IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2024i1p51-d1554228.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Numerical Assessment of a Heavy-Duty (HD) Spark Ignition (SI) Biogas Engine

Author

Listed:
  • Alberto Ballerini

    (Dipartimento di Energia, Politecnico di Milano, Via Raffaele Lambruschini 4/A, 20156 Milano, Italy)

  • Tommaso Lucchini

    (Dipartimento di Energia, Politecnico di Milano, Via Raffaele Lambruschini 4/A, 20156 Milano, Italy)

  • Angelo Onorati

    (Dipartimento di Energia, Politecnico di Milano, Via Raffaele Lambruschini 4/A, 20156 Milano, Italy)

Abstract

This paper examines the feasibility of converting a Heavy-Duty (HD) Spark Ignition (SI) Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) engine to biogas fuel. A One-Dimensional (1D) simulation tool was used to model a commercially available HD SI CNG engine. The model was validated by comparing experimental and computed in-cylinder pressure, brake power, fuel, and air mass flow rates. The engine was then modified to use biogas with an injection system based on existing designs from the literature. A Spark Advance (SA) sweep was performed to assess the engine’s performance at full load. The chosen equivalence ratio was 0.85, and the engine speed was 1500 rpm. The Maximum Brake Power (MBP) and Maximum Brake Efficiency (MBE) operating points were identified. Partial load analysis was conducted starting from the MBP conditions. Results in terms of brake power, brake efficiency, and NO x emissions are presented. Conversion to biofuel results in a reduction in power and efficiency of 33% and 4%, respectively, at 1500 rpm and full load conditions. Brake Specific NO x emissions remained comparable. This numerical study demonstrates the feasibility of biogas conversion for HD SI engines, offering a renewable fuel alternative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, though with trade-offs in power and efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Alberto Ballerini & Tommaso Lucchini & Angelo Onorati, 2024. "Numerical Assessment of a Heavy-Duty (HD) Spark Ignition (SI) Biogas Engine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2024:i:1:p:51-:d:1554228
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/51/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/51/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cuéllar-Franca, Rosa & García-Gutiérrez, Pelayo & Dimitriou, Ioanna & Elder, Rachael H. & Allen, Ray W.K. & Azapagic, Adisa, 2019. "Utilising carbon dioxide for transport fuels: The economic and environmental sustainability of different Fischer-Tropsch process designs," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Kim, Yungjin & Kawahara, Nobuyuki & Tsuboi, Kazuya & Tomita, Eiji, 2016. "Combustion characteristics and NOX emissions of biogas fuels with various CO2 contents in a micro co-generation spark-ignition engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 539-547.
    3. Ardolino, F. & Cardamone, G.F. & Parrillo, F. & Arena, U., 2021. "Biogas-to-biomethane upgrading: A comparative review and assessment in a life cycle perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    4. Lantz, Mikael, 2012. "The economic performance of combined heat and power from biogas produced from manure in Sweden – A comparison of different CHP technologies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 502-511.
    5. Friesenhan, Christian & Agirre, Ion & Eltrop, Ludger & Arias, Pedro L., 2017. "Streamlined life cycle analysis for assessing energy and exergy performance as well as impact on the climate for landfill gas utilization technologies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 805-813.
    6. Collet, Pierre & Flottes, Eglantine & Favre, Alain & Raynal, Ludovic & Pierre, Hélène & Capela, Sandra & Peregrina, Carlos, 2017. "Techno-economic and Life Cycle Assessment of methane production via biogas upgrading and power to gas technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 282-295.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ciuła, Józef & Generowicz, Agnieszka & Gronba-Chyła, Anna & Kwaśnicki, Paweł & Makara, Agnieszka & Kowalski, Zygmunt & Wiewiórska, Iwona, 2024. "Energy production from landfill gas, emissions and pollution indicators–Opportunities and barriers to implementing circular economy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    2. Bidart, Christian & Wichert, Martin & Kolb, Gunther & Held, Michael, 2022. "Biogas catalytic methanation for biomethane production as fuel in freight transport - A carbon footprint assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    3. Muhamed Rasit Atelge & Halil Senol & Mohammed Djaafri & Tulin Avci Hansu & David Krisa & Abdulaziz Atabani & Cigdem Eskicioglu & Hamdi Muratçobanoğlu & Sebahattin Unalan & Slimane Kalloum & Nuri Azbar, 2021. "A Critical Overview of the State-of-the-Art Methods for Biogas Purification and Utilization Processes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-39, October.
