Session: 02-03: Natural Gas

Paper Number: 140624

140624 - Development of an On-Road Stochiometric Heavy Duty Natural Gas Engine 

Abstract: 

As the emission regulations are getting more stringent, engine manufacturers are continuously improving the engine performance and emissions along with exploring alternative fuel options. Diesel engines dominates the current on highway heavy duty engine market [1,2]. Compared with the diesel, natural gas engines have many advantages like near zero soot emissions, lower CO2 emissions, lower operating cost, quieter operation, and domestic natural gas availability [3]. Apart from this, natural gas can operate utilizing a stoichiometric air fuel ratio, and it allows for the use of cost effective three-way catalytic converter and achieve the emission targets [4]. Moreover, Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is the only fuel in the market with carbon negative intensity. Delivering diesel like torque, power and efficiency are the main challenges with natural gas engine. Cummins has been leading different research projects to improve the natural gas engine efficiency. This paper describes the latest developments with ongoing heavy-duty natural gas engine research project focused on demonstrating diesel like performance with improved Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE).

To improve the overall engine efficiency, new engine design integrates tumble combustion, dual overhead camshaft, variable valvetrain system, optimized fuel system, pulse EGR system and optimized turbocharger. Integration and optimization of new technologies has improved the peak BTE by 12% above the current Cummins heavy-duty production engine. Average transient cycle BTE is improved by 16% on RMCSET and 17% on FTP cycles. Optimized architecture has demonstrated system out emission capability of 0.02 g/hp-hr. on both the FTP and RMCSET cycles.

Presenting Author: sudheesh kandappadi Cummins Inc

Presenting Author Biography: Sudheesh graduated from University of Michigan. Been working with Cummins for the past six years. His research area includes high efficiency SI and CI engine developments, engine optimization, engine system integration, Hybrid engine optimization and simulation-based product development.

Authors:

sudheesh kandappadi Cummins Inc
John Stetter Cummins Inc
Pranay Banerjee Cummins Inc
Ankababu Kandlagunta Cummins Inc
Jay Shah Cummins Inc
Timothy Shipp Cummins Inc
Daniel Mohr Cummins Inc