natural gas locomoves...bnsf is working with both ge and emd on dual-fuel natural gas locomoves. !...

ManagementEssen+alsfortheRailroadIndustryNewark,DelawareMarch22,2017

StevenR.Ditmeyer

Lecturer

NaturalGasLocomo.ves

ACaseStudyinRailroadTechnologyandEconomics

ProgressiveRailroading,September28,2012

“CNtotestnaturalgas-poweredlocomo+ves”WallStreetJournal,March6,2013

“Railroad[BNSF]TestsSwitchtoGas”

FinancialTimes,April14,2013

“USrailoperatorsdividedoverLNGfuture”TrainsMagazine,June2013

“Biggerthantheswitchfromsteam:Usingnaturalgasasfuelmeansbigup-frontcosts,buthugesavingsforrailroads”

WhyAreWeDiscussingThem?

Source:EIA,AEO2013ReferenceCase

TcfUSGasProduc.onto2035

!  Proper+esofnaturalgas(methane)andrelatedhydrocarbons!  Liquefiednaturalgas(LNG)vs.compressednaturalgas(CNG)!  AvailabilityanduseofnaturalgasintheUS!  HowtohaulLNGandCNGontrains–tendercarsvs.bellytanks!  Locomo+veengineissues–dual-fuelvs.sparkignited!  Equippinglocomo+ves–roadunitsvs.switchers!  Fuelingsta+onissues!  Naturalgaslocomo+vedemonstra+onprograms!  Naturalgasbuses!  Safetyandpercep+onsofsafety!  Environmentalacributes!  Order-of-magnitudecostsforlocomo+ves,tenders,andfuelingsta+ons!  Economicsofnaturalgasvs.dieselfuel!  Relatedconceptstoavoid!  Summary

Topics

!  NGprimarilyconsistsofmethane,CH4

!  Methaneisacolorless,odorless,tasteless,non-toxicgas

!  Anodorant(mercaptan)isoeenaddedasasafetymeasuresoitcanbedetected

!  Methaneislighterthanairatroomtemperatureandstandardpressure(1atm);itdisperses

!  Methaneisflammableonlyoveranarrowrangeofconcentra+ons(5to15%)inair;itwon’tburnifthemixtureistooleanortoorich

!  CH4+2O2→CO2+2H2O

!  Boilingpointofmethaneis-161oC;belowthatitisacryogenicliquidknownasLNG

!  Liquidmethanedoesnotburn

Proper.esofNaturalGas

!  Methane(CH4)isthesimplestmoleculeinthealkanefamily,whosemembershavetheformula:CnH2n+2

!  NaturalGasLiquids(NGL)–a/k/aLiquefiedPetroleumGas(LPG)–consistofethane(C2H6),propane(C3H8),andbutane(C4H10)andarederiva+vesofrawnaturalgas,extractedduringgasrefining;areliquidunderpressure;atatmosphericpressurearegasesheavierthanairanddonotdisperse.

!  Gasolineisamixtureofalkanesfrompentane(C5H12)uptoaboutdecane(C10H22).

!  Kerosenecontainsalkanesfromaboutn=10ton=16.

!  Alkaneswithhighervaluesofnarefoundindieselfuel,fueloil,motoroils,crudeoil,petroleumjelly,paraffinwax,and,forthehighestvaluesofn,asphalt.

HydrocarbonsRelatedtoMethane

!  200+yearssupplyofnaturalgasintheUS!  150,000naturalgasvehiclesintheUSand5millionworldwide!  50%ofthehouseholdsintheUSusenaturalgasforhea+ngand

cooking!  In2012,theUSconsumedapproximately25.46trillioncubicfeet

(Tcf)ofnaturalgas:"  Electricpowergenera+on:9.14Tcf(36%)

"  Industrial:7.10Tcf(28%)

"  Residen+al:4.18Tcf(16%)

"  Commercial:2.90Tcf(11%)

"  NGleaseandplantfuelconsump+on:1.39Tcf(5%)

"  Pipelineanddistribu+on:0.71Tcf(3%)

"  Vehiclefuel:0.03Tcf(<1%)

AvailabilityandUseofNaturalGasintheUS

LiquefiedNaturalGas(LNG)vs.CompressedNaturalGas(CNG)vs.Diesel

CNGLNGDiesel (2400psig)(1atm)(1atm)

Energycontent,BTU/gal 19,76076,300138,400(“energydensity”)

Dieselgallonequivalents(DGE) 7 1.8 1

!  Tankcarsastenders–preferredforroadlocomo+ves•  LNG–Typically20,000gallonDOT-113cryogenic(i.e.,heavily

insulated)tankcarwithcentersill;carriesequivalentof11,800galofdieselfuel.Twoop+onsformovingtheNGtothelocomo+ve:

−  On-boardheatexchangertogasifytheLNGtoapressureof100psigfortransmissiontothelocomo+ve

−  CryogenicpumptomoveLNGat3600psigtothelocomo+ve

•  CNG–Heavydutyflatcarwithcentersill,carrying90e3steelcylinders;17cylinderswouldcarry1530e3ofCNGat2400psig,equivalentto2380galofdieselfuel.

!  Bellytanks–preferredforswitchinglocomo+ves

•  CancarryLNGorCNGinlesseramounts!  IntermodalflatcarswithISOcontainerscarryingLNG

HowtoHaulLNGandCNGonaTrain

Railroadlocomo+veshavetwodifferenttypesofengines:! Four-strokecycleengines,manufacturedbyGeneralElectricandCaterpillar

! Two-strokecycleengines,manufacturedbyProgressRail(formerlyElectro-Mo+veDiesel),adivisionofCaterpillar

Therearedifferentapproachestohavingthesetwotypesofenginesrunonnaturalgas.

