THERMODYNAMIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE APPLICATION OF LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS AS TRANSPORTATION FUEL

This study aims to analyze the thermodynamic considerations for the application of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a transportation fuel. It is designed to solve transport fuel problems and tackle public health issues associated with vehicular engine emission, and vehicle fuel shortages. It considers the economic and technical viability of applying low-temperature fluid as fuel in an LNG-fuel Spark Ignition Engine through computer simulation. Process design configuration was achieved using the User Define Function (UDF) in fluid simulation software (ANSYS Fluent), Finite Element Analysis and Aspen Hysys. 12 kg capacity volume cryogenic tank design was done through Autodesk inventor with an initial temperature of -162 ⁰C and pressure of 1 bar and ambient temperature application ranges of 20 ⁰C to 40 ⁰C. The ANSYS simulation result showed a thermodynamic effect of heat and mass transfer rate range of 1.6% to 7% W/m ²k concerning the time taken by the tank to absorb heat through temperature ranges of -155 ⁰C to 250 ⁰C. Also, 0.04kg/s was the total volume of boil-off gas (BOG) produced, while the maximum exhaust gas emissions recorded was 0.254kg/s. The advantage of this technology was the minimal volume of greenhouse gases released during combustion relative to gasoline and diesel, signifying less pollution, and buttressing the applicability and adoption of LNG-Fuel as a transport fuel.