Topics Covered: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG):
Why in News?
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has allowed use of H-CNG (18% mix of hydrogen) in CNG engines.
- A notification for amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, for inclusion of H-CNG as an automotive fuel has already been published.
Background:
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has also developed specifications (IS 17314:2019) of Hydrogen enriched Compressed Natural Gas (H-CNG) for automotive purposes, as a fuel.
What is HCNG?
The blending of hydrogen with CNG provides a blended gas termed as HCNG.
- It can be used in place of gasoline, diesel fuel and propane (C3H8) / LPG and its combustion produces fewer undesirable gases.
Advantages of HCNG:
- HCNG reduces emissions of CO up to 70%.
- Enables up to 5 % savings in fuel.
- First step towards future Hydrogen economy.
- Engines can be calibrated to release lower amounts of NO.
- Engines need minimum modification to run on HCNG.
- Ideal fuel for high load applications and heavy-duty vehicles.
- Better performance due to higher Octane rating of H2.
Disadvantages of using HCNG:
- Determining the most optimized H2/ NG (Natural Gas) ratio.
- It requires new infrastructures for preparing HCNG.
- Many steps need to be taken for commercializing it at a large scale.
- Current cost of H2 is more than the cost of Natural Gas. So, HCNG’s cost is more than CNG.
Sources: pib.