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Conversion Components
Components like these, along with an 0₂ sensor, wiring harness and control module, are what it takes to convert open-loop propane engines to closed-loop for passing EPA standards. Left to right: fuel vaporizer-regulator, mixer, and throttle body assembly.
Opportunities for skilled automotive technicians are looking good…
Why? In case you haven’t heard, both CARB (the California Air Resources Board) and the EPA have for the first time crafted and are enforcing emissions standards for several classes of non-road vehicles. Affected applications include:

1. units or equipment with large industrial spark ignited engines (known as large SI engines, or simply “LSI”) from 19 kw (25 hp) to 130 kw (175 hp)
2. recreational engines and units like motorcycles, ATVs, and snowmobiles
3. recreational marine diesel engines

Fuel & battery technology : Electric motors .Biodiesel

• Electric motors

• Biodiesel

 

Electric motors

Vehicles that include electric drive motors have many advantages over the traditional vehicle. Lower noise and gas emissions are among the major benefits.
While other benefits include, fewer moving parts, less maintenance requirements and, increased reliability.
Power for the electric drive motor is obtained from either rechargeable storage batteries or a generator via an electrical inverter/converter.
The most popular types of electric motors used are brushless, multi-phase, synchronous and permanent magnet motors.
The meanings of these terms are:

• Brushless: Brushes and commutators are not used
• Multi-phase:The stator contains more than one winding, usually three
• Synchronous: The speed of the rotor is synchronized to the frequency of current flowing through the stator windings. This design maintains excellent power and efficiency characteristics even at low speeds
• Permanent Magnet:The rotor is made from very powerful rare earth permanent magnet alloys. Typically neodymium-iron-boron or samarium-cobalt.

Fuel & battery technology : The Race to Hydrogen

The Race to Hydrogen – Who’s Winning?

In his 2003 State of the Union Address, President Bush announced that hydrogen would be America’s alternative energy source for the future, and he challenged Congress to appropriate funding for research and development to get the USA there. Like a lightening rod, his announcement electrified the alternate fuels community and charted a course amid otherwise uncertain energy times. With unreliable petroleum imports now topping 65 percent, OEMs are competing in the race to put sustainable hydrogen-powered vehicles on the streets.
People are asking how soon we’ll see hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, and, more immediately, how do we make the transition from gasoline engines (ICE’s) to fuel cells? It is taking a variety of alternate fuels to usher in the hydrogen economy, making the outlook for these fuels no less promising than for hydrogen. For example, both natural gas pipelines and ethanol’s fledgling distribution infrastructure will serve us. Liquid ethanol (and also methanol) is a good “energy carrier” for storing, transporting and reforming to hydrogen.
Electricity, the cleanest alternative, is obviously used in both gasoline-electric hybrids and fuel cell vehicles and is used for electrolyzing water into hydrogen.
Let’s take a closer look at some of these alternate fuels and vehicles in the context of who’s competing and winning in the race to hydrogen.

Fuel & battery technology : Hydrogen

Hydrogen

A Hydrogen Infrastructure

How and where will motorists be able to find a hydrogen “gas” station?
Options include:

1. Produce gaseous hydrogen (H2) or liquefied hydrogen (called LH2) fuel from hydrogen-rich materials (feedstocks) off-board at centralized locations or at the refueling site; store pure gaseous or liquefied hydrogen on-board the vehicle
2. Ship hydrogen-rich feedstock(s) to refueling sites; store feedstock(s) on-board the vehicle for use in a “reformer” to extract hydrogen fuel as needed
3. Ship/store pure hydrogen onboard within a variety of nonconventional media

To avoid contamination, most fuel cell stacks must use pure hydrogen. Delivering pure hydrogen (option a) requires an entirely new hydrogen infrastructure. Presently, 95% of hydrogen is extracted by industry from natural gas (CH4) through steam “reforming” (or other means) for private use. For vehicle use, hydrogen could be similarly produced and shipped using pipelines, railcars and trucks for storage in high-pressure tanks at refueling sites. Already, several private pure-hydrogen producing/dispensing “gas stations” have been built. As with natural gas, gaseous hydrogen can be compressed and stored for fast-fill or timed-fill dispensing.

