Application

Engineering
Bulletin
Subject This AEB is for the following applications:
Natural Gas Fuel Performance
Specification (Wide Range Fuel X Automotive Industrial Marine
Capable)
G-Drive Genset

Date: 5 Feb 2007 AEB Number 79.02

Engine Models included: B Gas Plus, C Gas Plus, L Gas Plus & B Gas International (BGI)

Owner: Don Leggiero Approver: per Procedure 9183OPS-04-10-01 Page 1 of 11

Change Log
Date Owner Description Page(s)
Feb. 5, 2007 Leggiero 4.2 Change to table 1 2 and 4
Sep. 2004 Leggiero Author change
Aug. 2001 Publication From 14608

Cummins Confidential
 Engineering
Standards
Engineering Standard Number
Name FUEL,NATURAL GAS (WIDE RANGE)

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION 14608

Identifier
(INTERFACE)

1. Scope
1.1. This specification covers natural gas fuel requirements for automotive spark ignited
natural gas engines.

1.2. This specification is only applicable to engines with “Plus Technology” and approved
ratings that are wide range fuel capable. “Plus Technology” includes knock sensing and control,
and Cummins’ CORE hardware based control architecture (currently CM-556B ECM).

1.3. This specification applies to fuel as it is delivered to the engine regardless of whether its
origin was liquid or gaseous.

1.4. Gas with chlorine additives are not permitted.

2. Applicable Documents
Applicable documents listed below may be obtained from the responsive organizations listed in
CES 10054, Standards Organizations Addresses.

a. ASTM D 1945, Analysis of Natural Gas by Gas Chromatography

b. ASTM D 2650, Chemical Composition of Gases by Mass Spectrometry
c. ASTM D 3588, Calculating Heat Value, Compressibility Factor, and Relative Density
(Specific Gravity) of Gaseous Fuels
d. CES 10054, Standards Organizations Addresses
e. CES 10056, Glossary
f. SAE 922359, Effect of Gas Composition on Octane Number of Natural Gas Fuels
g. Title 17 CCR 94112 Method 16-Sulfur (Air Resources Board, State of California)

3. Definitions
Terms used in this standard that have a general definition for usage in Cummins Engineering
Standards are defined in CES 10056, Glossary.

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 Engineering
Standards
Engineering Standard Number
Name FUEL,NATURAL GAS (WIDE RANGE)

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION 14608

Identifier
(INTERFACE)

3.1. Reactive Hydrogen to Carbon Ratio

Reactive hydrogen to carbon ratio is defined as the number of hydrogen atoms in one mole of fuel
divided by the number of carbon atoms in one mole of fuel. Carbon present in the diluents (example
carbon dioxide) is not used in this calculation.

3.2. Mass Percent

Mass Percent is defined as the molecular weight of each component times the volume percent of
that component divided by the molecular weight of the mixture.

3.3. Motor Octane Number

Motor Octane Number is defined as a method for rating fuels and their resistance to denotation.
There are two reference fuels that all fuels are compared too. The reference fuels are Iso-octane
(100) as the high reference and n-heptane (0) as the low reference fuel. Octane number can be an
excess of 100 and in this case tetraethyl lead is mixed with Iso-octane to create reference fuels with
higher octane numbers.

3.4. Methane Number

Methane number is defined as a scale to calculate knock potential of natural gas in a spark ignited
engine, relative to the reference fuels. Since methane has an octane number of 140, the octane scale
could not be used and a correlation relating octane number to methane number was developed. The
reference fuels for methane number are methane as the high reference fuel (100) and hydrogen as
the low reference fuel (0).

4. Specification
4.1. Significance and Use

This specification covers natural gas fuels for use in automotive spark ignited natural gas engines.
The requirements apply to the fuel as it is delivered to the engine.

4.2. Chemical Composition

Chemical composition shall be determined using the test method in Table 1: Chemical Composi-
tion on page 3.

