Shell gas (nitrogen enriched)

[64duc]

  Somebody help me out here. Why would adding an inert substance like Nitrogen improve gas?

[ducpainter]

  Somebody help me out here. Why would adding an inert substance like Nitrogen improve gas?

The same way adding tcp would.

[battlecry]

I do not get it either.   

[herm]

adding cleansing detergents is not new just because they came up with a new name for it.......
but it is a good way to deflect interest in the fact that shell has suspended all of its "alternative fuel" research now that the price of fuel has become more palatable to the consumer.

[rockaduc]

adding cleansing detergents is not new just because they came up with a new name for it.......
but it is a good way to deflect interest in the fact that shell has suspended all of its "alternative fuel" research now that the price of fuel has become more palatable to the consumer.

I had heard that too, bahstads.

[herm]

yup,.....turns out, when they are not making money hand over fist with high pump prices, that revenues are not high enough to be eco minded AND profitable

[battlecry]

Yes, but I believe nitrogen, by itself, is not a detergent.  It is generally an inert gas.  When combined with oxygen, can either make you laugh (N20), or deplete atmospheric ozone (N0 and N02).   Why would you introduce a compound into the combustion that can take oxygen away from the reaction? 

N20 should be unstable in the combustion chamber, NO and NO2 are clearly not wanted.  I guess they are saying the free nitrogen will bond more easily to carbon than to oxygen.

It must be that the extra free nitrogen bonds with the carbon and that compound becomes soluble in the water vapor combustion product.

[Special K]

To be fair American oil companies (Shell, Exxon, Velero, Getty, et al) have little or nothing to do with setting prices. If I recall correctly, they represent 2 or 3% of world oil production. Price is soley the perview of a cartel called OPEC.

I agree that "alternative" research is a cynical p.r. display by the oil companies who were making record profits while people suffered.

Again, to be fair, they are actually "oil" companies, not necessarily "energy" companies and have no obligation to develop anything other than the oil based products that they sell for profit. Of course BP does now claims to be an "energy" company but they are not an evil "American" oil company (British Petroleum).

I also agree that a nitrogen additive seems gimmicky.

[silentbob]

The last time I checked my engine was inhaling about 78% nitrogen for every gulp of air it took in.  Maybe bumping that up to 78.0000001% helps it run better.

[teddy037.2]

I thought ozone= O3?

:edit: n'mind... he's talking about depleting ozone. it's too early to read.

[angler]

yup,.....turns out, when they are not making money hand over fist with high pump prices, that revenues are not high enough to be eco minded AND profitable

That is how the free market works.  Green fuel will cost more, at least in the near term, and maybe forever.  Many would argue, myself included, that we don't pay the full cost of the dino fuel we use now.  To fix the problem, fuel prices will have to increase - that is not conjecture, but fact.  For whatever hot air American consumers spew about wanting green fuel, the reality is that they are currently unwilling to pay for it. 

It is always tempting/fun to throw darts at "big oil" but the fact of the matter is the American consumer needs to step up and put their money where their mouth is......

[elyk]

ya first time i saw the commercial is was like  . i dont use shell gas anyways and will continue not using it.

[NAKID]

I was talking to my wife a few weeks ago about the same thing. "Why the make the beast with two backs are they putting an inert gas into the fuel for an internal combustion engine?"

[DCXCV]

Nitrogen enriched 


Shell is just trying to make sure you get a good head on your fill-up.

[herm]

To be fair American oil companies (Shell, Exxon, Velero, Getty, et al) have little or nothing to do with setting prices. If I recall correctly, they represent 2 or 3% of world oil production. Price is soley the perview of a cartel called OPEC.

I agree that "alternative" research is a cynical p.r. display by the oil companies who were making record profits while people suffered.

Again, to be fair, they are actually "oil" companies, not necessarily "energy" companies and have no obligation to develop anything other than the oil based products that they sell for profit. Of course BP does now claims to be an "energy" company but they are not an evil "American" oil company (British Petroleum).

I also agree that a nitrogen additive seems gimmicky.

opec merely sets the ground floor price for a barrel of oil, for their members. neither they or anyone else mind if it goes higher than that. market speculation, and local pricing (this is where the american oil companies get us) takes care of the rest.

also, BP recently canceled funding for its "other than oil" based energies

That is how the free market works.  Green fuel will cost more, at least in the near term, and maybe forever.  Many would argue, myself included, that we don't pay the full cost of the dino fuel we use now.  To fix the problem, fuel prices will have to increase - that is not conjecture, but fact.  For whatever hot air American consumers spew about wanting green fuel, the reality is that they are currently unwilling to pay for it. 

It is always tempting/fun to throw darts at "big oil" but the fact of the matter is the American consumer needs to step up and put their money where their mouth is......

i understand free market, and the "problem" of fossil fuel reliance. my cynicism is entirely aimed at the oil companies attempts to increase positive PR by researching alternative energies.........until the low cost at the pump got consumer opinion off their backs