SunLine Transit Agency Tests Hythane? in Closed Loop CNG Engine

摘要

In April 2000, SunLine Transit Agency, Thousand Palms, CA, opened the world’s firsthydrogen generation/storage/dispensing/demonstration facility built and operated by apublic transit agency. Since then, SunLine has used hydrogen generated on-site to runa fleet of fuel cell golf carts, a pickup with a hydrogen-powered internal combustionengine, a bus equipped with an XCELLSiS fuel cell engine (for 13 months), and twoHythane?1-powered transit buses (part of the agency’s permanent fleet). The blendedfuel, 20% hydrogen, 80% methane, had been found in prior tests to lower compressednatural gas’ (CNG’s) NOx emissions by up to 45% in the two buses altered byHythane? inventor Frank Lynch, Hydrogen Components, Inc.2 (HCI).Based on SunLine’s success with the two Hythane? buses, the agency is now workingwith Lynch, Cummins-Westport, Inc. (Cummins) to expand its Hythane? fleet.Hythane? will be used in a test bus equipped with a closed loop 5.9L Cummins CNGengine. Emissions (CNG and Hythane?) will be certified to validate achievedreductions; Lynch will work with SunLine and Cummins to maximize performance andminimize emissions.After operating the test bus for six months, its engine will be analyzed for wear. Pendingpositive results, SunLine will begin using Hythane? in a total of 30 transit buses andregenerative air street sweepers all equipped with the 5.9L CNG engines. SunLine/HCIhope to prove Hythane? can meet or exceed 2007 California Air Resources Board/EPAemissions regulations. Benefits of the program include increased life of CNG vehiclesand infrastructure, and the encouragement of immediate hydrogen infrastructuredevelopment by providing a ready market for hydrogen fuel regardless of whether fuelcell vehicles are commercially available in the short term.