C. Bailey, G. Christensen, D. Lou
Novum Nano, LLC,
United States
Keywords: Nanotechnology, Horsepower, Nanomaterials, Torque, Fuel Efficiency
Summary:
Internal combustion engines use significant amounts of diesel and gasoline at great cost to both commercial and defense sectors. Reducing friction and wear and increasing thermal heat transfer increases internal combustion engine efficiency and improves engine fuel economy, which significantly benefits both commercial and defense sectors by reducing global fuel logistical challenges and costs. Novum Nano has developed a nano-based engine oil additive that reduces engine friction and wear, reduces turbo temperature, increases torque and horsepower, and increases fuel efficiency. This nano oil additive contains functionalized carbon nanotubes and hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets that are dispersed in base oils using a proprietary ultrasonication process. The two nanomaterials form a unique sandwich-like configuration by sonication and hydrogen bonding interactions. Novum Nano has successfully completed Air Force Phase I and II STTR projects titled “Friction Reducing Nano Oil Additives.” Novum Nano’s product, Novum Oil, is treated to the base engine oil in a ratio of 44 parts of engine oil to 1 part of Novum Oil. Friction and wear test by Novum Nano using a block-on-ring test apparatus showed a reduction of coefficient of friction (CoF) by 5.53% and wear by 28.2% compared to the baseline. Independent friction and wear test by Falex Corp. showed a wear reduction up to 47% using the same block-on-ring apparatus with the same Novum Oil formulation. Wear reduction up to 78% was reported by independent tests at HF Webster Engineering Services for the oil sample treated with various formulations of Novum Oil. Nanomaterials significantly improve the thermal properties of the Novum Oil formulation, including heat transfer efficiency and thermal stability. The oil formulation treated with Novum Oil demonstrated a 22 °C increase in thermal stability compared to the baseline, analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis. After treated with Novum Oil, the turbo temperature of a Paccar PX8 engine equipped on a 2010 Peterbilt straight truck dropped approximately 3%, from 740 °F to 720 °F. Multiple dynamometer tests were performed on Harley-Davidson motorcycles and several pickup trucks with various ages and mileages. Novum Oil increased the torque and horsepower by up to 10% in motorcycles and 2% in pickup trucks. Novum Oil has demonstrated impressive improvements in fuel economy in both gasoline and diesel engines. A small engine gasoline test performed in a research institute reported a 3% increase in engine run time with same fuel level after being treated with Novum Oil. A light tower generator equipped with a non-turbo diesel engine was tested, and 1 dose of Novum Oil reduced the average diesel fuel consumption by 4.9%. Novum Oil has treated over 200 vehicles, and all have shown significant improvements in efficiency and performance. An average of fuel economy increases between 8% to 16% was reported by the vehicle owners, which is statistically significant. Gasoline engines typically get 5-10% increase in fuel economy.