Effects of fuel combustion catalysts on technical, economic, and environmental performance of internal combustion engines of mining haulage machines
Yu.N. Katsuba1, A.A. Makarov2, L.V. Grigoreva1, E.V. Zhuzhnev1
1 Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
2 Scientific and Production Enterprise “Innovational Express”, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №4S/ 2026 p. 26-32
Abstract: The work presents a comprehensive approach to studying the effects of combustion catalysts. Searching for affordable and efficient ways to optimize operation of internal combustion engines is an extremely important task in conditions of constantly increasing environmental requirements for mining haulage machines, as well as the need to improve their fuel efficiency. The presented study focuses on solving this problem not through expensive fuel production upgrades, but by using small catalyst additives, which makes this approach economically attractive. The authors performed experimental studies to determine the optimal composition and evaluate the efficiency of the fuel combustion catalysts, as well as to assess their impact on the technical, economic, and environmental performance of diesel engines in haulage machines. The main focus was on studying the effect of new compositions of the Ormex catalytic fuel activation system on completeness of the air-fuel mixture combustion, a reduction in smoke and opacity of exhaust gases, as well as on reducing the fuel consumption per hour. A bench test methodology was developed and implemented using mathematical statistics to conduct experimental studies that would ensure high reliability of the results. A key innovation is studying the effects of not only the catalytic system itself, but also its component composition, particularly the share of alkali metal fullerides and carboxylic acids. As the result of testing a diesel engine of a haulage machine running on motor fuel with the introduced combustion catalyst, the exhaust gas smoke decreased by 29.1%, while the exhaust opacity was reduced by 12.7%, and the fuel consumption per hour was cut down by 14.3%. The results obtained confirm the efficiency of using combustion catalysts on mining haulage machines.
Keywords: combustion catalysts, motor fuel, internal combustion engines, metal catalyst, additives, catalytic fuel activation system, exhaust gas smoke
For citation: Katsuba Yu.N., Makarov A.A., Grigoreva L.V., Zhuzhnev E.V. Effects of fuel combustion catalysts on technical, economic, and environmental performance of internal combustion engines of mining haulage machines. Russian Mining Industry. 2026;(4S):26–32. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-4S-26-32
Article info
Received: 07.06.2026
Revised: 29.07.2026
Accepted: 17.08.2026
Information about the authors
Yuri N. Katsuba – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2698-491X; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Alexander A. Makarov – General Director, Scientific and Production Enterprise “Innovational Express” (LLC RPE Innex), Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Lyudmila V. Grigoreva – Cand. Sci. (Chem.), Associate Professor, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3287-5947; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Egor V. Zhuzhnev – Researcher, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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