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NEWS
Scania’s gas engine in for the long haul
As interest grows in alternative fuels, Scania has released a gas-powered engine that’s designed for long-distance transport and with service intervals of 45,000kmScania says that the launch of the OC13 gas engine marks the start of alternative fuel solutions for its new truck generation.
The OC13 is based on Scania’s proven 13-litre engine and works according to the Otto principle with spark plugs and complete combustion.
There is a growing interest in operating vehicles on biogas or natural gas in countries such as Italy and France as a result of increased availability, improved infrastructure and good economic viability.
Scania’s gas engines are based on stoichiometric combustion which is complete combustion of both fuel and oxygen. Similar to a petrol engine, the combustion is initiated by means of spark plugs. The pre-mixing of the fuel takes place upon entry into the cylinders.
“Throughout development, our aim has been to ensure the best possible driveability,” said Folke Fritzson, Senior Engineer at Scania R&D and part of the team developing Scania’s gas engines. “The performance and characteristics should correspond to that of a modern diesel engine.”
Tank tech
The tank solutions are an important aspect of gas fuel operations. Both LNG tanks (for refrigerated, liquefied gas) and CNG tanks (for compressed gas) can be ordered directly from Scania. LNG always provides greater range, as a significantly larger amount of fuel is available.
“In combustion, there is no difference between LNG and CNG, but there are significant differences in the operational range,” says Fritzson. “With LNG, it's up to 1100 kilometres for a typical semi-trailer on a flat road. CNG usually provides a range of up to 500 kilometres. The latter is more than sufficient for many customers, for example in regional transports with a return to the home base and refuelling every day.”
In order to improve safety, Scania’s engineers have turned the tank valves backwards, away from the direction of travel. This is a seemingly simple but important detail that reduces the risk of the valves becoming damaged if hit by stones or gravel.
Longer maintenance intervals
Gas engines that operate according to the Otto principle (with pre-mixing of fuel and spark plugs) have shorter service intervals than diesel engines. However, Scania has achieved a significantly longer service interval, with the lifespan of the spark plugs currently setting the limit.
“We have defined the interval at 45,000 kilometres for both the spark-plug and oil changes with normal use,” says Fritzson. “This is a clear improvement over previous generation gas engines, with 30,000 kilometres as normal intervals. This reduces maintenance costs and increases [uptime].”
“Everything indicates that we are heading towards a breakthrough for gas engines, including heavier trucks for long-distance transport and construction-site vehicles,” says Henrik Eng, Product Director Urban, Scania Trucks. “Everyone can now benefit from good driveability and driver comfort. We also see that the rapidly growing gas infrastructure in several European countries spurs interest in using this alternative fuel.”
Scania is launching an alternative fuel initiative for the new generation of trucks, with the world premiere of a new 13-litre gas engine at the Ecomondo trade fair in Rimini, Italy.
Gas engines are generally quieter than diesel engines, and are therefore well suited for urban environments. Scania’s new Euro 6 gas engine meets the requirements of the PIEK noise limitation standard, which stipulates a noise level of no more than 72 dB(A) in areas with stringent noise limits.
Specifications: Scania OC13 101
Type: Six-cylinder in-line
Capacity: 12.7 litres
Valves per cylinder: Four
Bore x stroke: 130 x 160mm
Compression: 12.6:1
Fuel injection: Bosch
Emissions treatment: Scania EGR and 3-way catalytic converter
Oil volume: 43 litres
Max power: 410hp (302 kW) at 1900rpm
Max torque: 2000Nm at 1100–1400rpm
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Written byTrucksales Staff
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