Associated Press 09.10.07, 11:03 AM ET
ALGONA, Iowa - A northern Iowa company developing alternative fuel
engines said Monday it is shipping its first ammonia-powered engine
for testing to a California irrigation system operator.
Algona-based Hydrogen Engine Center Inc. said the company's
proprietary 4.9 liter engine is powered with anhydrous ammonia with
liquefied petroleum as a catalyst fuel.
The engine will be used to irrigate a walnut grove and provide water
for a cattle ranch in the San Luis Obispo area.
Company officials said successful testing of engines powered by
anhydrous ammonia could lead to development of gasoline-free engines.
The established manufacturing and distribution infrastructure for
anhydrous ammonia is in place around the world, the company said.
Anhydrous ammonia is frequently used as a fertilizer. It contains 17.6
percent hydrogen by weight.
"We are developing the means to operate engines effectively on this
fuel, and intend to continue to further optimize the platform," said
Mike Schiltz, HEC's Vice President of Engine Development. "Our
engineers and technicians worked diligently to develop our
ammonia-powered engine, and now we are ready to unveil the product."
Hydrogen Engine Center CEO Ted Hollinger (other-otc: HLGAF.PK - news -
people ) said the company's mission is to reduce dependency on foreign
oil by developing products powered with cost effective, carbonless
fuel. He said the ammonia-powered engine is one step closer to being a
reality.
"We are pleased that, in a relatively short period of time, we have
developed the technology to a point where we are ready to begin full
field trials," he said. "We believe that implementing ammonia as a
carbonless fuel with our Oxx Power products will open new markets that
have been dominated by fossil fuel powered engines for decades."
Californian law requires that approximately 50,000 irrigation pumps in
the state be converted to non-polluting fuels by 2010 and HEC believes
that a successful field test of its engine would give it a significant
advantage in bidding for that business.
HEC designs, manufactures and distributes alternative-fueled internal
combustion engines, engine controls and fuel delivery systems and
power generation equipment for distributed power, agricultural,
industrial, airport ground support, off-road vehicular, business and
home applications.
All HEC engines and power generation equipment are capable of running
on a multitude of fuels, including hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic gas,
coal bed methane, gasoline, and ethanol.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material
may not be published broadcast, Ammonia-Powered Engine Tested
Associated Press 09.10.07, 11:03 AM ET
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ALGONA, Iowa - A northern Iowa company developing alternative fuel
engines said Monday it is shipping its first ammonia-powered engine
for testing to a California irrigation system operator.
Algona-based Hydrogen Engine Center Inc. said the company's
proprietary 4.9 liter engine is powered with anhydrous ammonia with
liquefied petroleum as a catalyst fuel.
The engine will be used to irrigate a walnut grove and provide water
for a cattle ranch in the San Luis Obispo area.
Company officials said successful testing of engines powered by
anhydrous ammonia could lead to development of gasoline-free engines.
The established manufacturing and distribution infrastructure for
anhydrous ammonia is in place around the world, the company said.
Anhydrous ammonia is frequently used as a fertilizer. It contains 17.6
percent hydrogen by weight.
"We are developing the means to operate engines effectively on this
fuel, and intend to continue to further optimize the platform," said
Mike Schiltz, HEC's Vice President of Engine Development. "Our
engineers and technicians worked diligently to develop our
ammonia-powered engine, and now we are ready to unveil the product."
Hydrogen Engine Center CEO Ted Hollinger (other-otc: HLGAF.PK - news -
people ) said the company's mission is to reduce dependency on foreign
oil by developing products powered with cost effective, carbonless
fuel. He said the ammonia-powered engine is one step closer to being a
reality.
"We are pleased that, in a relatively short period of time, we have
developed the technology to a point where we are ready to begin full
field trials," he said. "We believe that implementing ammonia as a
carbonless fuel with our Oxx Power products will open new markets that
have been dominated by fossil fuel powered engines for decades."
Californian law requires that approximately 50,000 irrigation pumps in
the state be converted to non-polluting fuels by 2010 and HEC believes
that a successful field test of its engine would give it a significant
advantage in bidding for that business.
HEC designs, manufactures and distributes alternative-fueled internal
combustion engines, engine controls and fuel delivery systems and
power generation equipment for distributed power, agricultural,
industrial, airport ground support, off-road vehicular, business and
home applications.
All HEC engines and power generation equipment are capable of running
on a multitude of fuels, including hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic gas,
coal bed methane, gasoline, and ethanol.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material
may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
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