Error Analysis of the Normative Calculation Method of the Exhaust Emissions and Fuel Consumption in the Vehicles Fueled with Gaseous Fuels

Abstract

The methodologies for calculating exhaust emissions and fuel consumption, which are given in the normative documents, do not take into account the fact that vehicles equipped with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or compressed natural gas (CNG) systems are fueled with petrol after a cold start. When calculating exhaust emissions and fuel consumption of LPG or CNG-powered vehicles, it is assumed that they result from the combustion of gaseous fuel only. This simplification leads to an incorrect determination of the emissions and fuel consumption values, as the formulas for calculating these values differ depending on the fuel type. This article presents the results of tests aimed at checking how that factor affects the value of emissions and fuel consumption calculated in the driving cycles used in the type-approval tests. In order to estimate the error resulting from this simplification, the tests of exhaust emissions and fuel consumption of a vehicle equipped with an LPG system were carried out. The tests were carried out on a chassis dynamometer in the worldwide harmonized light vehicles test cycle (WLTC) used in the type approval tests. In the tested vehicle, the CO, total hydrocarbons (THC), NOx and CO2 emissions calculated with the normative method were approx. 7% lower than the values calculated with the corrected method. For this reason, there is a need to develop a measurement method that allows for a separate analysis of the phase in which the vehicle is fueled with gasoline. This will allow the elimination of errors in the current normative method of calculating pollutant emissions from the exhaust system and fuel consumption of vehicles fueled with gaseous fuels.