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CUMMINS CONFIDENTIAL
This document (and the information shown thereon) is CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY and shall not be disclosed to others in hard copy
or electronic form, reproduced by any means, or used for any purpose without written consent of Cummins Inc.
 Engineering
Standards
Engineering Standard Number
Name FUEL,NATURAL GAS (WIDE RANGE)

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION 14608

Identifier
(INTERFACE)

Table 1: Chemical Composition

Components Test Method

Methane ASTM D 1945

Ethane ASTM D 1945
Propane ASTM D 1945
C4 and Higher ASTM D 1945

CO2 + N2 ASTM D 1945

Hydrogen ASTM D 2650

Carbon Monoxide ASTM D 2650
Oxygen ASTM D 1945
Sulfur (1) Title 17 CCR Section
94112 Method 16

Note (1): Sulfur requirement is weight percent. Title 17 CCR Section 94112 Method 16, is a test
method for determining emissions of total reduced sulfur set fourth in the Air Resources Board’s
Method 16 (State of California).

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 Engineering
Standards
Engineering Standard Number
Name FUEL,NATURAL GAS (WIDE RANGE)

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION 14608

Identifier
(INTERFACE)

4.3. Physical Properties

4.3.1. Methane Number

Methane Number shall not be below 65, when determined in accordance with the following
equations.

a. Reactive Hydrogen to Carbon Ratio-(only use reactive hydro-carbons, see Section 3.1.
Reactive Hydrogen to Carbon Ratio on page 2)

⎛ n Volume % of Component i ⎞
⎛ ---------------------------------------------------------------⎞ xNumber of Hydrogen Atoms in Component ⎟
⎜
⎜ ⎝ ∑ 100 ⎠ i⎟ (EQ 1)
H ⎜i = 1 ⎟
Reactive ---- = ⎜ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------⎟
C ⎜ n Volume % of Component i ⎟
⎛ ---------------------------------------------------------------⎞ xNumber of Carbon Atoms in Component ⎟
⎜
⎜ ⎝ ∑ 100 ⎠ i ⎟
⎝ i=1 ⎠

Where:

n = total number of reactive hydro-carbons (methane, ethane, propane, etc.)

Calculate the Octane Number

2 3
Motor Octane Number = – 406.14 + ( 508.04y ) + ( -173.55y ) + ( 20.17y ) (EQ 2)

Where:

H
y = Reactive ----
C

b. Convert Motor Octane Number to Methane Number

Methane Number = (1.624xMotor Octane Number) - 119.1

Note: Calculations for methane number are based on equations in SAE 922359.

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or electronic form, reproduced by any means, or used for any purpose without written consent of Cummins Inc.
 Engineering
Standards
Engineering Standard Number
Name FUEL,NATURAL GAS (WIDE RANGE)

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION 14608

Identifier
(INTERFACE)

4.3.2. Lower Heating Value (LHV)

Lower heating value shall not be below 16100 BTU/lbm when determined in accordance with the
following equations.

a. Calculate the molecular weight of the fuel.

Molecular weight of a gas mixture is the sum of the molecular weight of each component
times the volume percent of that component divided by 100.
n
Molecular Weight of Component i × Volume Percent i
Molecular Weight of Mixture = ∑ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
100
- (EQ 3)
i= 1

b. Calculate the Mass Percent

The mass percent is the percentage of each component in the mixture divided by mass.
Molecular Weight of Component x Volume Percent
Mass Percent = ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (EQ 4)
Molecular Weight of Mixture

c. Calculate Lower Heating Value

n Mass Percent of Component i⎞
⎛ --------------------------------------------------------------------
LHV of Mixture (kJ/kg) = ∑ ⎝ 100
- × LHV of Component i
⎠
(EQ 5)
i=1

d. Convert Lower Heating Value from kJ/kg to BTU/lbm

BTU kJ
LHV ⎛⎝ ------------⎞⎠ = LHV ⎛⎝ ------⎞⎠ ÷ 2.324444 (EQ 6)
lbm kg

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or electronic form, reproduced by any means, or used for any purpose without written consent of Cummins Inc.
 Engineering
Standards
Engineering Standard Number
Name FUEL,NATURAL GAS (WIDE RANGE)

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION 14608

Identifier
(INTERFACE)

4.4. Mechanical Requirements

There are no mechanical property requirements.

4.5. Sulfur Content

The maximum allowable sulfur content shall be no greater than 0.001 % weight.

4.6. Additional Requirements

The fuel shall not contain water, dust, sand, dirt, oils, or any other substance/component in an
amount that is detrimental to the operation of the engine.

