Eden Energy and BAF Develop Hythane Calibration for Ford 6.8L V10
11 August 2009
Eden Energy, in conjunction with BAF Technologies, has developed a Hythane calibration for natural-gas-fueled Ford 6.8L V10 engines used in E-450 vehicles. Hythane is a mixture of hydrogen in methane—about 5-7% mixture by energy or about 20% by volume.
This calibration was granted certification recently by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), allowing the commercial sale and use of the engine.
The Hythane calibration provides emissions reductions over the natural gas version of the engine, which already provides substantial emissions benefits as compared to the gasoline version of the engine. Specifically, the Hythane calibration achieves:
- 10.5% reduction in CO2
- 40% reduction in non-methane hydrocarbons
- 49% reduction in CH4 emissions
- 70% reduction in particulate matter
In addition to emissions reductions, the use of fuel provides a 3.9% efficiency gain over the natural gas version of the engine.
The Hythane engine calibration was designed for the Hythane project in progress at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). For this project, Hythane Company has received funding for station infrastructure as well as the conversion of 27 Ford E-450 airport shuttles to run on Hythane. The SFO Hythane project is currently in the design and permitting stage, with construction planned for later this year.
Could the hydrogen required be economically produced on-board?
Posted by: HarveyD | 12 August 2009 at 10:17 AM
HarveyD has a very good idea. A small partial combustion unit that makes H2 and CO or adds steam to make a lot more H2 relative to CO. Such a unit is used to make H2 and CO to clean up diesel exhaust. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 12 August 2009 at 09:35 PM
Just converting to a hybrid or plug in hybrid with a Capstone turbine and ZEBRA batteries would increase efficiency far more and clean up the air as well. One version of the Capstone turbine actually exhausts purer air on a freeway than enters the turbine.
A hydraulic hybrid would improve the results greatly because it could eliminate idling while stopped.
..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 12 August 2009 at 09:41 PM