Could an NHC-250 be made to run on nat gas/diesel combo?

[TexAndy]

Like the bi-fuel operation caterpiller engines I hear about?

Just trying to think outside the box. Natural gas is still pretty cheap, I think.

 

[dangerfieldinc]

Hear in Beaufort County SC we have a new company that is starting up instaling this type of conversions www.ecodual.com I dont know any thing about them just saw the artical in local paper.

 

[SCSG-G4]

Natural gas and gasoline conversions work well because they both can be done with fairly low (and similar) compression ratios. With a diesel you are talking in the range of twice the pressure, and I'm not sure how NG would do under those circumstances. Planning on doing the mix on the air intake side, or trying to use injectors?

 

[TexAndy]

I don't know. I'd only ever heard that it was being done to some diesel engines.


What I was thinking of... will the natural gas change the readiness of the diesel to ignite under pressure? IE, could it retard combustion? Or would it advance combustion? Or no change at all?

If there's no change in combustion timing at all, is there an issue with the natural gas only combusting because the diesel "sparked" it? Or would they be so thoroughly mixed as to make no difference?



I am not an engine mechanic by any stretch of the imagination... hence the questions.

 

[phil2968]

The Cat engines that run on CNG, compressed natural gas, are that only. They may be built from the same engine as the diesel but they have lower compression ratios and a spark ignition. Designed for stationary use and hooked up to a CNG line.
As to your question, propane has been used a lot on diesel engines for added power.

 

[Squirt-Truck]

Yes the engine will operate on natural gas and diesel. Yes AND diesel. The compression ignition of the diesel fuel is required to ignite the gas. Bottom line is that the pump has to be modified to defuel down to roughly 10% when the gas comes on line. Throttling is via control of gas admitted to the intake, and it is easy to burn one doing this. My company did a lot of research with International in the 80's on this. Works but requires significant fuel system changes. I do know of people that have just let the diesel return to idle and admitted natural gas through an aux metering system. Some of the pulling boys use propane the same way.

Hope this helps with the question.

 

[TexAndy]

What is it that kills the engine? Too much NG too fast?