Cummins' Heavy-Duty Propane Engine Received 1999 EPA CFFV LEV Certification
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Volume 6, Number 4 Cummins’ Heavy-Duty Propane Engine Receives 1999 EPA CFFV LEV Certification On December 2, 1997, Cummins platform and designed for high dura- vehicles in various fleet applications Engine Co., Inc. of Columbus, bility at a low cost. The B5.9G natu- with operations covering more than Indiana, announced that its B5.9LPG ral gas engine has been in production 150 million miles in revenue service. is the first dedicated heavy-duty since 1994 and can be purchased Cummins received support to propane gas engine to receive certifi- through more than 30 vehicle manu- develop the B5.9LPG engine from cation to the 1999 Environ-mental various industry stakeholders includ- Protection Agency (EPA) Clean ing the National Renewable Energy Fuel Fleet Vehicle (CFFV) Low Laboratory/Department of Energy, Emissions Vehicle (LEV) standard. Natural Resources Canada, Propane This spark-ignited power plant fea- Warren Gretz\PIX04762 Warren Vehicle Council, Propane Gas tures advanced electronic engine Association of Canada, South Coast management, closed-loop air/fuel Air Quality Management District and ratio control, lean-burn technology Superior Propane, Inc. Further infor- and integrated subsystems. The tech- mation on the B5.9LPG is available nology and subsystem are common from Cummins by phone at 1-800- with the current Cummins B5.9G, 343-7357, by e-mail at powermas- C8.3G and L10G natural gas engines. The Cummins B5.9LPG engine [email protected], or on the World The B5.9LPG is the first dedi- Wide Web at www.cummins.com. facturers. A few critical parts from cated heavy-duty propane engine the B5.9G engine were optimized available for bus and truck markets. for operation with HD-5 LPG The engine is rated at 195-horsepow- vehicle fuel. er and 420 lb-ft peak torque. Its lean- burn technology gives a thermal Cummins has 7 years of experi- efficiency that is much higher than ence with spark-ignition, lean-burn propane stoichiometric gasoline engines for bus and truck fleets. engine conversions. Production The company's alternative engines began in September at the Rocky currently power more than 2,400 Mount, North Carolina manufactur- ing plant where the B5.9 and C8.3 INSIDE THIS ISSUE diesel and natural gas engines are also built. Gasalarm Systems Introduces Series GS2000 Gas Monitor..................2 Lessons Learned from the Ontario, California, LCNG Station.............2 Like the Cummins B5.9 natural gas engine, the propane version is EPA Finalizes Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Emissions Standards...........4 based on the heavy-duty B5.9 diesel The Cryenco TADOPTR Program..........................................................6 Gasalarm Systems Introduces Series GS2000 Gas Monitor Gasalarm Systems has introduced detect these fumes. The system LED to light up and the buzzer to a combustible gas monitoring system controller features three alarm set- beep slowly. Beyond a 30% LEL, that can help advance alternative fuel tings and a separate diagnostic for the amber A2 LED illuminates and vehicle use in the trucking industry. detecting faults in the system itself. the buzzer beeps slightly faster. After The SERIES GS2000 monitor is Because the controller SERIES the LEL exceeds 45%, the red A3 designed to detect methane, propane, GS2000 is small (approximately 4 LED lights up and the buzzer beeps and butane fumes in such areas as the in. long, 1 in. high and 2.5 in. wide), very quickly. The alarm controller fuel tank, engine compartment, and it fits easily into the dashboard. It has an auxiliary relay that also can vehicle cab. With the new system, consumes very little power, and does be used to energize beacons or exter- the trucking industry can safeguard not require frequent calibration or nal horns. The relay activates if operators while increasing productiv- maintenance. The sensor(s) for the the LEL exceeds 45%. Users can ity, improving customer service, and SERIES GS2000 can be mounted in adjust the alarm systems from 0% conforming to the recommended the engine compartment, fuel tank to 100% LEL. practices set up by the Society of space, or cab, and has mud/splash For more information on Automotive Engineers (SAE) in guards. Each sensor has a miniature Gasalarm Systems' SERIES GS2000, J2343, Recommended Practices for 2-20 milli-amp transmitter with a call Gasalarm Systems Company, LNG Powered Heavy Duty Trucks. life expectancy of 1 to 2 years in Inc. at (281) 364-1988, fax them at continuous operation. Article 4.9 of SAEJ2343 recom- (281) 364-1987, or e-mail them at mends that trucks have a warning The systemÕs separate alarms [email protected]. system for potentially dangerous gas activate at varying levels of gas fumes in the cab and in the engine fumes. At standard factory settings, compartment. The SERIES GS2000 an alarm goes off if fumes exceed monitoring system is designed to 15% of LEL, causing the yellow A1 Lessons Learned from the Ontario, California, LCNG Station One major challenge that must be