CNG and LNG for Sustainable Transportation Systems

A special issue of Methane (ISSN 2674-0389).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 10713

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
CNR–STEMS, Viale Marconi, 4, 80125 Naples, Italy
Interests: combustion systems; engine emissions; high-efficiency engines; advanced combustion concept; emission reduction technologies

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Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Latium, 03043 Cassino, Italy
Interests: carbon-free fuels; biofuels; combustion analysis; 1D engine modeling; 3D combustion simulation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, challenges related to both climate change and the energy transition need to be faced simultaneously. The energy sector’s transition toward carbon neutrality presents many challenges, such as reducing energy consumption, improving system efficiency, and integrating renewable resources. Due to the favorable ratio of H atoms to C atoms and its higher knock resistance, methane combustion allows reducing CO2 formation of about 25% and the Global Warming Index of about 15% with respect to gasoline fueling. In this regard, methane-based fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) are considered transitional fuels in the route to climate neutrality.

In the near future, the role of natural gas in propulsion systems is expected to attract growing interest in the transport sector. With a view to sustainable mobility, both CNG and LNG can be used not only in conventional propulsion systems but also in combination with electric ones. Methane-based hybrid propulsion systems, also considering the limitations of the local infrastructure of fully electric ones, could be a viable solution in energy transition. In this Special Issue, authors are invited to share their knowledge about the natural gas used in conventional/electric hybrid systems and other combined conventional/battery/fuel cell propulsion systems.

Dr. Roberto Ianniello
Dr. Davide Lanni
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • advanced LNG and CNG combustion concepts
  • modeling and experimentation of rotary engines fueled with CNG and LNG
  • modeling and experimentation of steam engines, gas turbines, and combined propulsion systems burning CNG and LNG
  • modeling and experimentation of hybrid propulsion systems fueled with CNG and LNG
  • chemical kinetic mechanisms for CNG and LNG combustion and pollutant emissions prediction
  • emission reduction technologies in LNG and CNG engines and hybrid systems
  • exhaust–aftertreatment systems for LNG/CNG propulsion systems
  • interaction of CNG/LNG combustion systems with supply and support infrastructure

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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20 pages, 9040 KiB  
Article
Compressed Natural Gas as an Alternative Vehicular Fuel in Tanzania: Implementation, Barriers, and Prospects
by Gerutu Bosinge Gerutu, Kenedy Aliila Greyson and Pius Victor Chombo
Methane 2023, 2(1), 66-85; https://doi.org/10.3390/methane2010006 - 17 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 7195
Abstract
This paper presents the implementation of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in Tanzania’s road transportation sector. The peculiarity of this analysis is the evaluation of the technical and economic performance of the converted gasoline and diesel engines to use compressed natural gas (CNG) as [...] Read more.
This paper presents the implementation of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in Tanzania’s road transportation sector. The peculiarity of this analysis is the evaluation of the technical and economic performance of the converted gasoline and diesel engines to use compressed natural gas (CNG) as the cleanest-burning hydrocarbon. The technical performance involved vehicle mileage (MiCNG), fuel consumption (Fcons), speed drop, engine fuel enhancement (Fenh), and fuel saving, while the economic performance involved conversion cost (Cc), fuel cost saving (FCsaving), and payback (PB). Considering the conversion of gasoline vehicles, the MiCNG could reach an average of 100 to 500 km per filling, depending on the CNG cylinder size. The Fenh and fuel saving were ranging between 1.9 and 3.9 and 71 and 78%. With a proportion of 30:70 diesel-CNG fuel, the heavy-duty truck with 180 kg of CNG could reach 1300 km, saving about 440 L, which is 78.6% per roundtrip, while the medium passenger car with 15 kg of CNG could reach 350 km, presenting a fuel saving of about 75%. From an economic point of view, gasoline retrofitted NGVs cost about 50 to 200 TZS/km, yielding a fuel cost saving of up to 79% and starting to pay off between 2 and 7 months or 10,000 and 40,000 km, depending on the engine capacity. Considering dual fuel, the heavy-duty truck consumes about 496 TZS/km, saving about 62.3% of diesel fuel and starting to pay off after 2.5 months or 29,304 km. To conclude, NGV technologies have been successfully implemented in Tanzania’s road transportation sector, presenting significant fuel savings and reducing reliance on imported oil. While taking measures, this study paves a way for Tanzania and other sub-Saharan countries to promote NGV growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CNG and LNG for Sustainable Transportation Systems)
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19 pages, 4076 KiB  
Article
A New Combustion Model for Medium Speed Dual-Fuel Engines in the Course of 0D/1D Simulation
by Jelto Frerichs and Peter Eilts
Methane 2022, 1(3), 158-176; https://doi.org/10.3390/methane1030013 - 7 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2440
Abstract
In this paper, a predictive combustion model is developed and implemented in GT-Power. The model consists of a detailed physically/chemically based ignition delay model, including a 1D spray model. The spray model results at the start of combustion are used to initialize the [...] Read more.
In this paper, a predictive combustion model is developed and implemented in GT-Power. The model consists of a detailed physically/chemically based ignition delay model, including a 1D spray model. The spray model results at the start of combustion are used to initialize the combustion model. The spray zone and the homogenous natural gas/air mixture are burned with different combustion models, to account for the effect of the inhomogeneous fuel distribution. NOx-emissions are modelled using a standard Extended Zeldovich Mechanism, and for the HC-emissions, two flame quenching models are included and extended with an empirical correlation. The models are calibrated with measurement data from a single cylinder engine, except for the ignition delay model which needs no calibration. The start of combustion and the combustion parameters are predicted well for a wide range of injection timings and operation conditions. Furthermore, considering unburned fuel, the engine operation parameters BSFC and IMEP are also predicted satisfactory. Due to the detailed description of the different combustion phases, the influence of the injection timing on the NOx-emission is captured satisfactorily, with the standard NOx-model. Finally, the knock limited MFB50 is also predicted within an acceptable range. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CNG and LNG for Sustainable Transportation Systems)
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