BOARD MEETING DATE: March 5, 2004
AGENDA NO. 4

Execute Contract to Develop and Demonstrate a Variable Gaseous Fueled Engine

SYNOPSIS:

The Board has previously approved projects to develop transit buses that operate on hydrogen-CNG fuel mixtures, which have demonstrated significantly lower emissions than buses operating on CNG only. This action requests approval and award to develop a variable gaseous fueled engine for future hydrogen-natural gas blend technologies at an AQMD cost not to exceed $30,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund. The total project cost is estimated to be $178,786.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, February 27, 2004, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman of the Board to execute a contract with College of Engineering – Center for Environmental Research and Technology for the development of a Variable Gaseous Fueled Engine in an amount not to exceed $30,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The AQMP has identified the use of alternative clean fuels in mobile sources as a key air quality attainment strategy. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are near zero-emission vehicles but currently have limited availability, high costs, and short warranty periods. In addition to the efforts on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen-internal combustion engine vehicles, the AQMD believes that vehicles operating on hydrogen and compressed natural gas (CNG) mixtures will serve as a transition vehicle to the future hydrogen economy. In support of this, the AQMD has been working with engine developers, conversion firms, governmental entities, and end users to develop and demonstrate vehicles that operate on fuel mixtures, such as hydrogen-natural gas. Furthermore, the AQMD believes that co-locating the proposed hydrogen refueling stations with existing natural gas refueling stations will also further enhance the utilization of the hydrogen available at these stations. In the past, the Governing Board has approved projects to develop transit buses that operate on a specific hydrogen-CNG fuel mixture ratio, which have demonstrated significantly lower emissions than buses operating on CNG only. Staff believes that a larger number of vehicles operating on hydrogen-CNG mixtures could further reduce emissions from mobile sources and serve as a transition for future hydrogen vehicles, as well as utilize the developing hydrogen infrastructure. Development is required, however, on the engine and associated control system to allow the flexibility and optimum operation on a range of hydrogen-CNG mixture ratios. This will allow greater flexibility for fuel dispensing while also enabling the fuel to be tailored to the application, with the appropriate balance of performance, emissions, and economics. As such, staff proposes funding the development of a variable gaseous fuel engine, which can run on different mixtures of hydrogen and natural gas.

Proposal

The University of California, Riverside, College of Engineering – Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), submitted an unsolicited proposal for the development of a variable gaseous fueled engine. This project builds on an earlier project that developed a unique sensor capable of determining the mole fraction of hydrogen in a hydrogen/natural gas mixture. The objective of this project is to develop a variable gaseous fueled engine operating optimally on any combination of natural gas and hydrogen. Funding from the AQMD will be used to conduct experiments to determine the optimal fuel and spark timing maps for various combinations of hydrogen-CNG, which will help in designing the control algorithm for the engine control module. The results of this research will potentially enable the direct and powerful link between the AQMD’s existing natural gas infrastructure and the hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure foreseen in the near future. The cost of this project to the AQMD shall not exceed $30,000. Total cost of the proposed project is estimated to be $178,786, with the remaining funding from CE-CERT.

Benefits to AQMD

The AQMP relies on the expedited implementation of advanced technologies and clean-burning fuels in southern California to achieve air quality standards. This project will further develop technology for alternative fuel vehicles, and is expected to reduce NOx, CO and PM emissions. The projects will demonstrate that vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines that can operate on varying mixtures of hydrogen/CNG are a commercially viable bridge to the hydrogen economy, as well as utilize the emerging hydrogen fueling station infrastructure.

Sole Source Justification

Section VIII.B.2. of the Procurement Policy and Procedure identifies four major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified. This request for a sole source award is made under provision B.2.c.: …services available from only the sole source. Specifically, B.2.c.(1): The unique experience and capabilities of the proposed contractor/team.

CE-CERT has extensive experience in developing hydrogen and hydrogen/natural gas mixture technologies. In 1997, CE-CERT developed a unique sensor capable of determining the mole fraction of hydrogen in a hydrogen/CNG mixture, which is the patented enabling technology for a variable gaseous fuel engine. CE-CERT has also worked with Ford Motor Company on the development of a hydrogen-fueled engine for their P2000 vehicle, as well as converted several other vehicles to operate on hydrogen fuel.

Resource Impacts

The total cost to the AQMD for the development of the variable gaseous fueled engine project is not to exceed $30,000. The total project cost is $178,786, with $148,829 co-funded by CE-CERT.

Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Fund, established as a special revenue fund resulting from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program. The Clean Fuels Program, under Health and Safety Code Sections 40448.5 and 40512 and Vehicle Code Section 9250.11, establishes mechanisms to collect revenues from mobile sources and stationary sources to support projects to increase the utilization of clean fuels, including the development of the necessary advanced enabling technologies. Funds collected from motor vehicles are restricted, by statute, to be used for projects and program activities related to mobile sources that support the objectives of the Clean Fuels Program.

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