Progress in the development of natural gas high pressure direct injection for Euro VI heavy-duty trucks

Abstract

Injecting natural gas directly in the combustion chamber at the end of the compression stroke, High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) of Natural Gas, ignited with pilot diesel fuel, preserves the fundamental characteristics of diesel combustion such as high efficiency and high specific torque. High combustion efficiency coupled with the lower carbon content of natural gas results in the potential for significant reductions in greenhouse gases. Furthermore because the technology is fundamentally a diesel-like combustion, the powertrain requires few modifications, enabling the manufacturers to preserve and benefit from their diesel investments.