Natural Gas Transit Users Group: Assisting Transit Agencies with Natural Gas Bus Technologies
4/1/2005
Transit buses are a key niche market for natural gas vehicles. Increasingly, transit agencies have been choosing natural gas buses as a way to cut air pollution and boost energy security. The Natural Gas Transit Users Group provides information and assistance to transit agencies that are operating or considering acquisition of natural gas transit buses. It is anticipated that this will lead to increased use of natural gas buses, resulting in reduced U.S. petroleum consumption.
Evaluating the Safety of a Natural Gas Home Refueling Appliance (HRA)
4/1/2005
This project evaluated the probability of safety incidents related to use of FuelMaker Corporation's natural gas home refueling appliance, Phill. The results indicate that an individual is 10 times more likely to be struck by lightning than to experience a safety incident resulting from normal use of Phill. The safety evaluation produced an added benefit—FuelMaker incorporated suggestions from the study into its final design of Phill. Home refueling has the potential to increase the availability and convenience of natural gas vehicle refueling infrastructure. It is anticipated that this would lead to more extensive use of natural gas vehicles, resulting in reduced U.S. petroleum consumption.
Norcal Prototype LNG Truck Fleet: Final Data Report
2/1/2005
This final data report provides detailed data and analyses related to the report Norcal Prototype LNG Truck Fleet: Final Results, published in July of 2004. It should be used in conjunction with the descriptions, analysis, and conclusions presented in the above-referenced final report to give a complete picture of the evaluation. The detailed data and analyses are divided into four sections:
- Vehicle Systems Descriptions: This section lists the trucks involved in the Norcal evaluation and gives detailed descriptions of the equipment included in the LNG trucks.
- Vehicle Use by Study Group: This section provides a detailed summary of truck use for each of the three truck study groups (LNG, new diesel, and old diesel); these detailed data support the data in the final report, Figure 10 (page 13).
- Fuel Consumption and Fuel Economy: This section provides monthly summaries of fuel consumption and fuel economy by truck and by group for each of the three truck study groups (LNG, new diesel, and old diesel).
- Maintenance Summary: This section provides monthly summaries of maintenance costs by truck and by group for each of two study groups (LNG and new diesel); maintenance costs were not studied for the old diesel trucks.
Authors: Chandler, K.; Proc, K.
Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Best Practice Case Study: The Saunders Hotel Group of Boston - Driving Their Guests Towards a Safer Future
1/1/2005
The Saunders Hotel Group has been at the forefront of environmental advances in the hospitality industry for over fifteen years. The Boston-based family business, which owns and operates The Lenox and Copley Square Hotels as well as the Comfort Inn & Suites Boston/Airport, has instituted more than 90 innovative, eco-friendly programs company wide. Their pioneering efforts have demonstrated for hotels worldwide how environmental measures can build customer loyalty and employee productivity while saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Development of the High-Pressure Direct-Injected, Ultra Low-NO<sub>x</sub> Natural Gas Engine: Final Report
5/1/2004
This project targeted development of a high-efficiency, low-emission natural gas engine for heavy-duty trucks. Specifically, it targeted the demonstration of a Cummins ISX engine using HPDI natural gas fueling and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) meeting the following specifications:
- Peak torque of 1,650 ft-lb (2,236 N-m)
- Rated power of 450 hp (335 kW)
- Peak thermal efficiency of 40% with typical diesel part-load efficiency
- NOx emissions of 0.5 g/bhp-hr
- PM emissions of 0.1 g/bhp-hr
- Substitution of diesel with natural gas greater than 90% over the certification cycle
Testing and modeling of an otherwise unmodified Cummins ISX engine with EGR and HPDI fueling indicated that the program goals could not be met with the standard production hardware. Therefore, a turbocharger using a smaller trim compressor and a second EGR cooler were fitted to the engine along with an oxidation catalyst.
Authors: Duggal, V.K.; Pike-Lyford, E.J.; Wright, J.F.; Dunn, M.; Goudie, D.; Munshi, S.
City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation LNG Heavy-Duty Trucks
2/1/2004
This fact sheet describes an Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA) field study for Dual-Fuel? liquefied natural gas (LNG) refuse trucks used by the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation. The study showed that the trucks with Dual-Fuel engines were best suited to meet the operational requirements of refuse collection. Specifically, the Dual-Fuel trucks had adequate horsepower and torque and could be operated safely over all terrains covered by the Bureau's refuse collection service.
Demonstration of a Low-NO<sub>x</sub> Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Engine
2/1/2004
This project demonstrated a heavy-duty natural gas engine emission reduction strategy resulting in oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions of 0.54 g/bhp-h and particulate matter (PM) emissions of 0.004 g/bhp-h. Reducing NOx and PM emissions is crucial for meeting increasingly strict regulations (Figure 1). By 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will require NOx emissions of 0.2 g/bhp-h or less and PM emissions of 0.01 g/bhp-h or less. The technology demonstrated in this project may help natural gas engines meet the 2010 requirements. It is anticipated that this would lead to more extensive use of natural gas vehicles, resulting in reduced petroleum consumption.
The Next Generation Natural Gas Vehicle Activity
9/1/2003
The Next Generation Natural Gas Vehicle (NGNGV) R&D activity is leading important advances in natural gas vehicle (NGV) technology. NGNGV Phase I engine research projects demonstrated NOx emissions well below EPA 2007 levels, and tow projects met EPA 2010 levels in medium-duty engines. NGNGV Phase II engine and vehicle projects covering a range of power and torque ratings are targeted to achieve EPA 2007/2010 emission levels in 2005. In addition, gaseous fuel expertise gained through the NGNGV activity and other government and industry NGV and infrastructure efforts is aiding the transition to a future transportation scenario based on hydrogen.