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This document (and the information shown thereon) is CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY and shall not be disclosed to others in hard copy
or electronic form, reproduced by any means, or used for any purpose without written consent of Cummins Inc.
 Engineering
Standards
Engineering Standard Number
Name FUEL,NATURAL GAS (WIDE RANGE)

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION 14608

Identifier
(INTERFACE)

Appendix A: Methane Number Calculation-Example

Table A1: Example - EPA Certification Fuel

LHV
Component Formula Volume Percent Molecular Weight
(kJ/kg)

Methane CH4 90.204 16.044 50,016

Ethane C2H6 4.033 30.07 47,489
Propane C3H8 1.759 44.097 46,357
Butane C4H10 0.008 58.12 45,742
Pentane C5H12 0.01 72.0 45,355
Nitrogen N2 3.986 28.013 0.00

A1. Methane Number

H (0.90204x4)+(0.04033x6)+(0.01759x8)+(0.00008x10)+(0.0001x12)
Reactive ---- = ⎛ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------⎞ (EQ A1)
C ⎝ (0.90204x1)+(0.04033x2)+(0.01759x3)+(0.00008x4)+(0.0001x5) ⎠

H
Reactive ---- = 3.8535 (EQ A2)
C

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 Engineering
Standards
Engineering Standard Number
Name FUEL,NATURAL GAS (WIDE RANGE)

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION 14608

Identifier
(INTERFACE)

Appendix A: Methane Number Calculation-Example (Continued)

Motor Octane Number = -406.14+(508.04x3.8535)+(-173.55x3.85352)+(20.17x3.85353)(EQ A3)

Motor Octane Number = 128.64 (EQ A4)

Methane Number = (1.624x128.64)-119.1 (EQ A5)

Methane Number = 89.82 (EQ A6)

A2. Lower Heating Value

Molecular Weight of Mixture = (0.90204x16.044)+(0.04033x30.070)+(0.01759x44.097)+
(0.00008x58.12)+(0.0001x72.0)+(0.03986x28.013) (EQ A7)

Molecular Weight of Mixture = 17.59 (EQ A8)

Table A2: Mass Percent

Component Volume Percent Molecular Weight Mass Percent (%)

Methane 90.204 16.044 82.29

Ethane 4.033 30.07 6.90
Propane 1.759 44.097 4.41
Butane 0.008 58.12 0.03
Pentane 0.01 72 0.04
Nitrogen 3.986 28.013 6.34

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 Engineering
Standards
Engineering Standard Number
Name FUEL,NATURAL GAS (WIDE RANGE)

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION 14608

Identifier
(INTERFACE)

Appendix A: Methane Number Calculation-Example (Continued)

Table A3: Lower Heating Value of Mixture (kJ/kg)

Component Mass Fraction LHV (kJ/kg) Calculation (kJ/kg)

Methane 82.29 50,016 41158.17

Ethane 6.90 47,489 3276.74
Propane 4.41 46,357 2044.34
Butane 0.03 45,742 13.72
Pentane 0.04 45,355 18.14
Nitrogen 6.34 0 0

Lower Heating Value (kJ/kg) = Sum of Calculation = 46,511.11

Lower Heating Value (BTU/lbm) = 46,511.11 ÷ 2.324444 = 20,009.56

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or electronic form, reproduced by any means, or used for any purpose without written consent of Cummins Inc.
 Engineering
Standards
Engineering Standard Number
Name FUEL,NATURAL GAS (WIDE RANGE)

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION 14608

Identifier
(INTERFACE)

Appendix A: Methane Number Calculation-Example (Continued)

Table A4: Data for Typical Natural Gas Components

Component Formula Molecular Weight LHV (kJ/kg)

Methane CH4 16.04 50,016

Ethane C2H6 30.07 47,489
Propane C3H8 44.09 46,357
Butane C4H10 58.12 45,742
Pentane C5H12 72.15 45,355
Hexane C6H14 86.17 45,105
Heptane C7H16 100.2 44,926
Octane C8H18 114.22 44,791
Carbon Dioxide CO2 44.01 0
Nitrogen N2 28.01 0
Oxygen O2 32.00 0
Carbon Monoxide CO 28.01 0
Hydrogen H2 2.016 0

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