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Use of fuels
To take up the technological and environmental challenges facing us today, IFP is working to improve the use of traditional fuels and to create innovative advanced fuels.
Solutions created by IFP's research
Fuels to diminish deposits and nuisances
These fuels significantly reduce the formation of deposits in the combustion chamber and on injectors and valves. They also help to reduce the nuisances produced by engines (noise, odors, pollution).
Alternative fuels (biofuels, gaseous fuels)
Biofuels and gaseous fuels are the main approaches explored. In this context, IFP's teams test fouling, pollutant emissions, and driving pleasure parameters on engines. IFP is for example tracking a fleet of FFV (Flexible Fuel Vehicles).
Innovative fuels under development:
- GTL (Gas to Liquid) strategy,
- synfuels derived from the Fischer-Tropsch process,
- oxygenated compounds.
IFP is also developing plastics and composites with which to make equipment (piping, tanks, seals) suited to the fuels and lubricants.
Testing methods
In their work, IFP's teams make use of:
- the automotive pollutant analysis laboratory,
- means of analysis of regulated and specific pollutants on engine test benches and chassis dynamometers. These means of analysis measure and identify several types of chemical compounds (individual HCs, H2S, SO2, NH3, N2O, aldehydes, PAH, acids, etc.),
- instruments to measure the size distribution of particles.
Industrial consortiums
IFP's consortiums are open to all partners interested in the issue of advanced fuels: auto makers, equipment suppliers, oil companies, and refineries. These international partnerships help ensure that IFP's research programs develop fuel formulations of real practical interest.
Diesel HCCI international consortium
IFP has for 4 years been using its dual expertise in research, in both engines and fuels, in the context of a consortium, on HCCI (Homogeneous Load Compression Ignition) Diesel engines. The consortium studies the effect of fuels and additives on the combustion process in this type of engine ("Effect of Fuel and Additives on Diesel HCCI Engines").
The aim is to satisfy the constraints imposed on future powertrains in terms of very low emissions of pollutants and of CO2. Promising results have already been obtained. The work is now being prolonged in order to validate all of the results with a view to industrial application in the near future.
>> Further information: Diesel HCCI consortium (PDF - 620 Ko)
Gasoline CAI international consortium
At the beginning of 2005, IFP launched a 3-year program aimed at the optimization of CAI (Controlled AutoIgnition) combustion : "Effect of Fuel and Additives on Gasoline CAI engines".
There are two aims:
- determine the physico-chemical properties of the fuels best suited to CAI combustion,
- select the best fuels under varied conditions of use with the help of a characterization methodology.
>> Further information: Gasoline CAI consortium (PDF - 620 Ko)
Ethanol for Diesel international consortium : E4D –Ethanol for Diesel
In April 2007, IFP launched a consortium baptized E4D (Ethanol For Diesel). Its purpose is to study the feasibility and the potential of using ethanol for the formulation of diesel fuels. For the period 2007-2009 the consortium is made up of industrial players from various countries (O2Diesel, Petrobras, Renault, Total and Volvo Powertrain). Additional partners may join at any time.
>> Further information: E4D - Ethanol for diesel - IFP International Consortium Study (2007-2009) (PDF - 75 Ko)
+ Press release (25 January 2008) : Using ethanol as a diesel base: New research consortium launched by IFP
Further information
Brochure: IFP Services in Powertrain and Fuel Engineering
(PDF - 3,6 Mo)
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