International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering

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Algorithm for Determining the Knock Resistance of LNG

Received: 28 May 2019    Accepted: 10 July 2019    Published: 24 July 2019
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Abstract

This paper reports the development of a next-generation algorithm to calculate the knock resistance for LNG compositions. This so-called PKI Methane Number is developed and tested for a lean-burn, medium-BMEP gas engine. The algorithm itself is a polynomial equation based on thousands of simulations performed using an experimentally verified engine knock model. Comparison of the PKI MN calculated using the gas-input-only algorithm and measurements on the test engine show very good agreement. A comparison with two existing methods for calculating the methane number (AVL and MWM Method as defined in EN 16726) with experimental engine data show reasonable agreement with predictions using AVL method but substantial differences with predictions from MWM method are observed. Additionally, the current methods such as AVL and MWM need a dedicated solver to calculate the methane number. In contrast, the algorithm described here is a polynomial equation that is very easy to implement in gas composition sensors for fast real-time methane number calculations. This opens possibilities for smart-phone methane number calculation during bunkering and fuel-adaptive control systems that could optimize engine performance for a broad range of fuel compositions. Furthermore, given the experimentally verified reliability and ease of implementation of the PKI MN algorithm, we assert that it is an excellent, open-source candidate for international standards for specifying the knock resistance of LNG.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijepe.20190802.12
Published in International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering (Volume 8, Issue 2, March 2019)
Page(s) 18-27
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

LNG, Methane Number, Engine Knock, Algorithm

References
[1] The LNG industry GIIGNL Annual Report 2017, http://www.giignl.org/
[2] M. van Essen, S. Gersen, G. van Dijk, H. Levinsky, T. Mundt, G. Dimopoulos and N. Kakalis, “The effect of boil off on the knock resistance of LNG gases”, CIMAC Congress, Helsinki, Finland, June 6-10, 2016, paper 123.
[3] J. B. Heywood, International Combustion Engine fundamentals, McGraw-Hill, 1989.
[4] M. Leiker, W. Cartelliere, H. Christoph, U. Pfeifer, and M. Rankl, (1972) Evaluation of Anti-Knock Property of Gaseous Fuels by Means of the Methane Number and Its Practical Application, ASME paper 72-DGP-4.
[5] California Alternative Fuels for Motor Vehicle Regulations Appendix D: Methane Number and fuel composition, https://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/cng-lpg/appd.pdf
[6] Gary Choquette, “Analysis and estimation of stoichiometric air-fuel ratio and methane number for natural gas”, 23rd Gas Machinery Conference, Nashville, USA, October 5-8, 2014.
[7] G. W. Sorge, R. J. Kakoczki, and J. E. Peffer, “Method for determining knock resistance rating for non-commercial grade natural gas”, US Patent 6,061,637, May 9, 2000.
[8] R. T. Smith, G. W. Sorge, and J. R. Zurlo, “Systems and Methods for Engine Control Incorporating Fuel Properties”, European Patent EP 2 963 270 A1, 25th May 2015.
[9] prEN16726: 2014 - Annex A.
[10] C. Rahmouni, G. Brecq, M. Tazerout, O. Le Corre, (2004) Knock rating of gaseous fuels in single cylinder spark ignition engine, Fuel 83 (3) 327-336.
[11] “Gas Methane Number Calculation MWM method”, April 2013 (documentation Euromot MWM tool).
[12] Methane number calculation of natural gas mixtures, http://mz.dgc.eu./
[13] http://www.cumminswestport.com/fuel-quality-calculator
[14] https://www.wartsila.com/products/marine-oil-gas/gas-solutions/methane-number-calculator
[15] https://www.dnvgl.com/oilgas/natural-gas/fitness-for-purpose-of-lng-pki-methane-number-calculator.html
[16] https://www.dnvgl.com/oilgas/natural-gas/fitness-for-purpose-for-pipeline-gas.html
[17] GasCalc Software, http://www.eon.com/en/business-areas/technical-sercices/gascalc-software.html
[18] EUROMOT position paper, “Methane number as a parameter for gas quality specifications”, 2012.
[19] International group of liquefied natural gas importers, “Position paper on the impact of including methane number in natural gas regulation”, 2015.
[20] See, for example, ISO/TC 28/SC 4/WG 17 “LNG as a marine fuel”.
[21] Patrik Soltic, Hannes Biffiger, Philippe Pretre and Andreas Kempe (2016) Micro-thermal CMOS-based gas quality sensing for control of spark ignition engines, Measurement 91, 661-679.
[22] K. Saikaly, O. Le Corre, C. Rahmouni and L. Truffet (2010) Preventive Knock Protection Technique for Stationary SI Engines Fuelled by Natural Gas, Fuel Processing Technology 9 641-652.
[23] S. Gersen, M. van Essen, H. Levinsky, and G. Dijk (2016) Characterizing Gaseous Fuels for Their Knock Resistance based on the Chemical and Physical Properties of the Fuel, SAE Int. J. Fuels Lubr. 9 (1), doi: 10.4271/2015-01-9077.
[24] M. van Essen, S. Gersen, G. Dijk, T. Mundt, et al. (2016) The Effect of Humidity on the Knock Behavior in a Medium BMEP Lean-Burn High-Speed Gas Engine, SAE Int. J. Fuels Lubr. 9 (3), doi: 10.4271/2016-01-9075.
[25] D. van Alstine, D. Montgomery, T. Callahan, and R. Florea, “Ability of the Methane Number Index of a Fuel to Predict Rapid Combustion In Heavy Duty Dual Fuel Engines for North American Locomotives”, Proceedings of the ASME 2015 Internal Combustion Engine Division Fall Technical Conference, November 8-11, 2015, Houston, TX, USA, paper ICEF2015-1119.
[26] TKI LNG report, a correct ‘octane number’ for LNG, report No.: OGNL.113944, 30-11-2017. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321528353_A_correct_'octane_number'_for_LNG
Author Information
  • DNV-GL Oil & Gas, Groningen, The Netherlands

