Biogas as fuel: New alloy significantly extends engine life
Mar 24, 2025
Biogas is a versatile energy carrier that can be used in numerous sectors – from heat generation and electricity production to its use as a fuel. As a modern complement to gasoline, diesel, and natural gas, biogas boasts an excellent environmental record. It is produced from the fermentation of organic materials such as agricultural waste, sewage sludge, manure, or similar substances, thus making an important contribution to the circular economy.
The greatest ecological advantage of biogas lies in its carbon neutrality. The carbon released during combustion was previously bound from the atmosphere by plants or other biomaterials. Therefore, no additional carbon is released, effectively reducing net greenhouse gas emissions. These properties make biogas a sustainable and climate-friendly alternative to fossil fuels.
Despite its environmental advantages, the use of biogas as a fuel presents specific technical challenges. Biogas often contains impurities such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), ammonia, moisture, siloxanes, and halogens. These substances attack engine components in the combustion chamber and exhaust system, causing corrosion, chemical wear, and deposits. Furthermore, biogas engines are subject to fluctuating loads because the fuel composition is not always constant. Unlike natural gas, which has a clearly defined methane content, biogas is not a standardized fuel because it is produced by the fermentation of organic matter, which can vary considerably.
In addition to impurities and inconsistent composition, biogas presents further technical challenges. Unlike liquid fuels such as diesel or gasoline, which act as lubricants to some extent, biogas is gaseous and offers no lubricating properties. This increases the mechanical wear of engine components. Another aspect is the lack of engine cooling.
Critical components such as injectors, valves, and valve seat rings are particularly affected. These components are essential for the efficiency and reliability of combustion engines. Due to the high wear susceptibility of biogas engines compared to conventional fuels, operating times and maintenance intervals are significantly reduced.
To effectively address these challenges, the innovative alloy TriboDel Pro is ideal. This alloy belongs to the next generation of Tribaloys and is based on the principles of High-Entropy Alloys (HEA). This means it is a multi-component alloy consisting of various elements in similar molar ratios. As a result, TriboDel Pro is characterized by exceptional wear and corrosion resistance as well as excellent high-temperature performance, offering decisive advantages compared to other alloys, especially in biogas operation. The alloy resists the typical wear mechanisms of biogas applications, including corrosion from aggressive chemical compounds such as H₂S and ammonia, abrasion and adhesion, and tribochemical reactions.
TriboDel Pro reacts with oxygen under temperature stress, resulting in oxidation. The oxides and oxide layers formed generally reduce wear by forming a boundary layer and preventing metal-to-metal contact. Furthermore, the alloy is temperature-resistant and withstands even extreme conditions. All these properties of TriboDel Pro make it possible to significantly extend the service life of engine components and reduce maintenance intervals.
“TriboDel Pro sets new standards in material technology for biogas engines,” explains Sascha Elstner, Business Development Manager at Deloro Wear Solutions. “Even under the most demanding conditions encountered during biogas operation, the alloy remains stable and offers a reliable solution. It not only increases the service life of the engines but also makes a significant contribution to the efficiency and sustainability of biogas as a fuel.”
TriboDel Pro has already impressively demonstrated its performance in practical applications. Since 2021, a leading specialist in engine repair has been successfully using the innovative alloy in biogas engines, resulting in three times longer maintenance cycles. For the end customer, this means not only a significant reduction in annual repair and maintenance costs, but also significantly shorter downtimes and a noticeably increased engine lifespan. This makes engine operation more economical and contributes to the long-term profitability of biogas plants.
The importance of biogas as a fuel is steadily growing. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), demand increased by around 56 percent between 2013 and 2023. A further increase of approximately 50 percent is projected by 2030 – despite the remaining need for optimization to ensure the long-term efficiency and reliability of biogas engines. With TriboDel Pro, an alloy is already available that makes a crucial contribution to overcoming the specific challenges of biogas operation.
“Our experience with TriboDel Pro so far shows that we are on the right track,” summarizes Elstner. “Our goal is to transfer the performance of TriboDel Pro to other promising technologies such as hydrogen and ammonia engines.” Deloro Wear Solutions has made it its mission to establish TriboDel Pro in specific markets to advance the energy transition and make the development of alternative fuels and engine concepts more competitive.
As of March 2025
Jetzt anrufen 
Email verfassen
e-Procurement
Zum Shop