The Experimental Project of URUCU natural gas - Performance, fuel economy and vehicle emissions of natural gas produced on Amazon.

Natural gas (NG) produced in the Urucu area (Amazon Forest) has low methane and high nitrogen and therefore does not meet current NG specifications for vehicular use, as established by standard number 104 of ANP (National Petroleum Agency).

This paper reports the steps for these NG conversion kit adjustments and also the results and comparisons of vehicle performance, emissions and fuel economy tests on a chassis dynamometer. The vehicles were tested with different fuels like regular NG, Amazon Forest NG, gasoline and ethanol. The results were presented to ANP that authorized in the beginning of 2005 the experimental use of the Urucu natural gas for 30 months.

Also reported on this paper is an overview of the Brazilian NG fleet, present and future emission legislation, fuel specification, new trends on NGV (Natural Gas Vehicle) market and conversion kit technologies. Updated information is included regarding the experimental project of Urucu natural gas that is running on Manaus city.