Open AccessEvaluation of Aftermarket CNG Conversion Kits in Light-Duty Vehicle Applications
Author(s) -
C.F. Blazek,
P.F. Rowley,
James W. Grimes
Publication year - 1995
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/86904
Subject(s) - compressed natural gas , gasoline , natural gas , renewable energy , percentile , automotive engineering , engineering , file transfer protocol , fossil fuel , waste management , baseline (sea) , environmental science , computer science , operating system , electrical engineering , mechanical engineering , mathematics , statistics , oceanography , geology , the internet
The Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) was contracted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to evaluate three compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion systems using a 1993 Chevrolet Lumina baseline vehicle. A fourth conversion system was added to the test matrix through funding support from Brooklyn Union. The objective of this project was to measure the Federal Test Procedure (FTP) emissions and fuel economy of the different conversion systems, and to compare the performance to gasoline-fueled operation and each other. Different natural gas compositions were selected to represent the 10th percentile, mean, and 90th percentile compositions distributed in the Continental United States. Testing with these different compositions demonstrated the systems` ability to accommodate the spectrum of gas found in the United States. Each compressed natural gas conversion system was installed and adjusted according to the manufacturer`s instructions. In addition to the FTP testing, an evaluation of the comparative installation times and derivability tests (based on AGA and CRC guidelines) were conducted on each system