Emissions control and reduction for natural gas engines

The use of natural gas as a fuel for on-road commercial vehicles offers significant benefits, including lower greenhouse gas emissions. Methane, the main component of natural gas, has many virtues as a fuel. However, its stability makes it harder to react in an engine. This introduces two challenges: first, an ignition source is needed to start the combustion (unlike diesel, which is self-igniting), and second, it is hard to remove any left-over methane from the exhaust. This internship will help to address both these factors. First, the intern will use a Westport test facility to evaluate how well a continuous heater can ignite a jet of methane. Second, the intern will install and test a novel sub-scale catalytic converter, specially designed for methane removal, on the exhaust from a research engine at UBC. These results will help to advance Westport?s ongoing efforts to develop cleaner and more cost-effective natural gas engines.

Faculty Supervisor:

Patrick Kirchen

Student:

Rene Zepeda

Partner:

Westport Innovations Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Oil and gas

University:

Program: