Fundamental Advancements in Pre-Chamber Spark Ignition and Emissions Control for Natural Gas Engines

Medium-duty (MD) and heavy-duty (HD) natural gas (NG) vehicles have benefited from significant recent growth in NG production, with relatively low and stable NG prices. Growing compressed NG and liquefied NG refueling capability and growing interest in renewable NG pathways align with increasing MD/HD NG engine options and vehicle availability to further strengthen the market. Additionally, growing interest by the California Air Resources Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in potential regulations requiringultra-low levels of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions may encourage MD/HD NG vehicle adoption since NG engine and aftertreatment technology may help meet those ultra-low NOx levels more cost-effectively than diesel. However, current MD/HD NG engine technology, with stoichiometric spark ignition (SI), exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and three-way catalyst aftertreatment, is less efficient than current diesel technology.