A Green Technology for Extension of Conventional Marine Diesel Fuel Oils

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The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) is seeking support from the NSERC Applied Research and Development program for an applied research project with Katal Energy Inc. (Katal), an Alberta-based company that has developed a new technology to produce low-carbon, distillate fuels that promise to transform the downstream oil and gas and the transportation industries. Katal's process involves mixing subsurface groundwater with conventional marine bunker fuel, followed by catalytic reforming, to produce a hydrated, non-emulsified, alternative diesel fuel product at significantly higher volumes relative to the original bunker. Katal's alternative HRF-R3 fuel is high-grade, clean-burning and ASTM-approved, retaining all of the key performance characteristics of certified Canadian conventional marine diesel fuel. This fuel conversion process overcomes operational challenges faced by other clean fuel producers at a lower projected production cost and reduced environmental impacts. Katal has made significant R&D investments at Cranfield University (UK) and the University of Calgary in the development of its novel hydro-reforming catalytic technology. Two working prototypes have been used for testing. One prototype, valued at $800,000, was constructed by SAIT and is currently located on site. It is available for the proposed project. During the proposed $475,000 project, involving a 68% contribution by Katal, SAIT will conduct experiments pertaining to the fuel's combustion, emission profile and ignition behaviour to confirm the validity of its use in marine diesel engines without the need for retrofitting. The engine profiling and characterization work essential for the process validation will be conducted locally as a separate, but related, project. The project will be led by SAIT's ARIS Environmental Technologies group, thereby benefitting from and building upon its applied research expertise and infrastructure.