bioMSAR™ Next-Gen
In 2022, in response to rising demand for low and near-zero GHG emission fuels, we started to develop options to further reduce the GHG emissions profile of bioMSAR™ to net-zero. Our goal is to deliver a commercially viable ‘bioMSAR™ Zero’ by 2030. We researched feedstocks with potential for blending into our base bioMSAR™ product to produce a net-zero GHG emission fuel on a Well-to-Wake basis.
Several feedstocks have been shortlisted and partnerships developed with companies owning unique or advantaged technologies, or access to the feedstocks.
BIOMASS-DERIVED SUGAR OILS
To complement the use of renewable glycerine, and provide at scale the quantities of biofuels required by the marine and industrial sectors (consuming over 200 million tons of conventional fuels globally) we are testing the use of cellulosic sugars and pyrolytic sugars derived from waste lignocellulosic biomass. This is one of the most abundantly available raw materials on the planet, with over 200 billion tons grown of which 50 billion tons is waste.
In one of our partnerships, Quadrise has teamed up with Vertoro BV who produce crude sugar oils (CSO™) from sustainable biomass residues sourced from forestry, agriculture, paper and textile wastes.
Stable blends of bioMSAR™ containing up to 40% of CSO™ (replacing glycerine) have been produced at pilot scale at our research facility.
The first phase of diesel engine testing by partners, Aquafuel, was performed on the Quadrise-owned 40kW Quadrise’s Cummins diesel engine using bioMSAR™ containing 18-20% CSO™ and 18-20% glycerine. Subsequent testing was then recently completed at Aquafuel using bioMSAR™ with 39% CSO™ content to replace the glycerine in bioMSAR™.
Testing of CSO™ bioMSAR™ when compared with conventional road diesel (ULSD) confirmed engine efficiency improvements of 7% resulting in reduced fuel consumption and lower carbon dioxide emissions, consistent with standard bioMSAR™ results.
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) emissions compared with diesel were reduced by around 30% with the CSO™ bioMSAR™, which is comparable with the 20-45% reductions in NOx seen during previous testing with bioMSAR™ on the same engine. Carbon monoxide (CO) emissions were reduced by over 50% with all bioMSAR™ variants vs diesel.
Visible smoke was also negligible when running CSO™ bioMSAR™ and bioMSAR™ when compared with diesel.
Based on the Aquafuel results, testing of the 40% CSO™ bioMSAR™ and conventional bioMSAR™ on a larger medium-speed Wärtsilä engine at VTT is being scheduled for H1’24, alongside testing of higher concentrations of CSO™ in bioMSAR™ beyond 40% at QRF and Aquafuel.These results and scheduled tests are expected to accelerate the larger-scale trials and the potential use of lower-cost CSO™ bioMSAR™ for the marine and power generation sectors.
In parallel to the CSO™ work Quadrise has teamed up with BTG Bioliquids BV who produce pyrolysis oils and pyrolytic sugars from sustainable biomass residues. This programme of work is following a similar RDI pathway, with positive results to date that are expected to lead to engine tests at Aquafuel initially, and then VTT if successful in 2024.
METHYL ESTERS
Methyl esters are produced from food crops, natural oils or waste oils, such as used cooking oil, and are commonly blended with Fuel Oil or with Diesel to produce ‘drop-in’ marine biofuel or automotive biodiesel for the road transportation sector.
The most common blends in the marine sector are B24 or B30, comprising 24-30% FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) or UCOME (Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester) with the balance of the blend being Fuel Oil (HSFO or VLSFO). B50 (50% FAME/UCOME) and B100 (100% FAME/UCOME) fuels are also undergoing commercial trials in the marine sector.
After successful lab testing at our research facility QRF, Quadrise completed the first phase of Methyl Ester engine testing on our 40kW Cummins diesel engine using two different “B30 equivalent” formulations with and without glycerine in the water-phase to achieve similar product viscosities (<200cSt @ 50°C).
The first formulation blended marine B30 with water and our proprietary additives:
The second formulation blended marine B30 with glycerine, water and our proprietary additives:
Compared with conventional automotive diesel, both these formulations with marine B30 provided enhanced engine efficiency benefits of 3-7% in our 40kW Cummins 4S engine. bioMSAR™ ‘B55’ with Glycerine also provides over 38% WTW CO2 emission savings versus conventional fuel oils (HSFO or VLSFO) due to the higher biofuel content.
As with previous testing, both formulations with B30 demonstrated significant NOx emission reductions of 43-59%, CO reductions of 58-76%, and negligible visible smoke from the exhaust stack compared with diesel. Marine B30 bioMSAR™ achieved the highest NOx reductions (59%) due to the higher water content of 30% compared with 10% in the formulation with glycerine.
Following the success of emulsified marine B30 engine testing, formulations with higher concentrations of methyl esters were subsequently tested.
One formulation used B50 blended with water and our proprietary additives:
Another formulation blended B100 FAME with glycerine, water and our proprietary additives. This B100 biofuel is our first bioMSAR™ Zero commercial prototype:
Both the B50 and B100 formulations showed substantial engine efficiency improvements of 7-10% compared to diesel in our 40kW Cummins 4S engine. Furthermore, bioMSAR™ ‘B50’ demonstrated up to 39% WtW CO2 reduction, and bioMSAR™ Zero ‘B100’ demonstrated 85% WTW CO2 reduction versus conventional fuel oils.
Carbon monoxide (CO) emissions were reduced by 87 and 93% respectively. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions were also reduced by 29 and 18% respectively, in line with the water content of the fuels. Visible smoke was also significantly reduced to negligible levels using both the B50 bioMSAR™ and B100 bioMSAR™ blends.
The latest results demonstrated with bioMSAR™ containing Methyl Esters provide a new pathway for consumers to significantly lower their emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants in a cost-advantageous manner.
Our first fossil-free bioMSAR™ Zero engine tests have shown that a commercially competitive B100 emulsion fuel alternative is now feasible. Further testing on B100 prototypes is planned, to provide commercial bioMSAR™ Zero to our clients well in advance of our original 2030 target.
