Search Results

Natural gas is a potential alternative to conventional liquid fuels for use in automotive internal combustion engines. The primary goal of this study is to understand how gas composition changes might impact the performance or emissions of a natural gas vehicle or engine. For this study, a waste hauler truck equipped with a 2001 Cummins 8.3L C Gas Plus lean burn spark-ignited engine and an oxidation catalyst was operated on the William H. Martin Refuse Truck Cycle (RTC). This cycle was developed to simulate waste hauler operation and consists of a transport segment, a curbside pickup segment, and a compaction segment.

We assessed gaseous and particulate matter (PM) emissions from a current technology stoichiometric natural gas waste hauler equipped with a 2011 model year 8.9L Cummins Westport ISL-G engine with cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and three-way catalyst (TWC). Testing was performed on five fuels with varying Wobbe and methane numbers over the William H. Martin Refuse Truck Cycle. The results showed lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions for the low methane fuels (i.e., natural gas fuels with a relatively low methane content) for the transport and curbside cycles. Total hydrocarbon (THC) and methane (CH4) emissions did not show any consistent fuel trends. Non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) emissions showed a trend of higher emissions for the fuels containing higher levels of NMHCs. Carbon monoxide (CO) emissions showed a trend of higher emissions for the low methane fuels.