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It would seem obvious that to address fossil fuel emissions by treating the fuel before it enters the combustion chamber would be preferable to the current practice of dealing with the problem after the fuel has expanded many thousands of times in the form of exhaust gases.A proven method of cleaning up combustion on the inlet side of the engine, boiler, etc. is the use of water in oil emulsified fuels, now an accepted means of emissions reduction.
The most common types of water in oil emulsion fuels used today are produced at the oil terminal using chemical emulsification/stabilization and delivered to the customer as a fuel usually at a cost greater than oil alone. Although effective for emissions reduction, the altered surface tension of the fuel in order to chemically stabilize, inhibits the micro-explosion phenomenon and does not produce as much energy or offer the fuel savings benefits of the un-stabilized product. The chemically stabilized product also presents challenges of logistics and danger of separation during storage.
This is not to say that other sensible initiatives should not be considered; many can work together to optimize fuel and emissions efficiencies.Β For example, a recent article appearing in Hellenic Shipping News describes a "scrubber" test system planned by Wilhelmsen Shipping et al.Β Wilhelmsen earlier purchased and has implemented two emulsion fuel systems mounted onboard M/V Tortugas and M/V Taiko for more than a year which have produced excellent outcomes in fuel & emissions reduction.Β "Since first installing the emulsion system on board Tortugas we are seeing positive trends with regards to reduced fuel oil consumption, cleaner inside engine, economizer and boiler and reduced NOx-emissions."
As Wilhelmsen has determined, the emulsion fuel systems & O.E.M. scrubbers may likely go hand in hand as fuel & maintenance cost savings produced by the emulsion system may also offset the cost of the scrubber while the scrubber is likely to reduce the remaining impurities in the exhaust in compliance with SECA mandates.
More specifically, the emulsion fuel system addresses emissions at their source before they have a chance to form, offering more complete combustion and increased efficiency. Catalysts/scrubbers focus upon cleaning up emissions after they have formed and passed through the engine's exhaust valves, turbochargers, economizers or boiler tubes, leaving carbon/soot deposits upstream of the catalyst. These deposits rob efficiency and increase maintenance which cannot be addressed by back end systems.
The tanker market is under greater pressure, since tankers use more fuel while the price of bunkers has risen sharply adding to owners’ costs. Fuel is used to power the vessel and to heat cargo oil.  Exhaust CO2 is released into the cargo areas as a fire suppressant along with attendant particulates/Materials/black carbon/soot which contaminates the cargo oil. The emulsion fuel system cleans up to 90% of the P/M before it is released into the cargo areas thereby reducing contamination of the cargo oil.
There are no logistical issues regarding location/availability as the emulsion system produces fuel onboard in real-time from HFO or LSF and plain water such that it is always available when and where needed.Β With talk of emulsion fuel being publicly traded emulsion fuel systems theoretically would offer owners the capability of generating even greater returns in terms of manufacturing their own emulsion fuel product
Source: Petter Joenvik , Shipping & Environmental Manager, Nonox Ltd., Article written under arrangement with Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/News.aspx?ElementId=0bb30cc0-a58b-4092-9626-8642f829726b&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily
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