Cummins showcases 15L fuel-agnostic engine platform; hydrogen, diesel, biogas 16 March 2023

[Ron Wagner + 714]

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2023/03/20230316-cummins.html

 

Cummins showcases 15L fuel-agnostic engine platform; hydrogen, diesel, biogas

16 March 2023

At CONEXPO, Cummins showcased its new fuel-agnostic 15-liter engine platform with hydrogen, natural gas and advanced diesel engines offering low-to-zero carbon fuel capability. The next-generation engine is designed to accelerate the decarbonization of heavy-duty off-highway applications.

Cummins’ all-new platform takes internal combustion to a new level, capable of meeting future ultra-low emission standards, such as EPA Tier 5 and EU Stage 6, together with a low-to-zero carbon fuel capability to help put construction and quarrying sites on a lower cost path to decarbonization.

The 15-liter has a significant increase in power density with a more compact installation envelope providing equipment manufacturers with the capability to do more with their machines.

—Antonio Leitao, VP Global Off-highway Engine Business

 

The new engine is a clean sheet design that points to the future of diesel: more capability with less environmental impact. It offers high power density in key off-road applications including excavators, wheel loaders, drilling rigs, road planning, milling machines, haul trucks and air compressors. Innovatively designed hardware provides lower weight with maximum engine durability.

The fuel-agnostic architecture of the 15-liter platform utilizes a common base engine with cylinder heads and fuel systems specifically tailored for it to use carbon-free hydrogen or biogas with up to a 90% carbon reduction.

Cummins’ 15-liter hydrogen has ratings up to 530 hp (395 kW) and natural gas up to 510 hp (380 kW). The advanced diesel version can use either sustainable HVO fuel or biodiesel with ratings up to 650 hp (485 kW) for the most demanding off-highway duty-cycles.

A key design feature of the new platform is a Double-Overhead-Camshaft (DOHC) realizing significant advances in combustion and thermal efficiency. Friction losses across the engine design have also been reduced and a sculpted block contributes to weight saving. The DOHC design also enables a more efficient integral engine brake to be accommodated.

The 15-liter hydrogen engine with direct-injection, lean-burn combustion will be available with ratings from 400-to-530 hp (298-395 kW) and a peak torque of 2600 N·m. Running on zero-carbon green hydrogen, it can use a 700-bar pressure high-capacity fuel storage system for maximum operating hours between refueling.

The 15-liter advanced diesel features Cummins latest XPI ultra-high pressure fuel injection system and will offer a broad power range of 450-to-675 hp (335-503 kW) with 3000 N·m peak torque. Using B100 biodiesel enables up to a 70% reduction in carbon and using HVO renewable fuel achieves up to a 90% reduction.

For applications powered by renewable biogas, the 15-liter natural gas will offer ratings extending from 400-to-510 hp (298-380 kW) with a peak torque of 2500 N·m available. Very low noise is a further benefit of this engine, particularly for when operating in urban areas.

Moving forward, our aim is to offer the same agnostic capability across the next-generation of our current 6.7 liter and 9 liter engine platforms.

—Antonio Leitao

 

Posted on 16 March 2023 in Biomethane / RNG, Diesel, Engines, Hydrogen, Market Background | Permalink | Comments (3)

Comments

We were discussing the possibility of using methanol for heavy duty trucking here recently.

Since this can run on biogas, presumably it would be quite happy on methanol?

