Dual Fuel Mixer Saves Irrigators Money

2013 - Volume #37, Issue #1, Page #28

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Irrigators looking for fuel savings for diesel engines have found it with a dual fuel system marketed by Don Hardy, who runs a business called Fuel Efficient Engine Service.
    “I grew up around car engines and spent nearly 20 years tuning race engines and building chassis for dragsters,” says Hardy. “Then I realized a person has to stay home to see their kids grow up, so I started working with irrigation engines.” His company has built, sold and serviced irrigation engines for 25 years. In 2005 he worked with a research engineer to develop a device to mix diesel fuel and natural gas as it enters the injection system of a diesel engine.
    Hardy’s dual fuel converter for diesel engines costs about $1,500, but it can save a farmer more than $3 an hour on fuel, boost engine rpm’s, and reduce the frequency of oil changes. Hardy’s system starts the engine on diesel and, after it heats up, the fuel switches to 80 percent natural gas and 20 percent diesel. Larger engines, like big block Cat or Cummins power plants, use a higher percentage of natural gas, and savings can be $80 to $100 a day. That kind of money gets a guy’s attention when he’s running that engine 3 to 4 mos. a year.
    Hardy knows the system works because of testing he did with Texas Cooperative Extension in Amarillo. Researchers measured straight diesel use and a natural gas-diesel blend on a Case IH 4391 turbo. Savings with the dual fuel system averaged more than $3.50 an hour over straight diesel.             A smaller 4-cyl. had savings of a $1 an hour and a Deere engine on dual fuel saved almost $2.50 an hour.
    “Most irrigators wouldn’t give us a 2nd look if diesel was half or 2/3rds what it is today,” Hardy says, “but with $4 per gallon diesel common, we’re doing a lot of bus
    At late 2012 levels, the price of natural gas is about $2.75 a gallon compared to diesel at just over $4, so there’s a definite advantage to Hardy’s system. His converter installs either in front of or between the air filter and the turbo. Two separate lines, one for diesel and one for natural gas, feed into one side of the mixer and one line goes to the fuel pump. “It’s a simple system that works well,” says Hardy.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jeff Highland or Don Hardy.

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Dual Fuel Mixer Saves Irrigators Money ENGINES Irrigators looking for fuel savings for diesel engines have found it with a dual fuel system marketed by Don Hardy who runs a business called Fuel Efficient Engine Service “I grew up around car engines and spent nearly 20 years tuning race engines and building chassis for dragsters ” says Hardy “Then I realized a person has to stay home to see their kids grow up so I started working with irrigation engines ” His company has built sold and serviced irrigation engines for 25 years In 2005 he worked with a research engineer to develop a device to mix diesel fuel and natural gas as it enters the injection system of a diesel engine Hardy’s dual fuel converter for diesel engines costs about $1 500 but it can save a farmer more than $3 an hour on fuel boost engine rpm’s and reduce the frequency of oil changes Hardy’s system starts the engine on diesel and after it heats up the fuel switches to 80 percent natural gas and 20 percent diesel Larger engines like big block Cat or Cummins power plants use a higher percentage of natural gas and savings can be $80 to $100 a day That kind of money gets a guy’s attention when he’s running that engine 3 to 4 mos a year Hardy knows the system works because of testing he did with Texas Cooperative Extension in Amarillo Researchers measured straight diesel use and a natural gas-diesel blend on a Case IH 4391 turbo Savings with the dual fuel system averaged more than $3 50 an hour over straight diesel A smaller 4-cyl had savings of a $1 an hour and a Deere engine on dual fuel saved almost $2 50 an hour “Most irrigators wouldn’t give us a 2nd look if diesel was half or 2/3rds what it is today ” Hardy says “but with $4 per gallon diesel common we’re doing a lot of business ” At late 2012 levels the price of natural gas is about $2 75 a gallon compared to diesel at just over $4 so there’s a definite advantage to Hardy’s system His converter installs either in front of or between the air filter and the turbo Two separate lines one for diesel and one for natural gas feed into one side of the mixer and one line goes to the fuel pump “It’s a simple system that works well ” says Hardy Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jeff Highland or Don Hardy Don Hardy Fuel Efficient Engines 202 W Missouri Floydada Texas 79235 ph 806 983-3774; www donhardyracecars com

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