disclaimer: too lazy to do an in-depth analysis.
having said that, I am a chemist and took out one of my solvent reference books to eyeball a few figures. For the claim of reduced surface tension - acetone is slightly higher than heptane, octane, ethanol at room temp - so the article is wrong there. For the claim of increased vapor pressure - YES it has significantly higher vapor pressure at room temp - I don't see an advantage only a increased likely hood of vapor lock and pre-ignition. As for that low of a level (3000 - 5000 ppm) of additive increasing gas mileage 20-30% as claimed seems really a stretch. I do pharmaceutical not petroluem research, but in safety studies of explosivity/ reactivity of things we make it generally takes a minimum of 1-2% w/w additive to see effects and were only talking earlier decomposition onset (= lower ignition temps) not a change in overall amount of energy liberated. Here's the kicker, in our non-computer controlled C3s you'd have to re-jet, re-tune for an altered fuel mixture to see any change.
BUT I would be curious to see someone try this out and report. maybe I'll be more motivated to investigate further.
Oh, if this was true let's make special additive gas to magically increase mileage by 25% and sell it for 10% mark-up with the cost of 3 oz of acetone being essentially free at bulk scale.
steve
having said that, I am a chemist and took out one of my solvent reference books to eyeball a few figures. For the claim of reduced surface tension - acetone is slightly higher than heptane, octane, ethanol at room temp - so the article is wrong there. For the claim of increased vapor pressure - YES it has significantly higher vapor pressure at room temp - I don't see an advantage only a increased likely hood of vapor lock and pre-ignition. As for that low of a level (3000 - 5000 ppm) of additive increasing gas mileage 20-30% as claimed seems really a stretch. I do pharmaceutical not petroluem research, but in safety studies of explosivity/ reactivity of things we make it generally takes a minimum of 1-2% w/w additive to see effects and were only talking earlier decomposition onset (= lower ignition temps) not a change in overall amount of energy liberated. Here's the kicker, in our non-computer controlled C3s you'd have to re-jet, re-tune for an altered fuel mixture to see any change.
BUT I would be curious to see someone try this out and report. maybe I'll be more motivated to investigate further.
Oh, if this was true let's make special additive gas to magically increase mileage by 25% and sell it for 10% mark-up with the cost of 3 oz of acetone being essentially free at bulk scale.
steve
