Loading...
Heavy-Duty Waste Hauler with Chemically Correct Natural Gas Engine Diluted with EGR and Using a Three-Way Catalyst
9/1/2005
NREL and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) through separate agreements are funding a program with Mack Trucks Inc. to develop the next generation heavy-duty natural gas engine to be installed in a refuse hauler. Mack and Southwest Research Institute developed the E7G 12-liter lean burn natural gas engine to operate with stoichiometric (chemically correct) combustion and cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). This engine was coupled to a three-way catalyst for reducing emissions. The objective of the project is to develop a natural gas engine with nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions of 0.5 g/bhp-hr and 0.01 g/bhp-hr respectively with the use of a three-way catalyst.
Authors: Reppert, T.; Chiu, J.
Yosemite Waters Vehicle Evaluation Report: Final Results
8/1/2005
This study was a joint effort between the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The overall goal of the project was to evaluate the use of gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel in combination with passive catalytic regenerative particle filters in real-world service and characterize regulated and unregulated exhaust pollutant emissions from GTL fuel in comparison to petroleum-derived diesel fuel.
Authors: Eudy, L.; Barnitt, R.; Alleman, T.
RTD Biodiesel (B20) Transit Bus Evaluation: Interim Review Summary
8/1/2005
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been working with the Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver, Blue Sun Biodiesel, and Power Service Products to evaluate the in-use performance of buses operating on B20 (20% biodiesel and 80% conventional diesel fuel). Nine mechanically identical 40-foot transit buses (five operated on B20, four on conventional diesel) are being compared over the same duty cycle, the 'Skip' route in Boulder, Colorado. In addition, laboratory tests compared the buses for fuel economy and emissions. This report summarizes the interim results for the period August 2004 through February 2005.
Authors: Proc, K.; Barnitt, R.; McCormick, R.L.
Biomethane from Dairy Waste: A Sourcebook for the Production and Use of Renewable Natural Gas in California
7/1/2005
This report examines the feasibility of producing biomethane from dairy manure. We investigated a number of possible technologies for producing renewable forms of energy and fuel from dairy wastes as well as applications and markets for these products. Although some of the applications proved to be technically or economically infeasible at this time, we believe that the information gathered could prove useful for other investigators or future studies. With this in mind, we designed this sourcebook for readers and investigators interested in exploring alternate uses of biogas created from dairy wastes.
Authors: Krich, K.; Augenstein, D.; Batmale, J.P.; Benemann, J.; Rutledge, B.; Salour, D.; Wright, J., Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, California State University, Fresno, CA
Development of a Cummins ISL Natural Gas Engine at 1.4 g/bhp-hr NOx + NMHC Using PLUS Technology
7/1/2005
The initial project discussed in this report was to develop an 8.9L natural gas engine capable of meeting increased power ratings and reduced exhaust emissions. The power target was achieved, and the torque and emissions targets were surpassed. Because of the high torque and low NOx requirements, the engine design required increased levels of turbocharging and lean combustion operation. This created challenges related to the ignition system and mixing of the fuel and air to provide a homogeneous mixture and stable combustion, which resulted in a new spark plug design. Hardware revisions to the engine control module (ECM) were necessary to accommodate the new system requirements for sensors and ignition system interface.
Authors: Kamel, M.M.
Quantifying Cradle-to-Farm Gate Life Cycle Impacts Associated with Fertilizer used for Corn, Soybean, and Stover Production
5/30/2005
Fertilizers used to increase the yield of crops used for food or bio-based products can migrate through the environment and potentially cause adverse environmental impacts. Nitrogen fertilizers have a complex biogeochemical cycle. Through their transformations and partitioning among environmental compartments, they can contribute to eutrophication of surface waters at local and regional scales, groundwater degradation, acid rain, and climate change. Phosphate fertilizers have a simpler fate in the environment, although leaching of soluble and bound phosphorus is an important contributor to eutrophication.
Authors: Powers, Susan E.
Well-to-Wheels Analysis of Advanced Fuel/Vehicle Systems - A North American Study of Energy Use, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Criteria Pollutant Emissions
5/30/2005
An accurate assessment of future fuel/propulsion system options requires a complete vehicle fuel-cycle analysis, commonly called a well-to-wheels (WTW) analysis. In this WTW study, we analyzed energy use and emissions associated with fuel production (or well-to-tank [WTT]) activities and energy use andemissions associated with vehicle operation (or tank-to-wheels [TTW])activities. Energy resources, such as petroleum, natural gas (NG), coal, and biomass, as well as the energy carrier, electricity, are considered as feedstocks to produce various transportation fuels, including gasoline, diesel fuel, hydrogen (H2), ethanol (EtOH), compressed natural gas (CNG), methanol (MeOH), and Fischer-Tropsch (FT) diesel. The propulsion systems evaluated were spark-ignition (SI) engines, compression-ignition (CI) engines, hydrogen fuel cells, and fuel processor fuel cells, all in non-hybrid and hybrid electric configurations.This study updates and supplements a previous (2001) North American study, conducted by GM and others (General Motors [GM] et al. 2001), of energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with advanced vehicle/fuel systems (GM Phase 1 North American study). The primary purposeof this Phase 2 study is to address criteria pollutant emissions, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 10 microns (PM10), and sulfur oxide emissions (SOx). We also updated the vehicle modeling for energyconsumption with the latest powertrain maps and added some additional propulsion systems, such as hydrogen internal combustion engines (ICEs).As in the previous study, the vehicle modeled was a 2010-model-year, full-sized GM pickup truck. The truck was selected because it is a high seller among light-duty vehicles (cars and trucks) in the U.S. market, and light-duty trucks account for a large proportion of the fuel used in the U.S. vehicle fleet. In our study, we attempted
Authors: Brinkman, Norman; Wang, Michael; Weber, Trudy; Darlington, Thomas
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.
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.
Fuel and Fuel Additive Registration Testing for Ethanol-Diesel Blend for O2Diesel, Inc.
2/1/2004
Testing was performed on a heavy-duty diesel engine in support of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for registration of designated fuels and fuel additives as stipulated by sections 211(b) and 211(e) of the Clean Air Act. Emission generation, collection, and analysis of the regulated emissions and speciation of vapor-phase and semi-volatile hydrocarbon compounds were performed on a Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine manufactured in 2002 and meeting the 1998 federal heavy-duty emission standards that applied in 2002.
Authors: Fanick, E.R.; O2Diesel, Inc.
The Hydrogen Economy: Opportunities, Costs, Barriers, and R&D Needs
1/1/2004
This 374-page report assesses the current state of technology for producing hydrogen from a variety of energy sources; estimates current and projected future costs, CO2 emissions and energy efficiencies for hydrogen technologies; considers scenarios for the potential penetration of hydrogen into the economy and associated impacts on oil imports and CO2 gas emissions; addresses hydrogen distribution, storage and dispensation; reviews the U.S. DOE's research, development and demonstration (RD&D) plan for hydrogen; and makes recommendations to the DOE and RD&D, including directions, priorities and strategies.
Notes: Copies of this document can be purchased from the National Academies Press Websites at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10922
Production of Butyric Acid and Butanol from Biomass
1/1/2004
Butanol was used to replace gasoline gallon for gallon in a 10,000 mile trip across the U.S. without the need to highy modify a 1992 Buick. Butanol can now be made for less than ethanol and yields more BTUs from the same corn, making the plow-to-tire equation positive. Butanol when substituted for gasoline gives better gas mileage and does not pollute the atmosphere.
Authors: Ramey, D.; Yang, S-T
