BEST PRACTICE CASE STUDY
TK FUELS LTD
About INDEX
INDEX (Innovation Delivers Expansion) is a unique demand-led innovation voucher scheme led that invites Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to apply for a voucher to purchase academic support from one of the 13 Higher Education Institutions in the West Midlands. The project is funded by Advantage West Midlands (AWM), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Innovation Vouchers allow SMEs to purchase academic expertise knowledge to develop their innovation and enhance their business.
The Innovation Voucher scheme aims to build links between Universities and SMEs to create a demand led approach to innovation.ABOUT THE BUSINESS: TK Fuels Ltd
Colbury House
Kitts Lane
Worcester
WR7 4BE
Telephone: 07801946718
Email: martin.reid@tkfuels.com
Website: www.tkfuels.com
Main Contact: Martin Reid
TK Fuels Ltd is a private limited company which has been established to provide companies with the means to become more environmentally friendly, whilst also saving them money in fuel and other related costs.
At TK Fuels Ltd they determined to benefit their clients through continued worldwide research into methods of reducing emissions and reducing costs with alternative fuel solutions. Their overarching mission is to facilitate the alleviation of the increasing global fuel and environment crisis
INNOVATION
Innovation (1) Energy & Power
WORK UNDERTAKEN
TK Fuels have developed a fuel-borne catalyst which dissipates the electrostatic forces which cause fuel molecules to cluster and result in incomplete combustion within internal combustion engines. They have completed extensive testing and research and have completed many road tests on the product which have demonstrated that their product can increase combustion efficiency by around 12%. Subsequently, transport companies and road users can save fuel and as a result there will be a reduction in GHG emissions including a net reduction in carbon dioxide.
In order to demonstrate the benefits to potential users and make a significant impact on fuel usage and transport emissions, they required a credible research organisation to perform controlled scientific experiments. The results of this research can provide companies and the government with concrete information regarding the efficacy of their product.
A single-cylinder diesel engine was used to evaluate the effects of the synthetic based fuel improver marketed as Clear mXt™ on the engine fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. First, baseline tests without Clear mXt™ were carried out and values for fuel consumption, smoke, nitrogen oxides (NOx), unburnt hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) were recorded. Clear mXt™ in different percentages were added to the fuel and tests carried out under the same operating conditions as the baseline tests. The effects of Clear mXt™ were evaluated and presented using diesel and at some selected points also with biodiesel RME. Positive results were obtained especially with regards to a reduction in harmful emissions.
QUOTE
"I must thank all at Aston University and any one involved with the Index project, The scheme has enabled our organisation to develop research links with some of the country's top Universities and provided access to experts in the field of mechanical and chemical engineering. The results obtained from the research has enabled TK Fuels Ltd to take a big step forward to confidently launching our product, Clear mXt. Such progression would have been a lot harder to attain without the aid of the Index Voucher Scheme. Thanks again," Tony Arnold, Marketing Director
ABOUT THE HEI: University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
ABOUT THE ACADEMIC
Dr Athanasios Tsolakis Department of Mechanical Engineering
Thanos Tsolakis obtained BEng in Manufacture Engineering (Technological Education Institute of Piraeus, 1999) in Greece and BEng in Mechanical Engineering (University of Birmingham, 2001) in UK.
He obtained his PhD from University of Birmingham (2004) by investigating the exhaust-gas reforming of alternative fuels (e.g. biofuels including hydrogen) in compression ignition (diesel and premixed combustion) engines.
From Birmingham University, Thanos moved to Johnson Matthey plc, where he was a Research Scientist (2004-2005), in environmental catalysts and catalytic systems. In October 2005, he joined the University of Birmingham as a Lecturer in Automotive Engineering.
Current research interests include:
- Internal combustion engines.
- Environmental catalysts and catalytic systems (e.g. Exhaust gas after-treatments).
- Fuel reforming.
- Combustion and emissions control.
- Alternative fuels (i.e. Bio-fuels, Hydrogen).
- Particulate emissions analysis (e.g. composition, mass and size distribution).