    4. Godoy, Verónica & Martín-Lara, María Ángeles & Garcia-Garcia, Guillermo & Arjandas, Sunil & Calero, Mónica, 2024. "Environmental impact assessment of the production of biomethane from landfill biogas and its use as vehicle fuel," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PB).
    5. Patrizio, P. & Leduc, S. & Chinese, D. & Kraxner, F., 2017. "Internalizing the external costs of biogas supply chains in the Italian energy sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 85-96.
    6. Engstam, Linus & Janke, Leandro & Sundberg, Cecilia & Nordberg, Åke, 2025. "Optimising power-to-gas integration with wastewater treatment and biogas: A techno-economic assessment of CO2 and by-product utilisation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PB).
    7. Johannes Full & Silja Hohmann & Sonja Ziehn & Edgar Gamero & Tobias Schließ & Hans-Peter Schmid & Robert Miehe & Alexander Sauer, 2023. "Perspectives of Biogas Plants as BECCS Facilities: A Comparative Analysis of Biomethane vs. Biohydrogen Production with Carbon Capture and Storage or Use (CCS/CCU)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-16, June.
    8. Hijazi, O. & Abdelsalam, E. & Samer, M. & Attia, Y.A. & Amer, B.M.A. & Amer, M.A. & Badr, M. & Bernhardt, H., 2020. "Life cycle assessment of the use of nanomaterials in biogas production from anaerobic digestion of manure," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 417-424.
    9. Medina, Oscar E. & Amell, Andrés A. & López, Diana & Santamaría, Alexander, 2025. "Comprehensive review of nickel-based catalysts advancements for CO2 methanation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    10. Sadiq Y, Ragadia & Iyer, Rajesh C., 2020. "Experimental investigations on the influence of compression ratio and piston crown geometry on the performance of biogas fuelled small spark ignition engine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 997-1009.
    11. Jacopo Bacenetti, 2020. "Economic and Environmental Impact Assessment of Renewable Energy from Biomass," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-5, July.
    12. Herz, Gregor & Reichelt, Erik & Jahn, Matthias, 2017. "Design and evaluation of a Fischer-Tropsch process for the production of waxes from biogas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 370-381.
    13. Gaballah, Eid S. & Abdelkader, Tarek Kh & Luo, Shuai & Yuan, Qiaoxia & El-Fatah Abomohra, Abd, 2020. "Enhancement of biogas production by integrated solar heating system: A pilot study using tubular digester," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    14. Alberto Benato & Chiara D’Alpaos & Alarico Macor, 2022. "Possible Ways of Extending the Biogas Plants Lifespan after the Feed-In Tariff Expiration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-23, October.
    15. Ingrao, Carlo & Bacenetti, Jacopo & Adamczyk, Janusz & Ferrante, Valentina & Messineo, Antonio & Huisingh, Donald, 2019. "Investigating energy and environmental issues of agro-biogas derived energy systems: A comprehensive review of Life Cycle Assessments," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 296-307.
    16. Guerin, Turlough F., 2022. "Business model scaling can be used to activate and grow the biogas-to-grid market in Australia to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries: An application of entrepreneurial management," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    17. Stürmer, B. & Leiers, D. & Anspach, V. & Brügging, E. & Scharfy, D. & Wissel, T., 2021. "Agricultural biogas production: A regional comparison of technical parameters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 171-182.
    18. Karin Meisterl & Sergio Sastre & Ignasi Puig-Ventosa & Rosaria Chifari & Laura Martínez Sánchez & Laurène Chochois & Gabriella Fiorentino & Amalia Zucaro, 2024. "Circular Bioeconomy in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona: Policy Recommendations to Optimize Biowaste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-22, January.
    19. Corey Duncan & Robin Roche & Samir Jemei & Marie-Cécile Péra, 2022. "Techno-economical modelling of a power-to-gas system for plant configuration evaluation in a local context," Post-Print hal-03692975, HAL.
    20. Mehta, Neha & Anderson, Aine & Johnston, Christopher R. & Rooney, David W., 2022. "Evaluating the opportunity for utilising anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis of livestock manure and grass silage to decarbonise gas infrastructure: A Northern Ireland case study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 343-357.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2024:i:1:p:51-:d:1554228. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.