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How is WiFE Different from Water Injection?
Water in fuel emulsion (WiFE) is very different from water injection methods, the most important and notable difference being that WiFE technology is able to completely emulsify and suspend water inside the fuel droplets and thus does not harm the engine, whereas water injection technologies have been known to cause engine damage.
The table below outlines the key differences between the two technologies.
Key Differences Between WiFE and Water Injection
| Water in Fuel Emulsion (WiFE) | Water Injection | |||
| Emissions reduction of 1:1 for NOx and 1:2 to 1:3 for NOx based on water percentage (i.e. 30% water reduces NOx by 30% and PM by 60-90%). Some reduction of CO and possibly sulfur oxides. | Emissions reduction of one Humid Air Motor (HAM) test showed NOx was reduced by 35% and PM was reduced by 20% with no increase in CO and HC emissions. | |||
| Emulsion rates of up to 50% water in fuel have been successfully tested. | ||||
| Water is completely emulsified in the fuel using an emulsifier/homogenizer. Water is injected together with the fuel oil directly into the combustion space where it is needed. | Water is injected directly into the fuel in scavenge air, intake air of the turbocharger or by separate injectors where it still has to be mixed into the atomized fuel. | |||
| Water droplets are completely suspended in the fuel droplets 1-5 microns in diameter so that water is never in contact with engine components | Water droplets can sometimes form and come in contact with engine components. | |||
| No engine damage reported by WiFE. | Engine corrosion and erosion of components reported by different water injection techniques, including oil film damage in the cylinder liner followed by asymmetrical wear in patches that destroyed the piston ring package. A series of damages in the mid 1990s led to a number of retrofits of water mist catchers in existing 4-stroke medium speed engines. | |||
| WiFE on Demand has an AutoPurge evacuation safety system for emergency situations (i.e. black out or engine failure) that flushes the fuel system with fuel oil and protects the engine. | No means to flush water-fuel mixture in the event of emergency, therefore engine damage could occur. | |||
| Can be used safely on large 2-stroke engines. | Virtually impossible to use safely on large 2-stroke engines because water tends to condense as it travels through the scavenge air system. | |||
| Can be used safely on 4-stroke engines. | Safer on 4-stroke engines than large 2-strokes because the distance traveled from water injection to the combustion space is much less. However, serious damage from water droplets is still a well known phenomenon, especially on newer high-rated engine types where the scavenge air pressure has been increased to match the higher rating. | |||
| Does not require constant water pressure and flow rate to function. No concern about atomization. | Fluctuation in the water pressure and flow rate can have a very negative effect on the quality of atomization, leading to engine damage. Water spray nozzles must be kept absolutely clean with that no calcium forms in the spray holes because this will inhibit the atomization. | |||
| Uses recycled oily water already on board (uses an oily water separator system). Water quality is not important. | Requires vessel to store clean water from shore. Requires distilled/demineralized water not readily available on board. | |||
| No fuel penalty for older vessels (build prior to 2000). May be a small fuel penalty for new vessels. | ||||
| Reduced emissions reduce deposits in the exhaust valves, turbocharger exhaust gas side and economizer. Up to a 100% increase in the overhaul interval can be expected. | ||||
> The History of Water in Fuel Emulsion
> Water in Fuel Emulsification (WiFE)
> Water Injection: Water Injected In the Scavenge Air (Humid Air Motor)
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