Alternate Fuel Systems : Propane

Propane

If you’re a technician from the Southwest U.S., chances are you already know about propanepowered vehicles and equipment. But if you’re in the automotive profession and are not yet familiar with propane vehicles, read on. In this article we’ll explain the basics of liquified petroleum gas (LPG), or more simply “propane,” and of propane-powered vehicles. Hopefully, you’ll come to appreciate the relative safety, economy, and clean performance gaseous propane offers.

Propane tank pressure rises rapidly as tank temperature increases. Tank pressure feeds propane to the carburetor; injection systems require a fuel pump. (Data courtesy NAFTP)

 

Overview

Farmers and construction outfits have used propane trucks, tractors, and other equipment since the ’20s and ’30s, and many automotive techs are somewhat familiar with propane. In the ’70s, some OEs called for making “propane enrichment” carburetor adjustments; and we routinely use propane to find elusive vacuum leaks or to check fuel mixture problems. Propane motorfuel is used widely overseas, and here in the U.S. an estimated 270,000 propane-powered vehicles are on the road. Non-road propane “industrial trucks” (forklifts, tugs, etc.) amount to another 395,000 … that’s a lot of vehicles!

Alternate Fuel Systems : Fuel cell vehicles

Fuel cell vehicles
 

Ford’s Focus FC-5 sedan is fueled with methanol.
It’s a 2000 model prototype FCV.

GM’s HydroGen I is a good example of a fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle. It runs on liquefied (cryogenic) hydrogen and the emits only water and oxygen.

While running a vehicle on water may have seemed the stuff of folklore a few years ago (remember rumors of the elusive “water carburetor?”), it’s now a reality thanks to the hydrogen fuel cell electric engine. If you want to know more about how hydrogen fuel and fuel cell powered vehicles will change our transportation landscape, read on.
The fuel cell “engine” runs on pure hydrogen, perhaps the most abundant element on earth, and oxygen. What’s more, hydrogen has “three times the energy content per pound as either gasoline or diesel fuel”, and has “71% less greenhouse gas emissions per unity energy over the whole fuel cycle relative to gasoline”¹. The fuel cell itself emits no pollutants.

Alternate Fuel Systems : Fuel & battery technology I

• Alternative fuels

• Fuel cells

• Ethanol and methanol

• Natural gas

Alternative fuels

Alternative fuel sources are used as a way of reducing the operating cost of vehicles, or to reduce pollution from vehicle emissions, or both.
Some alternative fuels can be mixed with gasoline as a fuel additive to reduce the total amount of gasoline used, others are a complete fuel alternative which may require some modifications to the vehicle.
Ethanol is usually derived from an organic process such as the fermentation of sugar cane, and is therefore referred to as a bio-fuel. It is normally used in the ratio of 9:1 or 9 parts gasoline to 1 part ethanol and is primarily used to reduce the negative emission effects of gasoline.
Methanol is produced from wood or other organic materials. Its calorific value, or burn rate, is not as high as that of gasoline fuel and cannot be used in conventional vehicles without significant modifications.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG is a petroleum derived colorless gas, and has been used for many years to power specially modified gasoline engine vehicles. It is the third most common fuel and emits much fewer harmful emissions than gasoline. It is generally cheaper than gasoline and is non-toxic and non-poisonous with a very small flammability range. It is popular with high-mileage applications such as taxis, where the cost of vehicle modification can be recouped over time more easily through lower fuel costs.
Compressed Natural Gas or CNG is being used as an alternative fuel in vehicles such as light-duty passenger vehicles, delivery trucks and buses. CNG powered vehicles use natural gas stored in cylinders at pressures of 2,000 to 3,500 pounds per square inch or 140 to 240 Bar.

