This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Converting a Small Car to LNG: What Are the Problems and What Can It Do for Economy and Emissions?
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
A two litre compact car originally designed to run on gasoline has been converted to run on LNG. Comparative measurements of fuel economy and exhaust emissions were made for the same car running on each fuel under normal on-the-road and simulated taxi service. When tuned to its maximum economy configuration the LNG car gave significant improvements in fuel economy when expressed on an energy basis. For inter-urban journeys the savings would be of the order of 5% and for taxi type service in excess of 20%. Whether or not these savings would justify fleet conversion would depend on local fuel cost and taxation conditions.
When set for maximum economy the LNG car gave significantly lower emissions of CO and hydrocarbons than its gasoline counterpart. Emissions of NOx were, however, higher with LNG than with gasoline. A tenfold reduction in NOx emissions could be obtained by re-tuning the LNG engine to run at air/fuel ratios up to 30:1. Hydrocarbon emissions with this configuration were, however, quite high and would require supplementary means of control. When tuned to operate at very weak mixtures the car remained quite driveable but was 10 to 15% less economical than when tuned for maximum economy.
Although technically practical, the use of LNG is likely to be restricted by supply and distribution limitations to fleet operators and other high mileage users who could refuel from centralized points where trained staff would be available.
Recommended Content
Authors
Citation
Affleck, W., Harrow, G., and Mills, W., "Converting a Small Car to LNG: What Are the Problems and What Can It Do for Economy and Emissions?," SAE Technical Paper 760376, 1976, https://doi.org/10.4271/760376.Also In
References
- Dunn D.G. Jnr. “LNG as an engine fuel” Tech Paper 47 Natural Gas Processes Association proceedings of the 47th Annual Convention 71 73 March 1968
- Haselden G.G. “LNG - the cold fuel” Second International Conference on Liquefieid Natural Gas Paris 19-23 October 1970
- Holvenstot C.E. “Performance of spark ignition 4-cycle engines on various fuels” April 1961
- Lee R.C. Wimmer D.B. “Exhaust emission abatement by fuel variation to produce lean combustion” SAE 680769 October 1968
- McJones R.W. Corbeil R.J. “Natural gas fuelled vehicles, exhaust emissions and operational characteristics” SAE 700078 Automotive Engineering Conference Detroit January 1970
- Corbeil R.J. McJones R.W. “The use of natural gas as a vehicular fuel in road transport” Second International Conference on Liquefied Natural Gas Paris 19-23 October 1970
- Starkman E.S. “The changes for a clean car” Astronautics and Aeronautics 9 8 1971 68 82
- Engler M.R. Jnr. “Investigation of liquefied natural gas as an engine fuel” ASME 69-WA/DGP-3 ASME Winter Annual Meeting Diesel and Gas Engine Power Division Los Angeles November 16-20th 1969
- Moore N.P.W. LeRoy B.N. “Comparative studies on methane and propane as engine fuels” Proc. Inst. Mech. Engrs. 170 1956 1156
- Pearce M. “Liquid methane as a motor fuel” Proc. Inst. Mech. Engrs. Auto Division 1949-50 155
- Starkman E.S. Newhall H.K. “Thermodynamic properties of methane/air and propane/air for engine performance calculations” SAE 670466 May 1967
- Stasuk D. O'Connor D. “The University of British Columbia's urban vehicle” SAE 730717 August 1973
- “Institute of Gas Technology Seminar on natural gas-fuelled vehicles” Gas Scope No. 15 March April 1970
- Jennings F.A. Studhalter W.R. “Natural gas fuel tanks for automobiles - Safety problems” ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference San Francisco May 10-12th 1971
- Mills W.D. Harrow G.A. “A dielectric cell technique for the continuous measurement of air/fuel ratio under transient conditions of engine operation” SAE 710162 January 1971
- Gee D.G. Worboys R.W. “Dispensing cryogenic auto fuels” SAE paper
- Zabetakis M.G. “Safety with cryogenic fluids” Iliffe Books London 1966
- Corlett E.C.B. Leathard J.F. “Methane transportation by sea” Paper 6, Royal Institute of Naval Architects Meeting March 24th 1960 1960 471
- Wiles M.M. “Gas engine valve and seat wear” SAE 650393 February-March 1965
- Altshuller A.P. et al “Photochemical reactivities of N-butane and other paraffinic hydrocarbons” Journal of Air Pollution Control Association 19 10 787 October 1969