanism for catalyst function based on free radical formation is presented.

"Catalyst for Improving the Combustion Efficiency of Petroleum Fuels in Diesel Engines", W. R. May and E. A. Hirs, 11th Diesel Engine Emissions Reduction Conference, Chicago, IL, August 21-25, 2005.

"Catalyst for Improving the Combustion Efficiency of Petroleum Fuels", W. R. May, 2003 Technical Exchange Meeting, Aramco Engineering Services, Research and Development Center, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, April 28-30, 2003.

"Catalyst for Improving the Combustion Efficiency of Diesel Fuels", Walter R. May and Ramu Ramdas, 9th Annual India Oil & Gas Review Symposium, Bombay, India, September 9-10, 2002.

"High Temperature Corrosion in Gas Turbines and Steam Boilers by Fuel Impurities."

"I. Measurement of Nickel Alloy Corrosion Rate in Molten Salts by Linear Polarization Technique", W. R. May, M. J. Zetlmeisl, L. Bsharah and R. R. Annand, I&EC Product Research and Development, 11, 438 (1972).

"II. The Sodium Sulfate-Magnesium Sulfate-Vanadium Pentoxide System", W. R. May, M. J. Zetlmeisl and L. Bsharah, I&EC Product Research and Development, 12, 140 (1973).

"III. Evaluation of Magnesium as a Corrosion Inhibitor", I&EC Product Research and Development, W. R. May, M. J. Zetlmeisl, L. Bsharah and R. R. Annand, 12, 145 (1973).

"IV. Evaluation of Silicon and Magnesium-Silicon as Corrosion Inhibitors", W. R. May, M. J. Zetlmeisl and R. R. Annand, J. Eng. Power, Trans. ASME, Series A, 96, 124 (1974).

"V. Lead Containing Slags", M. J. Zetlmeisl, W. R. May and R. R. Annand, J. Eng. Power, Trans. ASME, Series A, 97, 441 (1975).

"VI. A Statistical Study of the Effects of Sodium, Temperature and Additive on Corrosion Rate and Slag Friability", M. J. Zetlmeisl, W. R. May and R. R. Annand, J. Eng. Power, Trans. ASME, Series A, 98, 506 (1976).

"VII. Evaluation of Magnesium-Aluminum-Silicon Combinations as Corrosion Inhibitors", M. J. Zetlmeisl, W. R. May and R. R. Annand, J. Eng. Power, Trans. ASME, Series A, 98, 511 (1976).

"VIII. Evaluation of the Effects of Manganese, Calcium and Several Heavy Metals on Corrosion and Slag Formation", M. J. Zetlmeisl, W. R. May, R. R. Annand and D. F. Laurence, Presented to the American Chemical Society, Division of Fuel Chemistry, Inc., Symposium on Heavy Fuel Oil Additives, New York, N.Y., April 5, 1976.

Reference Works

"Fuel Contaminants and Treatment in Gas Turbine Fuels", W. R. May and J. F. Scott, Sawyer’s Turbomachinery Maintenance Handbook, Vol. III, Chapter 7, 1980.

"Operation of Gas Turbines on Contaminated Fuels", W. R. May, Sawyer’s Gas Turbine Engineering Handbook, Vol. III, Chapter 5, 1985.

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