Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
July 12, 2006
To whom it may concern at the media
Joint Academy, Industry and Government Project led by Kanagawa University
Significant reduction in emissions of toxic gases, such as NOx, PM and CO2, proven!
Succeeded in the research and development of threephase emulsifying technology to
support future environment!
Super emulsion fuel “to support future environment” is developed
will greatly contribute to attaining the goals set by the Kyoto Protocol
~ Realization and commercialization of a new, worldfirst emulsion process that does not require any
surfactants ~
A joint academic, industrial and government research project team has verified the environmental effect and
efficacy by means of demonstrating experiments on vehicles, etc, of an epochal Super Emulsion Fuel
resulting from research and development efforts focusing on the “threephase emulsification process” by the
leading member of the team, Prof. Kazuo Tajima, Faculty of Engineering of Kanagawa University (Hirohisa
Shirai, Chairman of the Board of Directors). The new fuel is expected to meet the new emission gas controls
being introduced by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The new regulations, scheduled for phased application starting on October 1, 2006, is one of the most
stringent in the world as they require 25 to 43% improvement in nitrogen oxides (NOx), 15 to 50%
improvement in particulate matter (PM) and 33 to 60% improvement in hydrocarbon (HC) emissions over the
existing regulations.
An onboard demonstration experiment, conducted toward the end of June in Gumma Prefecture using a
30ton dump truck, and a number of earlier experiments using burners and diesel engines, have revealed that
the Super Emulsion Fuel meets the stringent regulations. The Super Emulsion Fuel Project has become the
first of the kind in the world that meets the new emission gas control requirements.
In addition to the environmental superiority, the Super Emulsion Fuel has a number of excellent
performances such as fuel stability and fuel efficiency. The new fuel is an outcome of a new emulsification
technology called the “threephase emulsification process” that does not require any surfactant. The recent
demonstration tests have paved the way toward commercial application of the new process, which also
promises a number of other applications in the foodprocessing, cosmetics and agricultural industries.
Kanagawa University wishes to thank JFE Engineering Corporation and Maeda Corporation for their
cooperation in conducting the demonstration experiments of the Super Emulsion Fuel Project as part of the
joint academic, industrial and government project promoted by Kanagawa University.
Dump truck MDT30
in demonstration runs
1
[Super Emulsion Fuel]
Onboard demonstration tests, conducted to verify the effect and efficacy of the Super Emulsion Fuel
resulting from the project, led to the following findings:
n The fuel meets the new emission gas control requirements (NOx, PM, HC)
n The super emulsification process of the fuel improves the fuel efficiency by 10 to 15%, promising a
substantial contribution toward achieving the goals set in the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change.
* More details are given below.
<Results of the onboard demonstration experiments>
· Tests conducted on June 27 to 29, 2006, in Yoshiimachi, Tanogun, Gumma Prefecture.
· Test vehicle: Heavyduty dump truck MDT30 fabricated by Maeda Corporation
· Emulsion composition (two recipes): Diesel oil to water = 65 to 35 (including emulsifying agent) wt%; 70 to
30 (including emulsifying agent) wt%
(1) Environmental properties
PM reducing effect (filter bypass)
Unit: %
%
30.0
30.0
27.6
27.6
25.0
25.0
Substantial
20.0
20.0
大幅削減を確認!
reduction
verified!
15.0
15.0
10.0
10.0
5.0
5.0
1.0
1.0 1.3
1.3
0.0
0.0
軽油 100%
Diesel oil 100% 軽油 70%
Diesel oil 70% 軽油 65%
Diesel oil 65%
Diesel oil 100% Super Emulsion Fuel (SEF)
Comparison of drum filters
After running on SEF (foreground) and on 100% diesel oil (background)
2
NOx reducing effect
Unit: ppm
250.0
205.5 Engine speed (rpm)
200.0
Substantial
163.5 890 (Idling)
144.5 reduction
150.0
verified! 1500 (Cruising)
100.0
2100 (Accelerating)
62.0
55.5
50.0
26.5 31.0 27.0
18.5
0.0
Gas oil 100% Gas oil 70% Gas oil 65%
Gas oil 100% Super Emulsion Fuel (SEF)
(2) Combustion efficiency (fuel efficiency)
Unit: m/L Approx. 10 to 15% improvement!
560.0
540.0 536.0
520.0
508.3
500.0
480.0
465.7
460.0
440.0
420.0
Gas oil 100% Gas oil 70% Gas oil 65%
Gas oil 100% Super Emulsion Fuel (SEM)
(3) Driving performance
· Normal driving performance was verified on a heavyduty vehicle (30ton dump truck).
