skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Emissions results for dedicated propane Chrysler minivans: the 1996 propane vehicle challenge

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Energy (US DOE), through Argonne National Laboratory, and in cooperation with Natural Resources-Canada and Chrysler Canada, sponsored and organized the 1996 Propane Vehicle Challenge (PVC). For this competition , 13 university teams from North America each received a stock Chrysler minivan to be converted to dedicated propane operation while maintaining maximum production feasibility. The converted vehicles were tested for performance (driveability, cold- and hot-start, acceleration, range, and fuel economy) and exhaust emissions. Of the 13 entries for the 1996 PVC, 10 completed all of the events scheduled, including the emissions test. The schools used a variety of fuel-management, fuel-phase and engine-control strategies, but their strategies can be summarized as three main types: liquid fuel-injection, gaseous fuel-injection, and gaseous carburetor. The converted vehicles performed similarly to the gasoline minivan. The University of Windsor`s minivan had the lowest emissions attaining ULEV levels with a gaseous-injected engine. The Texas A&M vehicle, which had a gaseous-fuel injection system, and the GMI Engineering and Management Institute`s vehicle, which had a liquid-injection system both reached LEV levels. Vehicles with an injection fuel system (liquid or gaseous) performed better in terms of emissions than carbureted systems. Liquid injection appeared to be the bestmore » option for fuel metering and control for propane, but more research and calibration are necessary to improve the reliability and performance of this design.« less

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
459322
Report Number(s):
ANL/ES/CP-92071; CONF-970210-3
ON: DE97003218
DOE Contract Number:  
W-31109-ENG-38
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: International congress and exposition of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE): dedicated to the advancement of the global mobility industry, Detroit, MI (United States), 24-27 Feb 1997; Other Information: PBD: [1997]
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS; VANS; EXHAUST GASES; PROPANE; AIR POLLUTION MONITORING; FUEL SUBSTITUTION; HYDROCARBONS; NITROGEN OXIDES; CATALYSTS; FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS; PERFORMANCE TESTING

Citation Formats

Buitrago, C, Sluder, S, and Larsen, R. Emissions results for dedicated propane Chrysler minivans: the 1996 propane vehicle challenge. United States: N. p., 1997. Web.
Buitrago, C, Sluder, S, & Larsen, R. Emissions results for dedicated propane Chrysler minivans: the 1996 propane vehicle challenge. United States.
Buitrago, C, Sluder, S, and Larsen, R. 1997. "Emissions results for dedicated propane Chrysler minivans: the 1996 propane vehicle challenge". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/459322.
@article{osti_459322,
title = {Emissions results for dedicated propane Chrysler minivans: the 1996 propane vehicle challenge},
author = {Buitrago, C and Sluder, S and Larsen, R},
abstractNote = {The U.S. Department of Energy (US DOE), through Argonne National Laboratory, and in cooperation with Natural Resources-Canada and Chrysler Canada, sponsored and organized the 1996 Propane Vehicle Challenge (PVC). For this competition , 13 university teams from North America each received a stock Chrysler minivan to be converted to dedicated propane operation while maintaining maximum production feasibility. The converted vehicles were tested for performance (driveability, cold- and hot-start, acceleration, range, and fuel economy) and exhaust emissions. Of the 13 entries for the 1996 PVC, 10 completed all of the events scheduled, including the emissions test. The schools used a variety of fuel-management, fuel-phase and engine-control strategies, but their strategies can be summarized as three main types: liquid fuel-injection, gaseous fuel-injection, and gaseous carburetor. The converted vehicles performed similarly to the gasoline minivan. The University of Windsor`s minivan had the lowest emissions attaining ULEV levels with a gaseous-injected engine. The Texas A&M vehicle, which had a gaseous-fuel injection system, and the GMI Engineering and Management Institute`s vehicle, which had a liquid-injection system both reached LEV levels. Vehicles with an injection fuel system (liquid or gaseous) performed better in terms of emissions than carbureted systems. Liquid injection appeared to be the best option for fuel metering and control for propane, but more research and calibration are necessary to improve the reliability and performance of this design.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/459322}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1997},
month = {Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1997}
}

Conference:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that hold this conference proceeding.

Save / Share: