Lean-burn Natural Gas Engine System to Achieve Near-zero Crankcase Methane Emissions from Existing and Future Engine Fleet

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Program:
REMEDY
Award:
$1,500,000
Location:
Fort Collins, Colorado
Status:
ACTIVE
Project Term:
07/01/2022 - 06/30/2025

Technology Description:

Colorado State University (CSU) and Caterpillar will develop technology to reduce methane emissions from lean-burn natural gas engines by reducing methane ventilation through the crankcase, the engine base that contains the crankshaft and integrates other engine components. Methane that leaks past the ring and valve seals during compression and combustion enters the crankcase and is usually vented to the atmosphere. The team proposes a system that would capture the crankcase methane, treat it, and reroute it back to the engine intake where it would be re-ingested and combusted. This would simultaneously reduce methane emissions and improve engine efficiency. The team will first perform baseline laboratory tests to determine the amount of methane that leaks through the crankcase. The goal is to reduce the emissions from crankcase gas by at least 75%.

Potential Impact:

REMEDY addresses methane emissions from domestic oil, gas, and coal value chains, accounting for 78% of U.S. primary energy.

Security:

REMEDY systems will reduce the environmental footprint from the production and use of domestic resources.

Environment:

A key REMEDY process performance metric is to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions > 87% on a life cycle basis. This metric ensures proposed solutions provide a holistic environmental benefit. If successful, REMEDY processes have the potential to reduce U.S. methane emissions by at least 60 million tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalents) per year.

Economy:

REMEDY goals call for 99.5% methane reduction while meeting a levelized cost less than $40/ton of CO2e.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Jack Lewnard
Project Contact:
Prof. Daniel Olsen
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
daniel.olsen@colostate.edu

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Release Date:
04/08/2021