Hybrid Natural Gas (NG) Vehicles

Project Manager: Dr. Edgar Matida

Lead Engineers: Drs. Xiao Huang and Junjie Gu

Natural Gas

Composition: mainly methane (CH4 - highest H/C ratio

of all fuels), with other hydrocarbons (for example:

ethane, propane, butanes, and pentanes), carbon

dioxide, nitrogen and hydrogen sulfide (H2S)

Marketable natural gas (processed natural gas with no

impurities)

Natural Gas Prices in Canada

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

US

$/m

illi

on

BT

U

Source: BP Statistical Review 2012

Fracking Shale Gas Boom

Source: National

Geographic

Applications

Power generation (peak power co-generation)

Domestic heating, drier and cooking

Ammonia (NH3) production (for fertilizer production)

Hydrogen (H2) production

Transportation (trains, trucks, buses, and cars)

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Powered

Vehicles Properly tuned engines (either diesel or gasoline

engines) can be modified to burn compressed natural

gas (CNG)

Conversion

Additional tank (3600 psi)

Home fuelling compression stations (8 hours)

Hybrid CNG Vehicles

Alternatives to conventional engines

Natural gas fuel cells

Microturbines

Addition of batteries and electrical motors to the

system

Source: National Institute of Building Sciences

Fuel Cell Stack (Carleton Univ., 2012)

Goals

Design, manufacturing, and testing of key subcomponents such

as engines, ignition and control system

Emission measurements

Natural gas fueling and storage

Build and test a fully functional natural gas and battery/fuel cell

powered car

Subjects involved: fluid mechanics, heat transfer, combustion

and emissions, structural analysis, and safety analysis

Lead Engineers

Edgar Matida: project manager and lead engineer for

the performance of NG powered engines, fuel cells and

batteries

Junjie Gu: lead engineer for heat transfer, cycle

analysis and emission reduction

Xiao Huang: lead engineer for structures, integration

and cost analysis