Methane Slip Mitigation Test Success!

On January 9, 2025 Prabhu Energy Labs (PEL) tested the Oxiperator on a slipstream of the exhaust of a Cummins QSK19G 300-kW lean burn engine at the Colorado State University Engine Lab. The results exceeded expectations. Lean burn engine methane slip has been one of the most challenging problems to the oil and gas industry. Well, PEL not only eliminated the methane (zero!), but also got rid of the VOCs (zero!), and took the CO down to well below 10 ppm! Not 30%; not 50%. The Oxiperator can handle 0.3% methane and VOCs in the exhaust, and probably even less.

Bye bye CH4. Adios VOCs and CO.

An Oxiperator will soon be coupled to a gas turbine or turbocharger to extract useful energy from other oilfield waste gas streams. The Power Oxiperator first mixes fuel with air at atmospheric pressure, then compresses the mixture. It should be able to run on just about any fuel gas, no matter how rich or lean.

Other findings:

• VOC and CO reduction accomplished with oxygen levels as low as 0.5% by volume in the exhaust. The Oxiperator can likely tackle stoichiometric engines as well!
• Our peak temperature was just over 900C. The Oxiperator may be able to get away with less expensive alloys.
• Several pathways to cost-reduction.
• Operation and Control of the Oxiperator was easy.
• Pressure drop was a little higher than PEL had hoped, but was below 1 psig. The Oxiperator can “borrow” pressure drop by eliminating catalytic converters.
• Scaling up to CAT 3500 and 3600 series engines is not trivial, but PEL has the team and knowhow.
• PEL should be able to channel other methane and VOCs into the tailpipe Oxiperator. Doing so could even improve performance. Methane and VOCs are both excellent fuels.