Volvo Trucks will be the first manufacturer with an efficient diesel engine fuelled by a mixture of methane gas and diesel.
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The engine meets the strict Euro 5 exhaust emission standards introduced in 2009 and field testing will start in Sweden and the UK next year.
Volvo said the technology will allow it to combine the advantages of methane gas with the diesel engine’s high efficiency rating, which is about 30-40% superior to that of the spark plug engine.
Two years ago Volvo Trucks put forward seven drivable demo trucks adapted for different biofuels and after further analysis, the company is now focusing on two renewable fuels: DME and methane gas + diesel.
Environmental chief Lars Mårtensson said: “”Methane gas is by far the most accessible fuel as an alternative to diesel. There are larger reserves of natural gas than oil. But above all, production of climate-neutral biogas is gaining momentum in many countries, which solves the most urgent problem – reducing CO2 emissions.”
Previously methane gas used on spark ignited engines was restricted by range – approximately 150-200 km. Volvo Trucks has solved this problem by combining methane gas with diesel which increases the operational range by over 50%, and when a liquefied gas is used, with higher energy density, the range will double. In addition, the diesel engine’s driveability is better.
The technology is based on Volvo’s proven, Euro 5 diesel engines. When the engines are converted for gas operation, special tanks are added for either liquid volume-efficient methane gas (LNG/LBG) or pressurised methane gas (CNG/CBG). In addition, a separate fuel system is added with gas injectors in the inlet manifold.
A small amount of diesel is injected and ignited by the compression, which in turn ignites the methane gas/air mixture. This saves the need for a spark plug and allows Volvo to make full use of the efficient diesel technology. As a result, the power and drivability are identical to that of a conventional diesel truck.
If the gas runs out, the truck can continue operating on only diesel. Mats Franzén, Manager Engine Strategy and Planning, said: “”We expect to be able to run on up to 80% methane gas once the technology has been refined and tested. Our field tests in 2010 will start with a mixture containing up to 70% methane gas. The remainder will consist of bio-mix diesel, i.e. fossil diesel mixed with diesel produced from renewable raw materials.”
Calculated over the whole fuel chain, from production to use on roads, the new technology could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80% in the long term compared to traditional diesel operation, if biogas and 100% biodiesel are used.
