DiGas dual-fuel system is cost-effective, highly scalable, safe for engine, easy and fast to install. The system is tailored for a wide range of locomotive engines, providing diesel like power performance, but without the harmful emissions and particulate matter. It applies the principle of “port injection” (gas injected through the existing air-intake valves) for aftermarket engines and direct injection for new engines with high compression ratio. This approach means no significant adjustments to engine design are required and high reliability is retained. The system is comprised of functional modular blocks, contained in a universal infrastructure network.
THE ONLY VIABLE SOLUTION FOR SHUNTER SEGMENT
Dual fuel mode engine is diesel engine which is adjusted to operate on Diesel & Natural Gas simultaneously by substituting diesel fuel with cheaper, cleaner and more sustainable fuel – Natural gas. Natural gas, due to its high ignition temperature properties, requires an ignition aid. Diesel fuel is therefore required in order to act as the ignition spark for the Natural gas. Adjustment of engine is done by implementing minimal changes to the existing diesel engine so it retains its high efficiency and high performance. It gives absolute reliability to any user as it switches seamlessly to operate on 100% diesel at any time if Natural gas supply runs out giving complete diesel operational backup. But the main challenge remains to maximise the Diesel Substitution Rate (DSR), whilst ensuring safe and efficient operation of the engine that provide a diesel-like performance.
Current competing products are not able to deliver natural gas substitution rates at lower notches of engine output and shunter locomotives spend most of the time operating up to notch 5 of engine output, thus making conversion less attractive specifically for shunter locomotive segment. First figure below illustrates time which shunter locomotive spent at operating notches. Almost 80% of time have been spent in idle and first two notches. Second figure below illustrates total fuel consumption in operating notches presenting 55% from all fuel spent in idle and notches 1-2. We have recognized this huge market potential and have focused all our research and development effort so that our system would provide decent NG offset rates at any Notch selected.
Unlike our competitors, we are able to deliver high efficiency and high Diesel Substitution Rates (DSR) across all notches using our advanced intelligent engine management (AIEM) system. The AIEM system dynamically adjusts the supply of air, gas and diesel in real-time is in order to achieve the very highest gas substitution rates while delivering like-for-like diesel performance, retaining engine power and dynamics up the engine safe limits.
The ability of the system to self-adjust its parameters in real-time, results in almost maintenance free and stable operation under any circumstances. Even the driving-experience for the locomotive operator is identical to which they are used to. Figure below illustrates our results that were achieved during pilot project of retrofitted ChME3 shunter locomotive. Pilot project was completed in 2019 in Riga, Latvia.
STATE-OF-THE ART FROM EXPERIENCE
DiGas (Previously – DieselGas) has acquired strong position and vast successful experience in Eastern Europe and Asian countries with his previous generation Dual Fuel product for mechanical pump (Euro 0, I, II and EURO III) diesel fuel engines. Because of its state of art technological approach and technical implementation it was the only successfully commercially applied and mass – produced Dual fuel system in the World with exceptionally good feedbacks from fleets around the world using more than 1700 Medium Duty Vehicles & Heavy Duty Vehicle units with this Dual fuel system. Some of customers have been using dual fuel product for more than 10 years.
ISUZU project
Tashkent
Public and service transport conversion to dual fuel mode in Fergona, Tashkent
JURMALA project
Jurmala, Latvia
Public transport conversion to Dual fuel mode in Jurmala, Latvia
MINSK MOTOR PLANT project
Belarus
Dual fuel system development for Belarus tractors in Minsk Motor Plant, Belarus
LOCOMOTIVE DF project
Daugavpils, Latvia
Dual fuel system testing on shunter diesel locomotive ChME3 engine in A/S “Daugavpils Locomotive Repair Plant”, Daugavpils, Latvia
TECHNOLOGICAL FEATURES
DIGAS DUAL FUEL SYSTEM
Following the rapid and straightforward installation process, the locomotive is almost instantly ready for dual-fuel operation. Figure shows the system installed on the ChME3 locomotive. DiGas Dual fuel electronic control unit (ECU) automatically detects operational variables using state-of-the-art sensors to determine the required diesel substitution rate (DSR). The amount of diesel fuel offset by natural gas is monitored and controlled to ensure ideal engine performance and safety while maximising natural gas substitution. There will be no performance differences noticeable to the driver.
