B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

LPG, a solution to the

automotive technical challenges.
 The evolution of Internal Combustion engines
The drivers
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

Energy ww
Environment availability

Politics
Energy price

Regulations

Technology cost
Energy
(R&D & system)
network
 The evolution of Internal Combustion engines
The challenges
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

• Environment: ww emission impact 

 Global warming
 Acid rain
 Ozone formation

• Environment: local emissions impact 

 Cancers
 Respiratory problems, irritation, headache
 Photochemical smog formation
• Economics: Total Cost of Ownership
 Vehicle/engine cost
 Fuel cost
• Driving feeling: fun to drive
 The evolution of Internal Combustion engines
The challenges
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T
 The evolution of Internal Combustion engines
Looking for solutions
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

• Particulate filters (DPF/GPF)

• NOx trap
• Urea injection (SCR)
• Friction and pumping losses reduction
• Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI)
• Downsizing
• Supercharging
• Variable Valve Actuation (VVA)
•…
 Introduction
Evolution of petrol engines
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

Displac. Power Torque Emissions

Model Injection type 3 Ratio Ratio Ratio
[cm ] [kW] [Nm] CO2 [g/km]

Golf 1.4 Port 1390 59 100% 132 100% 149 100%

Golf 1.2 TSI Direct 1197 77 131% 175 133% 134 90%

Passat 1.6 Port 1595 75 100% 148 100% 183 100%

Passat 1.4 TSI Direct 1390 90 120% 200 135% 138 75%

C-Max 1.6 Port 1596 92 100% 159 100% 154 100%

C-Max 1.0
Direct 999 92 100% 170 107% 117 76%
Ecoboost
 Introduction
Evolution of petrol engines
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

The new adopted technologies have introduced also

new challenges and leave room for improvement:
• limits on particulate introduced on GDI engines
• oil dilution
• further reduction of CO2
•…

LPG can be the answer to these challenges.

LPG systems need to be redesigned to catch the
opportunities and follow evolutions of automotive
technology
 Evolution of LPG systems for GDI engines
Sequent Direct Injection (SDI) – The system
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T
 Evolution of LPG systems for GDI engines
Sequent Direct Injection (SDI) – Testing
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

Vehicle #1 = 4 cyl 1.5L N/A GDI Engine

NEDC

Comparison LPG vs Petrol

THC CO NOX NMHC CO2 FE PN
Avg Petrol [mg/km] 20,62 351,52 1,97 17,69 [g/km] 147,6 [l/100 km] 6,3 [#/km] 1,47E+12
Avg LPG [mg/km] 23,43 314,43 3,20 20,18 [g/km] 132,8 [l/100 km] 8,2 [#/km] 2,45E+11
Comparison [%] 13,6% -10,6% 62,3% 14,1% [%] -10,1% [%] 30,2% [%] -83,4%
PARTICLE COUNTER
130 9,000E+08
120
8,000E+08
110
100 7,000E+08
90
6,000E+08
80

Particle [counter/s]
70 5,000E+08
Speed [km/h]

60 4,000E+08
50
3,000E+08
40
30 2,000E+08
20
1,000E+08
10
0 0,000E+00
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Time [s]
Speed PN
 Evolution of LPG systems for GDI engines
Sequent Direct Injection (SDI) – Testing
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

100 240

3 cyl 1.0L - LPG SDI Vs Petrol

90

80 200

Corrected Torque ISO 1585 [Nm]

70
Corrected Power ISO 1585 [kW]

60 160

50

40 120
Petrol AVG

LPG AVG
30
Full LPG
AVG
Torque Petrol
20 AVG 80
Torque LPG
AVG
Torque Full
10 LPG AVG

0 40
500 1500 2500 3500 4500 5500 6500
Engine Speed [rpm]
 Evolution of LPG systems for GDI engines
LPG Direct Injection (LDI) – The system
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T
 Evolution of LPG systems for GDI engines
LPG Direct Injection (LDI) – Theoretical analysis
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

In-cylinder analysis 1.6 GDI – 2000xWOT

D [m]

