Advanced Characterisation of Deposits in Gasoline Systems (Innospec)

Innospec is a global Specialty Chemicals Company focused on bringing innovative new technologies to market and has successfully collaborated with the University of Nottingham for over a number of years. Our Fuel Specialties business has worked extensively with the University of Nottingham with regard to deposit characterisation in fuel systems, in particular diesel fuel. We are now extending these studies to gasoline fuel. Such knowledge is invaluable in developing strategies to reduce emissions and improve fuel economies in the gasoline fleet worldwide.

Fuel is constantly changing in order to meet increasing legislative drives. The result of this has been the change in solubilising power of a fuel and its ability to “carry” material from whatever source in the fuel system. Of the gasoline systems the Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DIDI) is considered a leading technology to deliver emission and fuel economy goals. Thus the engine manufacturers have introduced high-pressure Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) systems delivering fuel at pressures of over 100 bar combined with multi-point injection and a turbocharger, facilitating significant reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. However, GDI systems form deposits and their characterisation is a priority given their mechanism of formation is poorly understood and their significant effects on spray pattern and emissions. For diesel, recent problems with injectors include failure due to needle jamming attributed to internal injector deposits. Here, recent research by Innospec and the University of Nottingham has shown the deposits to be layered using a number of techniques, for example, time of flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry. Such knowledge is invaluable in developing strategies for deposit removal and reduction. Further Focused-Ion Beam Transmission Electron Microscopy studies have provided a gateway technique to allow us to explore these layers. The project will further develop these and other appropriate techniques to provide the detailed information on GDI carbonaceous deposits that is needed to understand their origin and formation. In addition comparisons with more traditional gasoline deposits will be made.

Academic supervisors
Dr David Scurr, School of Pharmacy and Professor Colin Snape, Faculty of Engineering.

The Centre wishes to recruit a Chemistry graduate with a first or high 2.1 (above 65% grade mark average) class honours degree, with an interest in analytical techniques. The funding available restricts the projects to UK students only.

If you wish to apply, please send your CV and covering letter to the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Carbon Capture and Storage and Cleaner Fossil Energy: [Email Address Removed].