LAKE FOREST, Ill., July 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tenneco is
putting its 100-plus years of powertrain expertise in improving
vehicle fuel efficiency and reducing emissions to work to explore
synthetic fuels (e-fuels), a viable near-term solution to further
maximize the efficiency and minimize the carbon footprint of
internal combustion engines (ICE). Tenneco's Powertrain business
group is partnering with key academic and industry experts to
examine the technical possibilities and commercial feasibility of
synthetic fuels as a key technology to help the industry transition
to climate-neutral transportation. This collaborative effort is
referred to as the NAMOSYN project.
Synthetic fuels for passenger vehicles, commercial trucks or
even marine applications can play an important role in achieving a
near zero emissions mobility, by using renewable energy sources,
such as solar or wind power, to create a closed CO2
cycle when viewed from a holistic "well-to-wheel" perspective. A
climate-neutral alternative to petroleum-based fuels, they also
offer the potential for significantly reduced overall emissions,
allowing Tenneco's Clean Air experts to better manage any remaining
pollutants through the aftertreatment process.
Synthetically produced, climate-neutral e-fuels can be used in
today's gasoline and diesel engines with only minor modifications
for most of e-fuels and in blends with conventional fuels. This
makes them particularly suitable for vehicles with traditional ICE
as well as alternative powertrains such as hybrids. Additionally,
the e-fuels can be made available to consumers by using mostly the
existing, well-developed fuel distribution and filling station
infrastructure with only minor adjustments, making the technology
even more appealing as a near-term, fast-to-market solution.
"It is widely acknowledged that solutions must be found to
reduce a vehicle's carbon footprint. In addition to light vehicles,
internal combustion engines are also popular in trucks, marine
propulsion, construction equipment and agricultural machinery,"
explains Dr. Steffen Hoppe, Director
Global Technology for piston rings and cylinder liners at Tenneco´s
Powertrain business group in Burscheid, Germany. "Regardless of the differing opinions
when full electrification will be reached, any technology that we
can adopt now that enables a significant reduction in
CO2 emissions, or even CO2-neutral operation
of the IC engine, will be an essential contributor to the timely
achievement of climate targets. We are excited to be an active part
in the development of this type of technology."
Research project NAMOSYN – sustainable mobility with
synthetic fuels
To help further the understanding of synthetic fuel technology,
Tenneco has joined a consortium of automotive suppliers, vehicle
and fuel manufacturers, chemical companies, Fraunhofer institutes
and universities as part of the NAMOSYN project (www.namosyn.de),
which is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and
Research. The effort is scheduled to run through March 2022.
Taking advantage of the site´s 19 fully automated and monitored
high-performance test cells, Tenneco´s Burscheid, Germany team is investigating how innovative
piston ring designs in combination with synthetic fuels can be used
to develop mobility concepts with lowest emissions, the target
being zero emissions impact.
The NAMOSYN project also serves to develop cost-effective and
energy efficient manufacturing processes for synthetic fuels and to
test them in internal combustion engines. In the diesel sector,
this notably concerns the group of oxymethylene ethers (OME); for
gasoline engines, the focus is on dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and
methyl formate (MeFo). In parallel, a wide range of different
material configurations are tested to determine the optimum
synthesis and composition over/across the entire process chain.
Initial results of the current research are promising. "By using
synthetic fuels in internal combustion engines, we have been able
to demonstrate a reduction of 50 percent or more in all nitrogen
oxide, carbon monoxide and particle emissions," explains Bartosch
Gadomski, Senior Test Engineer and Project Manager NAMOSYN at
Tenneco. "In order to actively support the timely market
introduction of synthetic fuels as far as possible, we also test
mixtures or blends of conventional fuels and e-fuels under real
conditions on our engine test benches."
In the final step, these test units are installed in test
vehicles and examined for driving behavior and emissions. In
addition, the compatibility of the e-fuels with the existing
infrastructure for fuels, such as tank trucks or filling station
systems, is evaluated and solution concepts for new requirements
are developed.
Synthetic fuels as an important component in the mix of
technology solutions for sustainable mobility
To minimize climate impacting emissions, synthetic fuels are
preferably produced using electricity that is generated from carbon
neutral renewable sources. In case of OME and DMC, synthetic fuels
as methanol, ethanol, MTG Fischer Tropsch Diesel, and others can be
produced with hydrogen by electrolysis – also generated by using
surplus fluctuations in renewable electricity – and carbon dioxide
(CO2), which comes from industrial waste gases or from
the air. The next process step converts the syn gas to synthetic
fuels. This method ensures that a closed CO2 cycle is
created: in a holistic approach ("well-to-wheel"), the vehicle
later emits only as much CO2 as was originally extracted
from the air to produce these synthetic fuels.
E-fuels should have favorable combustion properties so that an
ICE can be operated as efficiently as possible and local pollutant
emissions can be kept low. One of the advantages of synthetic fuels
is that their composition can be developed specifically to meet the
needs and different performance requirements of their applications.
In order to achieve the highest possible efficiency, e.g. via
so-called lean combustion, adjustments to engine control and
hardware are necessary, depending on the engine type.
The aim of research at Tenneco is to achieve the highest
possible efficiency of internal combustion engines as well as the
greatest possible reduction of raw emissions, especially in terms
of particulate emissions.
"The development of new vehicles with ICE powertrains must
pursue the goal that these drives will be climate-neutral. We need
synthetic fuels and hydrogen from sustainable energy sources in
order to achieve the climate targets for future cars and trucks,
but also for the millions of existing vehicles powered by an
internal combustion engine," concludes Hoppe.
About Tenneco
Tenneco (NYSE: TEN) is one of the world's leading designers,
manufacturers and marketers of automotive products for original
equipment and aftermarket customers, with full year 2020 revenues
of $15.4 billion and approximately
73,000 team members working at more than 270 sites worldwide.
Through our four business groups, Motorparts, Performance
Solutions, Clean Air and Powertrain, Tenneco is driving
advancements in global mobility by delivering technology solutions
for diversified global markets, including light vehicle, commercial
truck, off-highway, industrial, motorsport and the aftermarket.
Visit www.tenneco.com to learn more.
Safe Harbor
This release contains
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements
include, among others, statements relating to our plans to explore
climate-neutral mobility. Forward-looking statements are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to materially differ from those described in the
forward-looking statements, including the possibility that Tenneco
may not progress climate-neutral mobility; the possibility that
Tenneco may not achieve efficiencies in internal combustion engines
or reduction in raw emissions; as well as the risk factors and
cautionary statements included in Tenneco's periodic and current
reports (Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K) filed from time to time with the
SEC. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction
of actual results. Unless otherwise indicated, the forward-looking
statements in this release are made as of the date of this
communication, and, except as required by law, Tenneco does not
undertake any obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to publicly
disclose revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements.
Additional information regarding these risk factors and
uncertainties is detailed from time to time in the company's SEC
filings, including but not limited to its annual report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31,
2020.
Contact:
Steve Blow
Executive Director, Corporate Communications,
Tenneco Inc.
+1 517-262-0655
sblow@tenneco.com
|
Stefan Zech
Sr. Manager Communications,
Tenneco Inc.
+49 (611) 201 9110
stefan.zech@tenneco.com
|
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SOURCE Tenneco Inc.