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A Review on Liquefied Natural Gas As Fuels for Dual Fuel Engines

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A Review on Liquefied Natural Gas As Fuels for Dual Fuel Engines energies Review A Review on Liquefied Natural Gas as Fuels for Dual Fuel Engines: Opportunities, Challenges and Responses Md Arman Arefin 1 , Md Nurun Nabi 2,*, Md Washim Akram 3 , Mohammad Towhidul Islam 1 and Md Wahid Chowdhury 1 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology, Rajshahi 6204, Bangladesh; arefi[email protected] (M.A.A.); [email protected] (M.T.I.); [email protected] (M.W.C.) 2 School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Perth, WA 6000, Australia 3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bangladesh Army University of Science and Technology, Saidpur 5310, Bangladesh; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 22 October 2020; Accepted: 20 November 2020; Published: 23 November 2020 Abstract: Climate change and severe emission regulations in many countries demand fuel and engine researchers to explore sustainable fuels for internal combustion engines. Natural gas could be a source of sustainable fuels, which can be produced from renewable sources. This article presents a complete overview of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a potential fuel for diesel engines. An interesting finding from this review is that engine modification and proper utilization of LNG significantly improve system efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which is extremely helpful to sustainable development. Moreover, some major recent researches are also analyzed to find out drawbacks, advancement and future research potential of the technology. One of the major challenges of LNG is its higher flammability that causes different fatal hazards and when using in dual-fuel engine causes knock. Though researchers have been successful to find out some ways to overcome some challenges, further research is necessary to reduce the hazards and make the fuel more effective and environment-friendly when using as a fuel for a diesel engine. Keywords: liquefied natural gas; diesel engine; greenhouse gas emissions; sustainable development 1. Introduction Recently, it is projected that global energy demand has been increasing day by day [1,2]. The increased amount of energy demand produces a large amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by the burning of fossil fuels, which ultimately causes global warming. Currently, in the industrial and transportation sectors, diesel is mainly used as fossil fuel. The consumption of diesel fuel is increasing day by day unexpectedly because of the dramatic increase in vehicles, mostly in Asian countries like Bangladesh, Korea, India and China [3]. Currently, researchers all over the world are concerned about the way of mitigating this large amount of energy demand and at the same time, carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduction, which is one of the major components of GHGs [4,5]. In this regards, other sources of fuel may be a feasible alternative to conventional fuels. Natural gas would be a promising alternative fuel source in the transportation sector because of some of its remarkable advantages. Though natural gas is also derived from fissile resources, it can be converted from renewable sources, i.e., it can be produced through the biomass conversion process (biomethane, which is also known as biogas, is a pipeline-quality gas made from organic matter), attractive cost, better combustion efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction, which are the significant advantages as alternative fuel [3]. Energies 2020, 13, 6127; doi:10.3390/en13226127 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies Energies 2020, 13, 6127 2 of 19 Energies 2020, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 22 Besides, thethe interest interest in in alternative alternative fuels fuels is rapidly is rapidly growing growing because because of the energyof the securityenergy security concern allconcern over theall world.over the Among world. the Among candidates the candidates of alternative of alternative fuel, biofuels, fuel, liquefiedbiofuels, petroleumliquefied petroleum gas (LPG) andgas (LPG) liquefied and naturalliquefied gas natural (LNG) gas are (LNG) the potentialare the potential ones. Nevertheless,ones. Nevertheless, the economic the economic aspects aspects and availabilityand availability make make LPG andLPG LNG and moreLNG realisticmore realistic solutions solutions compared compared to biofuels. to biofuels. Additionally, Additionally, natural gasnatural can begas considered can be considered as one of theas one solutions of the to solutions control engine to control emissions engine at emissions present as at compared present toas traditionalcompared to fuels. traditional In a homogenous fuels. In a chargehomogenous compression charge