Posted by: Davemart | 16 March 2023 at 03:11 AM

Fuel Agnostic could include many types of fuel, e.g. H2, LNG, HVO, BioDiesel, etc,
In this article, Cummins Freight Rail Business Manager Tyler Hodge mentions “Methanol”. It also shows the Wabtec Hydro Locomotive concept with hydrogen fuel tender. Note, Progress Rail, a Cummins division is working on Hydrous Ethanol, too.
Article: “Next-Gen Motive Power”, https://www.railwayage.com/mechanical/next-gen-motive-power/

Posted by: Gryf | 16 March 2023 at 08:54 AM

Cummins has already had a press release where they detail that the 6.7 and 9 liter versions will have spark ignition options for fuel such as gasoline, alcohols and gaseous fuels like propane, butane and natural gas. Methanol would work in the spark ignition versions just fine. So would butanol, ethanol or isopropanol. Modern CDI high energy spark ignition systems can fire at diesel levels of compression 14:1+ this puts any high octane alcohol fuel on par with diesel in BSFC in direct injection lean burn mode. Personally I would lust for a Ram 2500 4x4 with a Cummins 6.7 that could burn any liquid fuel with an octane above 87. Be that pumps gas or E85 or hydrous ethanol which can be made at a fraction of the cost of E85 and the need for anhydrous ethanol blending.

Posted by: JamesDo88039200 | 17 March 2023 at 12:59 AM

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[turbguy + 1,553]

A great announcement.

Now, add a heat recovery system for the exhaust and it could match a CT-ST combined cycle!

You could even use the condensate.

Edited March 24, 2023 by turbguy

[Ron Wagner + 714]

Turbguy, you are over my head on this. Would  you give an example or two so I can more easily figure out what you are saying? How is the recovered heat used? How is it recovered? I am a fan of the basic concept and think it should be used on all ICE vehicles to the extent feasible. 

Edited March 26, 2023 by Ron Wagner

[markslawson + 1,061]

On 3/23/2023 at 1:42 PM, Ron Wagner said:

At CONEXPO, Cummins showcased its new fuel-agnostic 15-liter engine platform with hydrogen, natural gas and advanced diesel engines offering low-to-zero carbon fuel capability. The next-generation engine is designed to accelerate the decarbonization of heavy-duty off-highway applications.

Ron - I've got nothing against the engine, which seems pretty good, but was anything said about the engine's price compared to more conventional power plants? I could see anything in the material. While on the subject just how much of an advantage would it be to have a multi-fuel engine? At present diesel is by far the easiest to obtain. If these engines were introduced how many would have to be in service before petrol stations (oh alright, gas stations) see some revenue in offering the different fuels? 

[Ron Wagner + 714]

I have nothing against good diesel fuel aside from the carcinogens. Natural gas is much cleaner though, as is hydrogen. 

The real reason for the engine is because of California insisting on "no emission vehicles" , and other states will jump for whatever California starts. Cummins is ready to take advantage of all such governmental and private moves.

You never did answer my questions btw. 

[TailingsPond + 1,013]

If you do not believe carbon has a negative effect you should not care about the development of low carbon output engines.  Spreading this information is hypocritical form of support for the low carbon movement.

 

[turbguy + 1,553]

6 hours ago, Ron Wagner said:

Turbguy, you are over my head on this. Would  you give an example or two so I can more easily figure out what you are saying? How is the recovered heat used? How is it recovered? I am a fan of the basic concept and think it should be used on all ICE vehicles to the extent feasible. 

Use the [waste] heat of the diesel exhaust in an exchanger to boil water (or other fluid) and operate a Rankine cycle engine. 

Large stationary diesel installations do that, using water as the fluid.  A combined cycle (Diesel Cycle "combined" with Rankine Cycle).  The water condensed from the exhaust gas can be cleaned and used as make-up feedwater (as required) for the Rankine cycle.

Doing this in vehicular use may not be practical at the moment.

Edited March 27, 2023 by turbguy

[Ron Wagner + 714]

On 3/26/2023 at 11:33 PM, turbguy said:

Use the [waste] heat of the diesel exhaust in an exchanger to boil water (or other fluid) and operate a Rankine cycle engine. 

Large stationary diesel installations do that, using water as the fluid.  A combined cycle (Diesel Cycle "combined" with Rankine Cycle).  The water condensed from the exhaust gas can be cleaned and used as make-up feedwater (as required) for the Rankine cycle.

Doing this in vehicular use may not be practical at the moment.

Thanks