  • DNV-GL Oil & Gas, Groningen, The Netherlands

  • DNV-GL Oil & Gas, Groningen, The Netherlands

  • Shell Projects & Technology, Rijswijk, The Netherlands

  • Energy and Sustainability Research Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Martijn Van Essen, Sander Gersen, Gerco Van Dijk, Maurice Van Erp, En Howard Levinsky. (2019). Algorithm for Determining the Knock Resistance of LNG. International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 8(2), 18-27. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20190802.12

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    ACS Style

    Martijn Van Essen; Sander Gersen; Gerco Van Dijk; Maurice Van Erp; En Howard Levinsky. Algorithm for Determining the Knock Resistance of LNG. Int. J. Energy Power Eng. 2019, 8(2), 18-27. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20190802.12

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    AMA Style

    Martijn Van Essen, Sander Gersen, Gerco Van Dijk, Maurice Van Erp, En Howard Levinsky. Algorithm for Determining the Knock Resistance of LNG. Int J Energy Power Eng. 2019;8(2):18-27. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20190802.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijepe.20190802.12,
      author = {Martijn Van Essen and Sander Gersen and Gerco Van Dijk and Maurice Van Erp and En Howard Levinsky},
      title = {Algorithm for Determining the Knock Resistance of LNG},
      journal = {International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering},
      volume = {8},
      number = {2},
      pages = {18-27},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijepe.20190802.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20190802.12},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepe.20190802.12},
      abstract = {This paper reports the development of a next-generation algorithm to calculate the knock resistance for LNG compositions. This so-called PKI Methane Number is developed and tested for a lean-burn, medium-BMEP gas engine. The algorithm itself is a polynomial equation based on thousands of simulations performed using an experimentally verified engine knock model. Comparison of the PKI MN calculated using the gas-input-only algorithm and measurements on the test engine show very good agreement. A comparison with two existing methods for calculating the methane number (AVL and MWM Method as defined in EN 16726) with experimental engine data show reasonable agreement with predictions using AVL method but substantial differences with predictions from MWM method are observed. Additionally, the current methods such as AVL and MWM need a dedicated solver to calculate the methane number. In contrast, the algorithm described here is a polynomial equation that is very easy to implement in gas composition sensors for fast real-time methane number calculations. This opens possibilities for smart-phone methane number calculation during bunkering and fuel-adaptive control systems that could optimize engine performance for a broad range of fuel compositions. Furthermore, given the experimentally verified reliability and ease of implementation of the PKI MN algorithm, we assert that it is an excellent, open-source candidate for international standards for specifying the knock resistance of LNG.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Algorithm for Determining the Knock Resistance of LNG
    AU  - Martijn Van Essen
    AU  - Sander Gersen
    AU  - Gerco Van Dijk
    AU  - Maurice Van Erp
    AU  - En Howard Levinsky
    Y1  - 2019/07/24
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20190802.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepe.20190802.12
    T2  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
    JF  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
    JO  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
    SP  - 18
    EP  - 27
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2326-960X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20190802.12
    AB  - This paper reports the development of a next-generation algorithm to calculate the knock resistance for LNG compositions. This so-called PKI Methane Number is developed and tested for a lean-burn, medium-BMEP gas engine. The algorithm itself is a polynomial equation based on thousands of simulations performed using an experimentally verified engine knock model. Comparison of the PKI MN calculated using the gas-input-only algorithm and measurements on the test engine show very good agreement. A comparison with two existing methods for calculating the methane number (AVL and MWM Method as defined in EN 16726) with experimental engine data show reasonable agreement with predictions using AVL method but substantial differences with predictions from MWM method are observed. Additionally, the current methods such as AVL and MWM need a dedicated solver to calculate the methane number. In contrast, the algorithm described here is a polynomial equation that is very easy to implement in gas composition sensors for fast real-time methane number calculations. This opens possibilities for smart-phone methane number calculation during bunkering and fuel-adaptive control systems that could optimize engine performance for a broad range of fuel compositions. Furthermore, given the experimentally verified reliability and ease of implementation of the PKI MN algorithm, we assert that it is an excellent, open-source candidate for international standards for specifying the knock resistance of LNG.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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