Something New: Gassy Fuel

A refiner in Nevada has formulated still another alternative fuel, a mixture of natural gas and petroleum it calls GDiesel.

Advanced Refining Concepts, of Sparks, says it developed the product over three years, actually starting in a garage. It began producing it in August. It burns cleanly and efficiently for lower emissions and better performance.

"We finely disperse natural gas into ultra low-sulfur diesel fuel at 295 degrees, which results in a fog," explains Peter Gunnerman, a founding partner. "We pass this through our catalytic process that attaches carbon to the molecules in the diesel."

He calls the process ClearRefining, and the resulting GDiesel ends up at between 6 to 8 parts per million of sulfur, or about half the legal limit of 15 ppm. A lubricity chemical is added to protect engine parts.

The product's volume is slightly higher than ULSD, but Gunner­man won't say how much gas is added because competitors could deduce the product's cost by adding up commodities prices. ARC sells the product at its own pumps in the Reno area, directly to customers, and to truck fueling stations, which resell it as GDiesel or blend it into ULSD diesel.

GDiesel's retail price is about the same as No. 2 ULSD, Gunnerman says, but it's better. He has testimonials from fleet customers who say cold engines start easier, and while operating they emit less smoke and return greater miles per gallon numbers. The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection examined the product's specifications and read public comments about it, and has designated GDiesel an official alternative fuel to straight diesel. More information about the product and the company is at www.advancedrefiningconcepts.com.

GDiesel's maker sells directly to users, and to truckstops and fueling stations in northern Nevada. Customers say the gas-diesel blend burns cleaner than standard ULSD.