Fuel Saving Inventions
With gas becoming ever more expensive, the market for devices claiming to save fuel is growing. Governmental agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission warn consumers to be wary of such products, as many make false claims as to fuel efficiencies. Of those that do work, fuel-saving potential is small. Gadgets aside, concerned drivers can take a number of practical steps to economize on fuel, such as driving slower and accelerating less harshly.
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Four Methods of Fuel Savings
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Devices claiming to save fuel generally make use of one of four methods. The first is to compress more air into the combustion chamber, the second involves clamping a magnet at the fuel line before the combustion chamber and the third requires filtering the fuel line to remove semi-solid impurities and the fourth reuses waste heat.
EPA Evaluation
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been testing fuel saving devices since the early 1970s. In evaluating any device, the EPA requires it to submit to a number of testing requirements. These include rolling-road tests over standard cold-start cycles in a test car that is reasonably modern and in good condition. Two tests must be performed without the device fitted and two with it fitted. A final pair of tests is then performed with the device removed to account for any possible underlying factors that might have made a difference.
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Modified Fuel Injection Systems
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Modified fuel injection systems feed a mixture into the fuel or air intake or both that causes a pressure increase that, in turn, forces gasoline into the engine at a faster rate. While many of these modified fuel injectors pass the EPA tests, costs generally outweigh fuel-saving benefits. One example is the "Waag" injection system. While this did marginally increase fuel efficiency, the EPA also found that it greatly increased the percentage of emitted pollutants.
Heat Loss Recapture Systems
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The idea of reusing heat lost through a vehicle's exhaust has been around since at least the 1930s. Most inventions attempt to use the waste heat to vaporize gasoline so the engine's ignition stroke doesn't have to perfectly time with combustion. The EPA tested one system that used the heat generated from the engine's coolant to preheat fuel. The product, known as the "Fuel Xpander," failed to improve efficiency. In some cases, it actually increased carbon emissions.
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References
- Fuel Saving: Tony's Guide to Fuel Saving Gadgets
- Federal Trade Commission: "Gas-Saving" Products: Fact or Fuelishness?
- 1 Spark: Contents
- Shop4Patents: Fuel Saving Invention: Saving on Fuel and Also Reducing Harmful Emissions; September 2008
- The Daily Green: New Invention Could Boost Fuel Economy 10%; September 2008
- Mike Brown Solutions: The 100 MPG Carburetor Myth
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