Gasoline – pinj 110 bar LPG – pinj 137 bar

(ET = 63 CA) (ET = 63 CA)
 LPG liquid direct injection system (LDI)
Reduction of particulate emissions
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

Lambda distribution in combustion chamber at spark (ignition)

Gasoline LPG
Global Lambda: 0.91 Global Lambda: 0.89
COV: 0.237 COV: 0.082

Lambda
 LPG liquid direct injection system (LDI)
Reduction of particulate emissions
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

Lambda distribution in combustion chamber at spark (ignition)

Gasoline LPG
Global Lambda: 0.91 Global Lambda: 0.90
COV: 0.237 COV: 0.082

Lambda
 LPG liquid direct injection system (LDI)
Reduction of engine oil dilution
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

Engine oil dilution factor

Red: gasoline
Black: LPG
(50% butane +
50% propane)
 Evolution of LPG systems for GDI engines
LPG Direct Injection (LDI) – Testing
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

Vehicle #1 = 4 cyl 1.6L N/A GDI engine

NEDC

Comparison LPG vs Petrol

THC CO NOX NMHC CO2 FE PM PN
Avg Petrol [mg/km] 22,74 390,03 10,53 20,38 [g/km] 163,3 [l/100 km] 7,0 [mg/km] 0,70 [#/km] 8,61E+11
Avg LPG [mg/km] 29,05 480,80 12,16 26,24 [g/km] 145,5 [l/100 km] 9,0 [mg/km] 0,12 [#/km] 1,41E+10
Comparison [%] +27,8% +23,3% +15,5% +28,7% [%] -10,9% [%] +28,6% [%] -82,1% [%] -98,4%

Vehicle #3 = 4 cyl 1.6L T/C GDI engine

NEDC

Comparison LPG vs Petrol

THC CO NOX NMHC CO2 FE PM PN
Avg Petrol [mg/km] 27,16 467,42 31,14 23,54 [g/km] 176,4 [l/100 km] 7,6 [mg/km] 0,41 [#/km] 7,88E+11
Avg LPG [mg/km] 25,03 511,77 27,49 19,75 [g/km] 157,6 [l/100 km] 9,7 [mg/km] 0,11 [#/km] 1,08E+10
Comparison [%] -7,9% +9,5% -11,7% -16,1% [%] -10,7% [%] +28,9% [%] -74,0% [%] -98,6%

Petrol LPG
 Evolution of LPG systems for GDI engines
LPG Direct Injection (LDI) – Testing
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

Vehicle #2 = 4 cyl 1.6L N/A GDI engine

NEDC

Comparison LPG vs Petrol

THC CO NOX NMHC CO2 FE PM PN
Avg Petrol [mg/km] 26,02 480,58 7,51 21,21 [g/km] 167,1 [l/100 km] 7,2 [mg/km] 1,00 [#/km] 1,26E+12
Avg LPG [mg/km] 15,65 363,24 8,56 13,42 [g/km] 149,3 [l/100 km] 9,2 [mg/km] 0,31 [#/km] 2,81E+10
Comparison [%] -39,9% -24,4% +14,0% -36,7% [%] -10,6% [%] +28,7% [%] -69,2% [%] -97,8%

Vehicle #2 = 4 cyl 1.6L N/A GDI engine

WLTC Class3 Ver5.3

Comparison LPG vs Petrol

THC CO NOX NMHC CO2 FE PM PN
Avg Petrol [mg/km] 10,56 368,89 6,84 9,61 [g/km] 163,3 [l/100 km] 7,0 [mg/km] 2,86 [#/km] 2,99E+12
Avg LPG [mg/km] 9,32 309,33 6,43 8,51 [g/km] 146,9 [l/100 km] 9,1 [mg/km] 0,34 [#/km] 2,83E+10
Comparison [%] -11,7% -16,1% -5,9% -11,4% [%] -10,0% [%] +29,6% [%] -87,9% [%] -99,1%
 Conclusions
B R C G A S E Q U I P M E N T

• LPG fuel systems are in continuous evolution

thanks to the R&D investments done by the
manufacturers and the cooperation with the
universities.

• In Italia we have the leading companies for

automotive LPG technologies

• The new technologies are improving the

advantages of the LPG vs. the conventional fuels