Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Using Methane Fuels to Supply Internal Combustion Engines

Krzysztof Biernat, Izabela Samson-Bręk, Zdzisław Chłopek, Marlena Owczuk and Anna Matuszewska
Additional contact information
Krzysztof Biernat: Łukasiewicz Research Network—Automotive Industry Institute, 55 Jagiellońska Str., 03-301 Warsaw, Poland
Izabela Samson-Bręk: Department of Environmental Chemistry and Risk Assessment, Institute of Environmental Protection—National Research Institute, 55/11D Krucza Str., 00-548 Warsaw, Poland
Zdzisław Chłopek: Faculty of Automotive and Construction Machinery Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Narbutta 84, 02-524 Warsaw, Poland
Marlena Owczuk: Łukasiewicz Research Network—Automotive Industry Institute, 55 Jagiellońska Str., 03-301 Warsaw, Poland
Anna Matuszewska: Łukasiewicz Research Network—Automotive Industry Institute, 55 Jagiellońska Str., 03-301 Warsaw, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: This research paper studied the environmental impact of using methane fuels for supplying internal combustion engines. Methane fuel types and the methods of their use in internal combustion engines were systematized. The knowledge regarding the environmental impact of using methane fuels for supplying internal combustion engines was analyzed. The authors studied the properties of various internal combustion engines used for different applications (specialized engines of power generators—Liebherr G9512 and MAN E3262 LE212, powered by biogas, engine for road and off-road vehicles—Cummins 6C8.3, in self-ignition, original version powered by diesel fuel, and its modified version—a spark-ignition engine powered by methane fuel) under various operating conditions in approval tests. The sensitivity of the engine properties, especially pollutant emissions, to its operating states were studied. In the case of a Cummins 6C8.3 modified engine, a significant reduction in the pollutant emission owing to the use of methane fuel, relative to the original self-ignition engine, was found. The emission of carbon oxide decreased by approximately 30%, hydrocarbons by approximately 70% and nitrogen oxide by approximately 50%, as well as a particulate matter emission was also eliminated. Specific brake emission of carbon oxide is the most sensitive to the operating states of the engine: 0.324 for a self-ignition engine and 0.264 for a spark-ignition engine, with the least sensitive being specific brake emission of nitrogen oxide: 0.121 for a self-ignition engine and 0.097 for a spark-ignition engine. The specific brake emission of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons for stationary engines was higher in comparison with both versions of Cummins 6C8.3 engine. However, the emission of nitrogen oxide for stationary engines was lower than for Cummins engines.

Keywords: alternative fuels; methane fuels; biogas; biomethane; approval tests; emission of pollutants; sensitivity of engines (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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