Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory at CSU

Engine Emissions and Efficiency

ADCAT 3-Way Catalyst Testing (NSCR)

	Carbon Impact: ●●●○○ Human Health Impact: ●●●●○ Environmental Impact: ●●●●○		Sponsors: Emerachem Field Tested: na Commercialized: Yes


	An exhaust after treatment 3-way catalyst system simultaneously reduces NOx, HC, and CO with an air/fuel ratio at or close to stoichiometric. This important emissions reduction technology is commonly used in industrial natural gas and automotive gasoline engines.

Fiber Coupled Laser Ignition (2002-Current)

	Carbon Impact: ●●●○○ Human Health Impact: ●●●○○ Environmental Impact:●●●○○		Sponsors: DOE, Woodward Field Tested: Yes Commercialized: No


	Laser ignition is of particular interest in stationary reciprocating gas engines, in turbine engines where igniter lifetime is a limitation, and in aircraft engines where flame extinction and relighting in adverse high altitude, operation can be problematic.

Fundamental Engine Research, Alternative Gas Fuels (2006-Present)

	Carbon Impact: ●●●●○ Human Health Impact: ●●●○○ Environmental Impact: ●●●●○		Sponsors: Tested: Commercialized:


	As the quest for alternative fuels continues, new sources of gaseous fuels are emerging. These consist of both synthetic natural gas (coal gas, reformed natural gas) and biomass derived gases (wood gas, biogas). This project explores the use of alternative gaseous fuels in traditional natural gas engines.

Gas Composition (Low-BTU Fuel) Development Testing on a Cummins GTA8.3 Engine

	Carbon Impact: ●●●○○ Human Health Impact: ●●●●○ Environmental Impact: ●●●●●		Sponsors: Cummins, Inc. Field Tested: Commercialized:


	With funding from Cummins, Inc., this project is focused on the characterization of the Cummins GTA8.3 engine's operation with low BTU gaseous fuel compositions. For this project, a custom fuel gas blending system is being designed and implemented in order to emulate industrially poor gas sources such as aging natural gas wells, biogas and synthetic gas production, landfill and digester gas supply, and LNG imports.

High Pressure Fuel Injection (HPFI) (1995-1998)

	Carbon Impact: ●●●●○ Human Health Impact: ●○○○○ Environmental Impact: ●●○○○		Sponsors: PRCI, GTI, Woodward Tested: Yes Commercialized: Yes (Enginuity, Hoerbiger)


	HPFI technology for large natural gas engines, such as those used in the natural gas pipeline system, increases fuel and air mixing, thereby improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. The technology has now been commercialized by multiple companies, including Enginuity - a company founded in part by EECL alumni. Today HPFI is responsible for preventing 100 million pounds of Nitrogen Oxide pollution and has saved over 2.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas.

Improved Precombustion Chamber Design For Reduced NOX In Large Bore, Natural Gas Engines

	Carbon Impact: ●●●●○ Human Health Impact: ●●○○○ Environmental Impact: ●●●○○		Sponsors: Pipeline Research Council, Inc. Field Tested: Commercialized:


	Precombustion chambers (PCCs) are an ignition technology of large bore, natural gas engines enabling increased combustion stability while extending the lean limit of operation.

Influence of Sensor Installation on Performance of Combustion Pressure Sensors

	Carbon Impact: ○○○○○ Human Health Impact: ●●○○○ Environmental Impact: ●●●○○		Sponsors: Kristler Instruments Tested: Yes Commercialized: Kristler Instruments


	Goal: To investigate the influence of different sensor installations and sensor positions on the performance of combustion pressure sensors.

Micro-Pilot Ignition (2000-2004)

	Carbon Impact: ●●●○○ Human Health Impact: ●○○○○ Environmental Impact: ●●●○○		Sponsors: DOE, Woodward Field Tested: Yes Commercialized: No


	The Micro-pilot project explored the use of high pressure diesel fuel injection to improve the combustion and ignitions processes in large-bore natural gas engines. While the project had promising results, field testing uncovered thermal problems in the hardware which have proved insurmountable.

NOx Reduction Through Improved Exhaust Aftertreatment (2005-2007)

	Carbon Impact: ○○○○○ Human Health Impact: ●●●●○ Environmental Impact: ●●●●●		Sponsors: Pipeline Research Council International, Inc. Field Tested: Yes Commercialized:


	This project employs the aftertreatment method of Selective Catalytic Reduction to decrease NOx emission.

SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge (1999-2003)

	Carbon Impact: ●●○○○ Human Health Impact: ●●○○○ Environmental Impact: ●●●●○		Sponsors: Robert Walker Ranch, Orbital Field Tested: Yes Commercialized: Yes (Envirofit)


	From 1999-2003 Students at the EECL competed in the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge, ultimately developing a snowmobile that was 300 times cleaner than a stock model. The project led to the formation of Envirofit International.

Dilution Tunnel: Simulation of atmospheric effects on exhaust particulate matter (2006 - now)

	Carbon Impact: ●●●○○ Human Health Impact: ●●●●○ Environmental Impact: ●●●○○		Sponsors: Environmental & Radiological Health Sciences, Atmospheric Field Tested: Yes Commercialized: No


	To understand more about emissions and their effects on human health and the environment, researchers must study how these emissions behave upon release. When carbonaceous fuel is burned in an engine, some unburned or partially-burned carbon is released at high temperature.

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