<Other advantages>
Significant contribution toward realizing the goals in the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change.
(1) Heavyduty diesel engines (construction machinery, ships, farming equipment, heavy vehicles, etc) will
soon face the third phase of emission control, which can be met by the use of the Super Emulsion Fuel.
(2) The higher fuel efficiency helps reduce the energy consumption and CO2 emissions, which leads to a
significant contribution toward realizing the goals in the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change.
3
[Super emulsion by the threephase emulsification process]
This specific project marks the departure from the conventional emulsification method that uses
surfactants. Instead, the project concerns the development of a new emulsification method (threephase
emulsification process) based on the physical action force (van der Waals attractive force) of the soft,
hydrophilic nanoparticles.
The new process represents an entirely different approach from the conventional emulsification
method that relies on the size and shape of the particles alone and not on the unique properties of the
substance.
[Key aspects of the process]
n A broad variety of oils can be emulsified with a single type of emulsifying agent.
n Liquids with up to 80wt% of oil can be converted into O/W type emulsion (note 1).
n Mixed emulsions of a variety of oils can be prepared.
n The time required for product development and manufacturing can be shortened since the HLB
values (note 2) need not be considered.
* More details are given below.
Note 1: Wateroil emulsions fall under either O/W type (oil dispersed in water) or W/O type (water in oil).
Note 2: HLB = Hydrophiliclipophilic balance, representing the degree of affinity of the surfactant for water and oil.
Emulsification by surfactants Threephase emulsification process
Item
(conventional process) (new process)
Emulsifier: Surfactant (molecules) Emulsifier: Soft nanoparticles
Hydrophobic moiety Hydrophilic moiety
Schematic depiction
Oil drop Oil drop
<Cases of emulsified state>
Emulsion using surfactants Emulsion by threephase emulsification
2 days old (011 50wt%) process 30 days old (011 50wt%)
4
Separated Stability maintained
[Technology that explores futuristic environments]
Super Emulsion by the threephase emulsification process has unique characteristics that make it
applicable not only to fuels but also to a broad range of industrial uses. It is a “dream emulsification
technology” indeed that has unlimited potential for the future.
[Key aspects of the process]
n Applied studies of the threephase emulsification process are under way in many areas including
cosmetics, foodprocessing, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries.
Project supervisor: Academic, Industrial and Government Collaboration Promotion Office,
Kanagawa University (contact person: Taguchi)
Enquiries: Kanagawa University Public Relations
(contact Hanajima, Yoshihara in Japanese)
TEL: (045) 4815661 FAX: (045) 4819300
Mail: tajimaproj@kanagawau.ac.jp
Web: http://kanagawau.ac.jp
[Reference]
Profile
Prof. Kazuo Tajima
[Specialization] Colloid and surface chemistry
Born on Feb. 9, 1938, in Edogawaku, Tokyo. Graduated from Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Tokyo
Metropolitan University in 1961. Became an assistant at Tokyo Metropolitan University in 1963 and earned the doctor of
science degree (D.Sc.) in 1971 from Tokyo Metropolitan University. Became a parttime lecturer in the Faculty of
Engineering, Kanagawa University, in 1977, an assistant professor in later years, and a professor in 1984. A member of
the Studies in Chemistry Liaison Committee of the Science Council of Japan, chairman of the Agriculture and Applied
Chemistry Subcommittee, and currently chairman of Japan Oil Chemists’ Society.
A list of awards of note
Year Description of awards
Dec. 1970 Matsunaga Award of study encouragement (studies in adsorption of surfactants by the radio tracer
method)
June 1975 Ito Award of study encouragement (studies in adsorption of surfaceactive substances on phospholipids
membrane by the radio tracer method)
Feb. 1994 Best Thesis Award in oleo technology (studies in vesicles formation of polyoxyethylene hydrogenated
castor oil nonionic surfactants and their thermal properties)
Mar. 2002 Japan Oil Chemists’ Society Award (studies in selforganization formed by amphiphatic substances)
Sep. 2002 Japan Oil Chemists’ Society Journal of Oleo Science Editor’s Award (ThreePhase Emulsion of
Hexadecane with Dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol Sodium Salt in Water: Interpretation of New Phase
Transition in Bilayer Assembly,” J. Oleo Science, 50 (No.6), 475484 (2001)
5