http://pesn.com/2008/02/01/9500470_AlternateEnergyCorp_hydrogen-injection/
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1, 2008
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AEC's New Initiative Produces Hydrogen-on-Demand for Air Intake
Differing from the various electrolysis-based hydrogen-injection
approaches being pursued, Alternate Energy Corp. has a proprietary
hydrogen-on-demand system that is metallurgical based.
AEC hydrogen production demonstration video
shows a flask containing the activator material mixed with water, which is
pumped into a reaction vessel containing the metallurgical reaction
material, generating sufficient hydrogen to run a 1 kW generator.
The end products are said to be relatively benign, and can be disposed of
in a safe manner.
BURLINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA -- Alternate Energy Corp. (OTCBB:
ARGY), has announced a new initiative that focuses on a hydrogen injection system for diesel
engines that improves
fuel efficiency, increases horsepower, and decreases emissions.
Over the last seven months, AEC’s research and development team has created a new product that was specifically designed to complement AEC’s sale of hydrogen and commodity chemicals.
Blaine Froats, AEC’s Chairman and CEO, commented, “While the production of industrial hydrogen for bulk users (such as hydrogenation) remains a lucrative business opportunity, we always felt that our quality hydrogen could be sold at a much higher price given the right application. I therefore tasked our R&D team with the objective of increasing the ‘per unit value’ of the hydrogen by researching applications that would support it. What they found was momentous for AEC and its shareholders.”
Based on well-documented research conducted by a plethora of scientific sources since the 1970’s, it has become a known scientific fact
that the addition of hydrogen to internal combustion engines (ICE) offers a number of significant benefits
including increased fuel efficiency and horsepower alongside reduced greenhouse gases and emissions. These benefits can be attributed to the more complete combustion of the fuel when hydrogen is injected into the air/fuel
mixture.
An increase in fuel efficiency by as much as 40% has been seen in certain applications
such as stationary gensets. Typically, the introduction of hydrogen into an ICE will realize fuel savings from 10 to 25% dependant on several factors which influence fuel economy, including driving habits and the condition and make of the engine.
The significant increase in horsepower is considered by some to be a side benefit,
but truck drivers interviewed have expressed that the increase in horsepower warrants enough benefit on its own to justify the purchase of the unit, irrespective of fuel savings.
The customary black smoke that is typical of diesel powered trucks and buses is
virtually eliminated in the case of hydrogen injection. The emissions
reductions include:
• 8 to 25% reduction in Co2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Up to 98% reduction in particulate matter
• Up to 98% reduction in carbon monoxide
• Up to 75% reduction in hydrocarbons
• Up to 51% reduction of nitrous oxides
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to phase in its emission standards legislation, based on the “Clean Air Act Amendments” of 1990, which forces the trucking and other industries to reduce emissions, alongside refiners mandated to minimize sulfur (to 15ppm) in the production of diesel by 2010. Analogous to when unleaded fuel made its debut, when these new laws begin to take effect, the price of diesel fuel will likely become more costly to the end-user.
The Hydrogen Injection Process (named ‘HIP’) for diesel engines aggressively targeting the North American heavy transport / trucking industry. In the context of increasing oil prices, because diesel fuel represents approximately a third of a trucking company’s operating cost, it was decided that this industry could benefit most from fuel savings and therefore targeted as ‘low-hanging-fruit’.
Currently, AEC is actively testing its hydrogen injection process ‘HIP’ technology on diesel generators and trucks, quickly moving to ‘patent protect’ its unique solution. The Company summarizes its business analysis findings below:
AEC projects excellent ROI for truckers (less than 6 months @ 15% savings), strong income and handsome profit margin for the Company.
Cross-comparison of its system against competitive approaches that predominantly employ “electrolysis” to produce hydrogen for injection has shown the Company’s solution to be superior by all measures – specifically, overall lower cost and improved reliability.
By virtue of the unprecedented benefits and comparative lower cost of AEC’s HIP, every trucking company owner interviewed has expressed an overwhelming interest in the AEC solution, with many asking to be the Company’s first customers when the units are initially produced.
Next steps will include completion of product design for commercial release, patenting, certification, construction and sales.
Heavy Transport Example
The example provided below has been included to provide a clearer understanding of how the Heavy Transport/Trucking industry presents a strong business opportunity to the Company.
Assumptions:
The average transport truck will travel about 120,000 miles per year and burn diesel fuel at the rate of one gallon per 6 miles traveled. Therefore, the average truck will consume 20,000 gallons per year of diesel fuel, and based on current prices of $3.00 per gallon, with an annual cost of approximately $60,000 per truck. Assuming AEC’s hydrogen injection system attains a conservative average of 15% savings (ranging up to 26%, and 40% or more in special instances) on fuel, this would result in a $9,000 reduction in fuel expense to the trucking company.
In the case of a known fleet operation, the company spends $200,000 in fuel purchases per month or $2,400,000 per year. A 15% increase in fuel efficiency would save $360,000 annually.
The Market:
With 700,000 trucks on the road in Canada and over 20,000,000 in the United States, the trucking industry alone consumes $120 billion dollars of fuel each year. It is therefore estimated that a conservative 15% savings would amount to approximately $18 billion dollars of savings each year. If the AEC hydrogen injection process were to conservatively attract only 5% of this market, it would be able to save its trucking customers about $1 billion per year, with AEC’s annual revenue projected at $400 million per year from this program.
On-Board Truck Generator
In addition to the above, AEC is also exploring the existing on-board truck generator market with its system. With emissions regulations becoming increasingly enforced by more and more states and provinces, on-board generators are replacing the driver’s need to keep the truck’s diesel engine running to provide electricity when not driving. AEC is now looking to improve the combined fuel efficiency of the truck’s engine and on-board generator for overall greater fuel savings.
Mr. Froats said, “We see this new use of hydrogen as the ideal complement to AEC’s overall business as a provider of hydrogen and valuable commodity chemical products. I want to be clear by saying that both businesses will be developed together, in unison. We will therefore continue to move forward toward building process plants that will produce hydrogen that can supply the trucking/heavy transport market, while also working towards becoming a major supplier of valuable commodity chemicals to a world market that exceeds $10 billion per year.”
About Alternate Energy Corp.
Alternate Energy Corp. is energizing the hydrogen economy with its on-demand hydrogen production technology that provides bulk production of hydrogen and saleable commodity chemical products. These systems have global opportunities in multiple market segments. AEC's proprietary discovery in metallurgy and process technology permits the generation of hydrogen through a "green" process at a competitive level to the fossil fuel Kwh cost of energy. AEC believes its systems can have a revolutionary impact on the energy industry. For more information go to:
www.cleanwatts.com
ADVISORY: With any
technology, you take a high risk to invest significant time or money
unless (1) independent testing has thoroughly corroborated the
technology, (2) the group involved has intellectual rights to the
technology, and (3) the group has the ability to make a success of
the endeavor.
All
truth passes through three stages:
First, it is ridiculed;
Second, it is violently opposed; and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident.
--
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)
"When you're one step ahead
of the crowd you're a genius.
When you're two steps ahead,
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