Detroit-based startup Nostrum Motors is reportedly developing new fuel-injection technology that is claimed to improve fuel economy by 20 percent in most engines.
Inventor Nirmal Mulye, a veteran of the pharmaceutical industry, suggests the new injectors are inspired by medication delivery technology, specifically the nebulizer devices that convert a liquid into an aerosol for inhalation.
“It looks like a shower head,” Mulye told WardsAuto in an interview. “The only thing we’re changing is the geometry of the tip of the injector.”
The startup has remained tight-lipped about the specific mechanics of the technology, until the patent process is completed. A search of the US Patent and Trademark Office applications only lists Mulye as an inventor for a separate filing related to automobile technology, though it focuses on water injection for internal cooling.
Medical nebulizers typically employ one of several technologies to turn liquid into a fine mist. Older systems use a jet of compressed air, while some of the newer models use an ultrasonic vibrating mesh or an ultrasonic-wave generator to create fine aerosols.
Nostrum claims its tech can create “50 times more droplets” than traditional injectors, enabling the smaller droplets to burn quickly. The parts are expected to be compatible with modern engines, either gasoline- or diesel-powered.
The startup is said to be eyeing injector manufacturers for potential acquisition, with current production limited to dozens of units for independent testing by Ricardo, Mahle Powertrain, and Michigan Technological University, among other third parties.