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INVESTIGATION OF THE POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVING EFFICIENCY OF A SPARK IGNITION ENGINE OPERATING ON NATURAL GAS - PHASE I STATUS REPORT

The ebbing tide of cheap fossil-based liquid hydrocarbon fuels has stimulated interest in alternate fuels for spark-ignition engines. Since natural gas (methane) is readily available and enjoys a favorable cost advantage through lower taxes and price regulation, the popularity of engine conversion to natural gas has increased significantly in recent years. However, fuel cost rather than energy efficiency has been the primary motivation behind these engine conversions, and little emphasis has been placed on the antiknock, wide flammability, and emissions characteristics of methane. The most efficient utilization of methane as a motor fuel can be achieved only in an engine optimized for this fuel. Since there are so many different types and applications of spark-ignition engines, this project was aimed at a specific engine application - the light duty vehicle used in fleet operation. The objective of this project was then to evaluate in the laboratory performance, economy, and emissions improvements obtainable from a spark-ignition engine representative of those used in fleet operation of light duty vehicles. of light duty vehicles.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • From the Automotive Technology Development Contractor Coordination Meeting, Dearborn, Michigan, 13 November 1983.
  • Corporate Authors:

    Southwest Research Institute

    6220 Culebra Road, P.O. Drawer 28510
    San Antonio, TX  United States  78228-0510
  • Authors:
    • O'Neal, G B
  • Publication Date: 1984-3

Media Info

  • Pagination: p. 369-376

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00451572
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: CONF-831142
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Aug 27 2004 9:51PM