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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_CAD0029
Title	Blended Hydrogen and Compressed Natural Gas for Transport
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Energy Efficiency(Transport) 25%; Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Other oil and gas) 25%; Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Other infrastructure and systems R&D) 50%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given Cadent Gas
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 October 2018
End Date	01 February 2021
Duration	ENA months
Total Grant Value	£254,300
Industrial Sectors	Energy
Region	London
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , Cadent Gas (100.000%)
	Industrial Collaborator	Project Contact , Cadent Gas (0.000%)
Web Site	https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_CAD0029
Objectives	The proposed project has three phases:• Phase 1: Project definition: Complete a literature review, consultation with truck OEMs, and collation of existing data/research to develop a detailed understanding of current position with respect to use of blended methane/hydrogen mixes in heavy transport/HGV applications. This will highlight issues to be investigated in Phases 2 and 3 with regard to gas engine operation and control systems. • Phase 2: Project Planning and Design; Detailed planning of engine test and combustion modelling tasks and confirmation of the feasibility of conversion of the University of Brighton Euro VI single cylinder Diesel engine to Spark ignited methane fueling.• Phase 3: Single cylinder engine test and modelling work: Engine test and modelling work will be performed to investigate the effect of varying hydrogen concentrations on combustion efficiency and emissions at varying engine speed, load and air/fuel ratio and to simulate performance over a drive cycle to understand real world effects. The following high level tasks are proposed:• Task 1: Project overview; o Consultation with academia, truck OEMs and suppliers etc. to understand previous research/development activities in this area (speak to Iveco et al)o Establish an expert advisory panel to support the research programme (including OEMs, CCC, Ricardo, APC and academic partners TBC.) • Task 2: Test programme definitiono A comprehensive literature review and consultation with academic and industrial members of the project advisory board will support detailed planning of engine test and combustion modelling tasks• Task 3: Hardware definitiono Work will be undertaken to confirm the feasibility of conversion of Euro VI single cylinder Diesel engine to Spark ignited methane fueling, and to finalise test cell fueling arrangements• Task 4: Procurement and engine commissioning• Task 5: Single cylinder engine testo Engine test work will be performed to investigate the effect of varying hydrogen concentrations on combustion efficiency and emissions at varying engine speed, load and air/fuel ratio. A Design of Experiments approach will be used to investigate the influence of multiple variables.• Task 6: Data analysiso Data will be collated, checked and analysed to develop understanding of varying hydrogen composition on combustion efficiency and emissionso Results will be compared to the baseline Diesel case and previous UoB work on Diesel -Hydrogen combustion• Task 7: Develop combustion modelso Modelling work will be carried out to investigate the fundamental mechanisms of methane/hydrogen combustion, work will aim to achieve acceptable correlation between modelled performance and engine test data• Task 8: Simulate real world duty cycleso Models will be used to simulate engine performance over a wide range of speed/load conditions to simulate performance over a real world drive cycle• Task 9: Development of a Roadmap to understand future deploymento Develop recommendations based on project findings and discussion with Cadent and the Advisory Board. These recommendations will focus on:o Barriers to use of natural gas and hydrogen blends in above transport applicationso Future technology developments that may be required to enable use of high hydrogen blends (this could extend to engines, control systems, and on-board fueling equipment etc.) o The UoB team will then develop final detailed reports and summary presentations for internal use by Cadent. The overarching objective of the project is to provide evidence of the effect/impact of introducing hydrogen into the gas supply on natural gas fueled transport applications (especially methane engines used in HGVs). The project will have a number of task-oriented sub-objectives;• Produce data sets of the impact of hydrogen on gas engine operational performance when used in transport/heavy freight vehicle applications• Provide guidance on the potential hydrogen limit that should be considered regarding use of natural gas/hydrogen blends in gas engine transport/heavy freight vehicle applications • Identify any barriers to use of natural gas and hydrogen blends in above transport applications• Develop understanding of future technology developments that may be required to enable use of high hydrogen blends (this could extend to engines, control systems, and on-board fueling equipment etc.)Output will also inform HyNet, HyNet Motion, HyPurity and HyDeploy NIC projects in relation to potential hydrogen content limits. Consider presenting results at the IGEM Gas Quality Working Group (IGEM GQWG).
Abstract	The proposed project has three phases:• Phase 1: Project definition: Complete a literature review, consultation with truck OEMs, and collation of existing data/research to develop a detailed understanding of current position with respect to use of blended methane/hydrogen mixes in heavy transport/HGV applications. This will highlight issues to be investigated in Phases 2 and 3 with regard to gas engine operation and control systems. • Phase 2: Project Planning and Design; Detailed planning of engine test and combustion modelling tasks and confirmation of the feasibility of conversion of the University of Brighton Euro VI single cylinder Diesel engine to Spark ignited methane fueling.• Phase 3: Single cylinder engine test and modelling work: Engine test and modelling work will be performed to investigate the effect of varying hydrogen concentrations on combustion efficiency and emissions at varying engine speed, load and air/fuel ratio and to simulate performance over a drive cycle to understand real world effects.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	09/11/22