Engine Development Lab (EDL)
Alternate Fuels
- Development and calibration support for engines using various alternative fuels such as CNG, LNG, HCNG, ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, biogas, hydrogen, DME, and ammonia.
- Testing and certification of hydrogen engines.
- Testing of LNG engines.
- Friction torque testing for different oil samples.
- Comparative study of on-road emission behaviour between conventional fuels and alternative fuels.Testing and certification of hydrogen engines.
- Domain-specific training programs.
- Evaluation of various fuel blends.
- Decoding of AIS standards
- Review and support to comply with safety layout regulations.
- Development of new technologies, such as dual fuel, fumigation, gem fuel blending, and HCCI.
- Detail VTC 05 for carrying out development tests on below 3.5 T vehicles on Chassis dynameter
- Supporting Govt of India & various State Govt for deciding outlier vehicles using Remote sensing device and PEMS
- Development projects for evaluation of Proposed CAFÉ norms with WLTP /MIDC on chassis dynamometer
Various fuels handled by Alternate Fuel Centre
Gaseous Fuels
- Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
- Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
- Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
- Bio-CNG
Dual Fuel
- Diesel + CNG
- Diesel + LNG
- Diesel + Bio-CNG
- Diesel + Hydrogen
Bio-Fuel
- E10
- E20
- M15
- M100
- ED95
- MD95
- E100 – A25 (M15 + E10)
Hydrogen
- H2 ICE
- HCNG
Flex Fuel
- E85
- M85
Synthetic Fuels
- DME
- DME+LPG
Blended Fuels
- Diesel – Ethanol
- Diesel – Methanol
Various Category of Engines/Vehicle Development Available at Alternate Fuel Centre
Automotive Application
- 2-Wheeler / 3-Wheeler
- Passenger Car
- Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV)
- Small Commercial Vehicle (SCV)
- Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV)
- Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV) – Bus / Trucks
Off-road Application
- Construction equipment vehicle (CEV)
- Tractor
- Genset
- Marine
- Locomotive
- Agriculture equipment
Services Offered by Alternate Fuel Centre
Engine Level
- Engine Calibration
- Upgradation of the engine for specific fuel
- Genset Certification and Consultancy
Vehicle Level
- Vehicle Calibration
- Safety layout design and review as per AIS
- Vehicle trials as per CMVR/Specific requirements
Facilities available with Alternate Fuel Centre
- Vehicle Test Cell (Chassis Dynamometer – 150 kW)
- Engine test cell (50 kW to 800 kW) – Steady State & Transient
- Fuel characterization – GC,CCMS
- H2/CNG, Hydrogen
Other Services Offered
- Fuel Characterisation
- Preparation of additive / oil / catalyst and its evaluation
- Training on alternate engine, fuel, vehicle, rules and regulation to RTO and other govt officials, Fuel suppliers, STU’s, Academician, Industry personnel, Graduate trainees, etc.
- Consultancy on need basis for specific project / technical support
AOBD demonstration Consultancy - System verification, review and readiness for any specified notification
- Assistance in new standard development
- Third party inspection
Case Studies by Alternate Fuel Centre
Gaseous fuel engine Completed project summary so far (1996 to as on date)
ARAI is working on alternative fuels including development of gaseous fuel since 1992 and successfully completed more than 100 projects for Indian OEMs and majority vehicles are plying on Indian roads.
In a view to minimise emissions, enhance efficiency and reduce oil imports, ARAI developed more than 30 dual fuel engines for off-road vehicle application including 2- wheeler, 3-wheeler, passenger car, LCV, HCV and off-road application like tractor, construction vehicle, Genset, etc. OEMs showed interest to develop the dual fuel engine using the piston, power cylinder, piston cooling, port type or vehicle-driven pump, etc. The challenge in dual fuel engine is the limit of power to achieve the required performance due to limitation of the proportion of diesel substitution. ARAI designed the dual fuel combustion system by evaluating injection timing, exhaust system and after- treatment design. In order to increase the mixing efficiency and exhaust-after treatment temperature, the exhaust routing has been changed so that the air and fuel will improve the combustion process inside the combustion chamber, and to lower the treatment of the engine-out pollutants.
Case Studies by Alternate Fuel Centre
| Vehicle Type | Vehicle Type | Engine Capacity | Emission Norms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Wheeler | 1 | 100 – 150 cc engine | BS IV to BS VI |
| 3 Wheeler | 9 | 0.1 – 0.6 L engines | BS IV to BS VI |
| Passenger Car | 13 | 1 – 1.4 L engines | BS IV to BS VI |
| LCV | 5 | 2.5 – 4 L engines | BS IV to BS VI |
| SUV | 3 | 2.5 – 4 L engines | BS III to BS IV |
| SCV | 1 | 1.5 L engine | BS VI |
| HCV | 9 | 3 – 6 L engines | BS III to BS VI |
| Off Road | 2 | 3 – 6 L engines | Trem – II A |
Development of BSVI Compliant CNG Engines
ARAI has demonstrated BSVI emission compliance along with OBD on 4 different engine models.
Key Highlights:
- SPII and MPII fuel systems
- Optics controlled Piped EGR
- Unique after treatment system design
- Exhaust temperature optimization to meet catcon placement need – more than 1.0 m away from exhaust manifold
Development of Duel Fuel Engine/Vehicle
ARAI has recently developed indigenous technology for conversion of existing diesel engine/vehicle to operate on dual (Diesel+CNG) mode.
- Dual fuel is a viable technology for India from the point of view of emission reduction.
- Economics of operation.
- Flexible in operation.
- All diesel-based customers / engines can be converted to it
- Norms for dual fuel engine certification is notified
Development of Duel Fuel Engine/Vehicle
In diesel ethanol can’t be mixed however ARAl successfully developed additives due to which it is possible to mix ethanol diesel. The various blends 5% to 15 % blend of ethanol in diesel were optimized and 7.7% ethanol blend found suitable.