with city officials that caused many tank pad. However, the city withheld overcome before building an alterna- delays. They learned that erecting an an operating permit for the liquefied tive-fuel storage and dispensing sta- LCNG fueling station takes very natural gas (LNG) tank and dispenser tion is surmounting all the adminis- careful planning, not just in design because more detailed design draw- trative and legal hurdles. Experience and construction, but in understand- ings were necessary. In addition, the in the city of Ontario, California, ing and adhering to regional and drawings had to be signed by a where a liquefied and compressed local code regulations. licensed California engineer. After natural gas (LCNG) station was the contractor provided the needed Foremost, all the necessary per- recently built illustrates the impor- information, there was an additional mits must be obtained and every tance of meeting these challenges in administrative processing delay, detail considered before construction the planning phase. The building causing the completion date for the can begin. To illustrate, in mid-April contractors for the site encountered station to be pushed back. of 1997, the city of Ontario approved unexpected administrative problems the foundation plans for the LCNG 2 Alternative Fuels In TruckingÑVolume 6, Number 4 The stationÕs compressed natural gas vessel pressure tested well, but one permitting process and obtain all (CNG) dispensers were installed in unit experienced electrical problems. the necessary permits before con- October. However, coordination diffi- Solving these problems caused addi- struction begins. Time should be culties arose with the electrical tional delays that, in turn, caused included in construction planning to inspectors which caused delays in postponing of scheduled training for allow orderly permitting to occur. A obtaining operating approval for the station operators. good plan should also include time CNG service. The engineers working allotted for the unexpected, such as Clearly, getting an LCNG station on the LNG service of the station material delivery delays and debug- constructed and running is no simple also experienced delays caused by a ging of systems. Building in the flex- task. Contractors have many legal late shipment of the nitrogen needed ibility to be able to manage the unex- obstacles to overcome before an to test the pressure and electricity. pected is a vital component of the LCNG station is operational. They Once the nitrogen was delivered, the planning process. must understand all aspects of the Warren Gretz\PIX02488 Warren Refueling a compressed natural gas Dodge Caravan SE. Alternative Fuels In TruckingÑVolume 6, Number 4 3 EPA Finalizes Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Emissions On October 21, 1997, the U.S. Besides establishing new rules on Environmental Protection Agency highway diesel engine emissions, the (EPA) issued new emissions stan- EPA also modified the averaging, dards for heavy-duty diesel engines. banking, and trading (ABT) pro- Heavy-Duty Highway They will take effect in Model Year grams; clarified responsibilities of (MY) 2004. The EPA emphasized parties rebuilding or repowering Idle CO further reductions in oxides of nitro- engines; and adopted new in-use CO (percent exhaust gen (NOx), which are key compo- emissions control provisions. Year (g/bhp-hr) gas flow) nents in tropospheric ozone (smog) The ABT program modifica- formation. On a national level, tions are meant to add flexibility roughly 50% of NOx emissions 1990 15.5 0.5* and encourage engine manufacturers come from mobile sources, and the to make cleaner burning engines 1991-93 15.5 0.5* EPA wants to cut these emissions before 2004. New trading procedures from heavy-duty vehicles. 0.5* would eliminate current credit Federal 1994-97 15.5 The new EPA emissions standards discounting and life limits. 1998+ 15.5 0.5* cover engines used in urban buses Manufacturers can also generate and in highway trucks weighing credit for natural gas engines to more than 8,500 pounds and repre- offset diesel engine emissions. sent a 50% reduction in NOx levels Although the EPA issued these below the standards in force today. 2004+ 15.5 0.5* new regulations for highway diesel These new standards do not apply to engine emissions, they are holding off Proposed federal off-road vehicles, marine vehicles, or on issuing new standards for highway locomotives. Under the new rules, Otto-cycle (spark-ignited) engines, all engines certified during and after 10/96 most of which use gasoline. The MY 2004 must meet either (1) a 3.0 agency is currently reviewing propos- combined non-methane hydrocarbon 10/98 als and looking for better technology European Union (NMHC) plus NOx standard of 2.4 that could further control emissions grams per brake-horsepower hour from heavy-duty gasoline engineÕs. 1987-90* 15.5 0.5* (g/bhp-hr) or (2) a combined NMHC plus NOx standard of 2.5 g/bhp-hr For a summary of EPA emissions 1991-93* 15.5 0.5* with no more than 0.5 g/bhp-hr of standards contact Jennifer Barker, 1994+* 15.5 0.5* NMHC emissions.