Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity: Low-Percentage Hydrogen/CNG Blend, Ford F-150 -- Operating Summary

Abstract

Over the past two years, Arizona Public Service, a subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity, tested four gaseous fuel vehicles as part of its alternative fueled vehicle fleet. One vehicle operated initially using compressed natural gas (CNG) and later a blend of CNG and hydrogen. Of the other three vehicles, one was fueled with pure hydrogen and two were fueled with a blend of CNG and hydrogen. The three blended-fuel vehicles were originally equipped with either factory CNG engines or factory gasoline engines that were converted to run CNG fuel. The vehicles were variously modified to operate on blended fuel and were tested using 15 to 50% blends of hydrogen (by volume). The pure-hydrogen-fueled vehicle was converted from gasoline fuel to operate on 100% hydrogen. All vehicles were fueled from the Arizona Public Service's Alternative Fuel Pilot Plant, which was developed to dispense gaseous fuels, including CNG, blends of CNG and hydrogen, and pure hydrogen with up to 99.9999% purityThe primary objective of the test was to evaluate the safety and reliability of operating vehicles on hydrogen and blended hydrogen fuel, and the interface between the vehicles and the hydrogen fueling infrastructure. A secondary objective was to quantify vehicle emissions, cost, and performance. Over a total of 40,000 fleet test miles, no safety issues were found. Also, significant reductions in emissions were achieved by adding hydrogen to the fuel.This report presents results of 16,942 miles of testing for one of the blended fuel vehicles, a Ford F-150 pickup truck, operating on up to 30% hydrogen/70% CNG fuel.iii ACRONYMS APS

Review of Energy Balances and Emissions Associated with Biomass-Based Transport Fuels Relevant to the United Kingdom Context

“… a Average figure for Ford F150 running on 28% hydrogen by volume (remaining fuel comprising CNG) completing 7 No. U.S. FTP-75 road tests b Average figure from 2 No.…”

Introdução de misturas de GNV e hidrogênio (Hidrano) em veículos convencionais no Brasil e seus impactos econômicos, ambientais e energéticos

“…Testes de motores de grande porte para automóveis e caminhonetes, como o motor Chevrolet 350 V8 5,7 L, utilizando misturas diversas de Hidrano, foram realizados extensivamente nos anos de 1990de (HOEKSTRA et al, 1994de , 1995RAMAN et al, 1994). Outras pesquisas incluíram a avaliação de veículos a GNV ou veículos a gasolina convertidos para operarem também com GNV e Hidrano (KARNER; FRANCFORT, 2003). Esses trabalhos confirmaram que a relação entre as emissões de THC e NO x são inversamente proporcionais, isto é, ao se ajustarem as condições de operação do motor e a composição do Hidrano para se obter menores emissões de NO x , as emissões de THC são incrementadas.…”

“…Houve uma redução de autonomia da ordem de 8%, incremento das emissões de NO x em 70%, redução das emissões de CO e CO 2 em 19% e 3% respectivamente, enquanto as emissões de THC permaneceram constantes. Possivelmente os resultados poderiam ter sido melhores com o ajuste do motor para operação com Hidrano, uma vez que motores originalmente concebidos para GNV apresentam grande retardo na ignição, que não foi modificada neste experimento.Cabe notar que embora diversos estudos indiquem que a eficiência do uso de Hidrano em motores de ciclo Otto seja superior a do uso de gás natural, em geral a adição de hidrogênio ao GNV reduz a autonomia dos veículos, uma vez que o conteúdo energético do hidrogênio por unidade de volume é inferior ao do gás natural (KARNER;FRANCFORT, 2003;UNICH et al, 2009). Os ganhos de eficiência indicados pelos outros trabalhos avaliados, em sua maioria, levam em conta HUANG,Z.…”