ignition compression engine ignition (HCCI), engine the after-treatment (HCCI), the techniqueafter-treatment combined technique with naturalcombined gas wi presentth natural an outstanding gas present potential an outstanding to meet potential strict requirements to meet strict for reducingrequirements the emissions for reducing [6]. Inthe the emissions transportation [6]. In sector,the transportation both forms of sector, natural both gas, forms i.e., liquefied of natural natural gas, gasi.e., (LNG)liquefied and natural compressed gas (LNG) natural and gas compressed (CNG) can benatural used asgas an (CNG) alternative can be fuel. used However, as an alternative CNG has alreadyfuel. However, gained popularityCNG has already in the automobilegained popularity sector due in the to itsautomobile lower cost. sector due to its lower cost. LNG is mainly used for electricity production and transportation. The main advantages oofferedffered by LNG are higherhigher safety,safety, easiereasier transportationtransportation andand storagestorage capacitycapacity comparedcompared toto CNGCNG [[3].3]. LNG is cleaner than coal and oil, therefore, itit hashas gotgot aa plethoraplethora ofof recognitionrecognition inin thethe globalglobal marketmarket [[7].7]. Since LNG isis clean,clean, itit isis a a promising promising alternative alternative to to diesel diesel vehicles vehicles and and is capableis capable of compensatingof compensating some some of the of severethe severe drawbacks drawbacks of natural of natural gas vehicles; gas vehicles; for instance, for instance, LNG fuelledLNG fuelled trucks trucks have ahave higher a higher range (uprange to 700–1000(up to 700–1000 km) due km) tohigher due to energy higher density energy [ 8density]. However, [8]. However, while considering while considering LNG as an LNG alternative, as an thealternative, economic the viability economic should viability also beshould taken also into be consideration. taken into consideration. The cost of an The LNG cost fuel of tankan LNG and fuel the enginetank and is approximatelythe engine is approximately twice as high as twice a diesel as enginehigh as and a diesel tank [ 9engine]. Consequently, and tank during[9]. Consequently, this decade, theduring main this contributors decade, the to main LNG contributors supply growth to LNG will supply be Australia growth and will USA, be Au thoughstralia 18 and other USA, countries though have18 other already countries joined have and othersalready have joined a short and andothers long have term a short goal to and join long the industryterm goal [10 to]. join Besides, the industry among various[10]. Besides, alternatives among of various natural gas,alternatives LNG is theof natura most preferredl gas, LNG mode is the for most long distancepreferred transportation mode for long as becausedistance oftransportation its liquefaction as because attribute, of its its volume liquefaction reduces attribute, by a factor its volume of 600 reduces [11]. Compared by a factor to pipedof 600 natural[11]. Compared gas (PNG), to thepiped annual natural growth gas (PNG), of LNG the trade an isnual two growth times higher,of LNG which trade accounts is two times for 10% higher, and 31%which of globalaccounts natural for 10% gas consumptionand 31% of global and trade natural respectively gas consumption [8]. According and totrade recent respectively study reports, [8]. fromAccording 2005 to to 2015, recent Europe, study Asiareports, and from Oceania 2005 were to 2015, the primary Europe, recipients Asia and of Oceania LNG imports were the consisted primary of 90%recipients of global of LNG imports imports [12]. consisted of 90% of global imports [12]. 1.1. Economics and Life Cycle of LNG Figure1 1 shows shows the the worldwide worldwide LNG LNG price price as as of of June June 2019. 2019. SouthSouth KoreaKorea andand ChinaChina hadhad thethe highesthighest landedlanded price of LNGLNG inin thethe world.world. The price received at the regasificationregasification plant is referred to asas thethe landedlanded price.price. Netback price is taken into consideration for the determination of these prices, which isis based on the eeffectiveffective priceprice forfor aa sellerseller andand producerproducer atat aa definitedefinite location.location. 5.0 4.44 4.45 4.41 4.34 4.31 4 4.0 3.56 3.33 3.0 2.25 2.23 2.0 1.0 0.0 British thermal units) thermal British UK Price (Dollars per million million per (Dollars Price India Spain China Korea Belgium Altamira Canaport Cover Point BahiaBlanca Figure 1. Worldwide landed price of liquefied natural gas (LNG) [13]. Figure 1. Worldwide landed price of liquefied natural gas (LNG) [13]. It is also required to make an economic calculation of the LNG liquefaction plant because fuel It is also required to make an economic calculation of the LNG liquefaction plant because fuel imposes the second highest operational cost after labor. There are
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