Alternate Fuel Systems : Clean vehicles, fuels and clean air

Clean vehicles, fuels and clean air

SULEV Sticker: Watch for a sticker like this when at the showroom. SULEVs (Super Low Emission Vehicles) offer great fuel economy and are reportedly 75% or more cleaner than ULEVs. Both are much cleaner than most vehicles now on the road.

Clean air legislation and pollutants—a review

Tightened emissions standards resulted first in evaporative emission control systems and sealed crankcases.
A switch to unleaded fuel (no small accomplishment) enabled manufacturers to use catalytic converters, and then came closed loop engine management systems with oxygen sensors, and reformulated gasoline blends. According to Downstream Alternatives: “With the introduction of so-called Tier One vehicles in 1999 hydrocarbon (HC) emissions have been reduced by 98% compared to pre-control era vehicles. Likewise, automotive emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) have been reduced 90% below control pre-levels.”2 Because of California’s severe air quality issues, tougher laws enacted there have led the nation; and some northeastern states have adapted tougher-thanfederal standards like those in the Golden State. OEs may thus find a given engine package certifies for sale under federal emissions standards, but not for California, et al.

Do alternative fuels offer emissions benefits? This diagram shows the p

 

 

 

 

 

 

r

According to EPA figures, the average 2000 and 2001 model year vehicle emitted between 27.4 and 36.3 pounds of smog forming pollution (primarily NOx and HC) for every 15,000 miles—about the average driven per year.ercentage of combined carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) ozone-forming emissions for various alternative fuels as compared to reformulated gasoline (RFG).
Source: U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Cente

Alternate Fuel Systems : Clean fuel technology and energy independence

Clean fuel technology and energy independence

 Ethanol is renewable and becoming increasingly available in selected locations for use in FFVs. Anything containing sugar, starch or cellulose can be fermented and distilled into ethanol. Pictured top (L to R): scrapped newspapers, corn husks (stover), and Napier grass.




















Since 9/11, people are again concerned about U.S. dependence on imported oil. It’s no secret that much of our oil comes from unstable economic or political regions of the world, and fears of political instability drive up the cost of oil. Recent government policies are encouraging both a diversity of supply and a broad mix of supply options to help lessen American dependence on imported oil.
DOE Secretary Spencer Abraham has emphasized the importance of energy supply diversity. Let’s look at some of the nation’s policy issues and some short-term alternatives to the use of petroleum.

Alternate Fuel Systems : A market overview of alternative fuel vehicles

A market overview of alternative fuel vehicles

This Ford Taurus flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) comes with the 3.0L V-6 engine and runs on ethanol (E85), gasoline, or any combination of the two fuels.

Mandates

Alternate fuels are not new to the automotive world. Both steam and electricity were powering vehicles a hundred years ago. Today, both road and nonroad vehicles are powered by a variety of alternate fuels such as propane, natural gas, electricity, ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, synthetics and even hydrogen. But availability, delivery to the end user, and sometimes price remain obstacles to their widespread acceptance. Federal programs have helped promote the use of alternate fuels to help clean the environment and to conserve energy. At the federal level, the EPA’s Clean Air Act and the CAA Amendment of 1990 target air quality improvements for noncompliance areas of our nation plus offer benefits to fleets using alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) in support of clean air.

Alternate Fuel Systems : Alternate fuel technology

Alternate fuel technology - where we are… and where we're going

 

 

Sign of the Future? The Dodge Power Wagon looks, at first glance, as though it has been machined from a billet of stainless steel. But it is a fully working vehicle. The Caterpillar 6-cyl. TDI engine develops 250 hp and 780 lb-ft. of torque. It runs on a 100% synthetic diesel fuel, and can meet the EPA 2002 diesel emissions specs.

Alternate-Fuel Technology: A Look Ahead

The twin national goals of increased energy independence and cleaner air are inspiring engineers and scientists, entrepreneurs and visionaries, government policy makers and vehicle manufacturers alike to come up with innovative solutions to meet our energy challenges.

Cleaner, Meaner… But Enough?