Article: Urban air quality improvement by using a CNG lean burn engine for city buses Journal: International Journal of Vehicle Design (IJVD) 1998 Vol.20 No.1/2/3/4 pp.240-252 Abstract: The use of compressed natural gas (CNG)-fuelled lean-burn city bus engines has a significant potential for air quality improvement in urban areas. Particularly important is the reduction of NOx, as well as particulate and non-regulated HC-emissions. For this reason, a CNG-fuelled, lean-bum, turbocharged, intercooled engine equipped with catalytic converter was developed. The basic engine is a 6-cylinder, heavy duty, serial production Hungarian diesel engine which complies with Euro-2 emissions limits. The objective of this development was to meet European emission limits forecast for the year 2005 (NOx < 3.0 g/kWh, CO and HC < 0.6 g/kWh). Furthermore, it was necessary to fulfil the heavy-duty requirements regarding performance behaviour, driveability and reliability. To achieve these requirements, a careful optimisation of the main control parameters was carried out. On the basis of test bench results, low emissions and favourable fuel consumption capability of the engine are reported. Based on the evaluation of economical feasibility, the costs of CNG bus operation is additionally discussed. It can be concluded that CNG city bus operation is - compared to diesel operation - a promising way to improve economically the local air quality. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Urban air quality improvement by using a CNG lean burn engine for city buses

Authors: Tamas Meretei, Joep A.N. van Ling, Cornelis Havenith

Addresses: Institute for Transport Sciences H-1119 Budapest, Than Karoly u. 3/5, Hungary. TNO Road Vehicles Research Institute, Schoemakerstraat 97, 2600 JA Delft, The Netherlands. Dutch Ministry of Environment (VROM), Rijnstraat 8, 2500GX The Haag, The Netherlands

Abstract: The use of compressed natural gas (CNG)-fuelled lean-burn city bus engines has a significant potential for air quality improvement in urban areas. Particularly important is the reduction of NO_x, as well as particulate and non-regulated HC-emissions. For this reason, a CNG-fuelled, lean-bum, turbocharged, intercooled engine equipped with catalytic converter was developed. The basic engine is a 6-cylinder, heavy duty, serial production Hungarian diesel engine which complies with Euro-2 emissions limits. The objective of this development was to meet European emission limits forecast for the year 2005 (NO_x < 3.0 g/kWh, CO and HC < 0.6 g/kWh). Furthermore, it was necessary to fulfil the heavy-duty requirements regarding performance behaviour, driveability and reliability. To achieve these requirements, a careful optimisation of the main control parameters was carried out. On the basis of test bench results, low emissions and favourable fuel consumption capability of the engine are reported. Based on the evaluation of economical feasibility, the costs of CNG bus operation is additionally discussed. It can be concluded that CNG city bus operation is - compared to diesel operation - a promising way to improve economically the local air quality.

Keywords: catalytic converter; city bus operation; economic feasibility; lean-burn CNG-engine; regulated and non-regulated emissions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1998.001832

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1998 Vol.20 No.1/2/3/4, pp.240-252

Published online: 18 Aug 2003 *

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Title: Urban air quality improvement by using a CNG lean burn engine for city buses

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