It is generally agreed that very high injection pressures are needed to improve engine thermal efficiency fuel economy, lower heat rejection, and to minimize exhaust aftertreatment complexity and costs. With most fuel injection systems, JP-8 fuel causes wear and premature failure. Using oil powered, intensified injectors generally eliminates this problem because many of the highly loaded parts are lubricated with oil instead of JP-8 fuel. Also, the injector plungers are not side loaded and can therefore withstand very high pressures.

—James McCandless, Chief Executive Officer of Alternative Fuel Technologies, Inc.

(McCandless is one of the original developers of oil-powered, intensified fuel injectors. Millions of this type of injector have been used since the mid 1990s by Navistar, Ford, Caterpillar, and Isuzu.)

The Army’s stated goal of 40,000 psi is a reasonable projection of what will be needed in the relatively near future, the company said. The Army already uses lube oil actuated, intensified fuel injectors on some of its combat vehicle engines, but pressures are limited to < 30,000 psi.

To date, the company has applied for a total of 3 SBIR projects from the US Army and has been awarded contracts for all three.

Alternative Fuel Technologies, Inc. is a research & development organization engaged in the design, development and prototype manufacturing of advanced fuel systems for use with dimethyl ether (DME). The company has developed low-cost fuel injection equipment for DME fueled vehicles and currently provides complete DME fuel systems for testing and research purposes in addition to retrofit systems that can be used with most diesel engines. The company’ ultimate goal is series production of DME fuel systems for the global automotive market by 2011.