Locomo.veEngineIssues

Fourprincipaltypesofnaturalgas-fueleddieselengines:!  Low-pressure(100psig),early-cycledirectinjec.onofNGintothe

cylinders,pilotinjec.onofdieselfuelforigni+on;2-strokecycleengines*

!  Low-pressure(100psig),early-cycledirectinjec.onofNGintothecylinders,sparkigni.on;4-strokecycleengines

!  Low-pressure(100psig)injec+onofNGintotheinletairbeforeitreachesthecylinder;pilotinjec.onofdieselfuelforigni+on;4-strokecycleengines*

!  High-pressure(3600psig),late-cycledirectinjec.onofLNGintothecylinders,pilotinjec.onofdieselfuelforigni+on;2or4-strokecycleengines*

*Engineswithpilotinjec+onofdieselfuelcanalsorunonstraightdieselfuel

Locomo.veEngineIssues(cont’d)

!  Topreventpre-igni+onofNG(“knocking”)inthecylinders,therearetwoapproaches:

•  Deratetheenginebyreducingthecompressionra+o–accomplishedwithnewpistonsand/orcylinderheads

•  Cooltheinletairintothecylinders

!  SomeNGenginesforuseingasfieldpumpingsta+onsarepurposelyderatedsotheycanburn“fieldgas”containingheavierhydrocarbons.

!  EngineoilofNGlocoshasfewercontaminants,reducingwearofpistonrings,liners,andvalves,butspeciallubeoilisneeded;cutsconsump+onofrepairpartsandreducescosts.

!  Suppliersofenginesparepartsarenotpleased.


!  Dual-fuelconversionkitsinclude:•  Naturalgasinjectors,eitherforgaseousNGorforLNG•  Newcylinderheadstoaccommodatetheinjectorsintwo-stroke

cycleengines•  Forfour-strokecycleengines,NGisinsertedintotheinletair

stream•  Newpistonswithanalteredshapetoprovidebecer“swirl”for

completecombus+on•  Electroniccontrollerforthefuelinjectors•  Modifiedcoolantcyclepipingandradiators•  Conversionkitsareavailableforspark-ignitedaswellas

compression-ignitedengines!  Two-strokecycleengineseasiertoconvertthanfour-strokecycle

engines–theyhavemorespacearoundthecylinderheadsforinjectorinstalla+on


EquippingLocomo.ves–RoadUnitsvs.Switchers

!  Themorelow-costNGthatalocomo+veburns,ratherthanhigh-costdieselfuel,themoreacrac+vetheuseofnaturalgasbecomes.

!  Roadlocomo+vesconsumeagreatamountoffuel,andtheeconomiccaseforconver+ngthemtonaturalgasisstrong.

!  Ifu+liza+onratesofroadlocomo+vescanbeincreased,itimprovestheeconomiccaseforconver+ngthemtonaturalgas.

!  Switcherlocomo+vesdonotconsumemuchfuel,sotheeconomiccaseforrunningthemonNGisnotstrong.

!  NGswitcherlocomo+ves,though,canhelprailroadsmeetstrictairqualitystandardsinurbanareas.

!  Fordemonstra+onprograms,afuelingsta+onneedsstoragetanksandpumpsfortrucked-inLNG.

!  Forlarge-scaleprograms,LNGliquefac+onplantswithstoragetankswouldbebuiltwhereNGpipelinesareincloseproximitytoraillines.

!  Suchliquefac+on/fuelingsta+onsareexpensiveandonlyalimitednumberwouldbebuiltonhigh-densitycorridors(andnoteverywheretherecurrentlyisadieselfuelingsta+on).

!  ForCNGfuelingsta+ons,acompressorwithCNGpressurizedstoragetanksisneeded.

FuelingSta.onIssues

!  Tendercarsloadedatafuelingsta+oncanbeswappedoutwithemptytendercarsonarrivingtrains;nowai+ngwhiletendercarsarefilled.

!  BecauserailroadershavenoknowledgeofhowtodealwithNGandLNG,itisbesttohavefuelingsta+onsbuiltandoperatedbyfirmsthatproduceindustrialgasesandcryogenicliquids,e.g.AirProducts&Chemicals,AirLiquide,BOC,KochIndustries,Linde,Shell.

!  LNGisnearlypuremethane;heavierhydrocarbonsseparateoffduringtheliquefac+onprocessandcanbeusedtofueltheliquefac+onplant.

FuelingSta.onIssues(cont’d)

NGLocoDemoProgramBurlingtonNorthernRailroad1982-1987

!  Thiswasaproof-of-conceptprogram;locoandtenderoperatedinrevenueservicebetweenMinneapolisandSuperior,WI1985through1987.ProjectpartnerswereNorthernStatesPower,NorthernNaturalResources,andNorthernNaturalGas.

!  EMDearly-cyclelow-pressuregasconversionkit(madeforfieldengines)wasappliedtoanEMD567engineinanEMDGP-9locomo+ve;involvedaddi+onofacamshaetoactuatetheNGinjectors;anewcamshaewouldbeneededtoalter+mingofinjec+on.Theenginewasderated.

!  AhighwayCNGtrailerwasmountedonaconven+onalflatcar;fedonelocomo+ve.FRArequiredthetrailerhitchontheflatcartoberigid,notcollapsible.

!  Successledtonextprogramwithlargerlocos,electronicfuelinjec+on(EFI),andLNGtenders.

NGLocoDemoProgramBurlingtonNorthernRailroad1982-1987(cont’d)

NGLocoDemoProgramBurlingtonNorthernRailroad1988-1995

!  TwoSD40-2locomo+veswithEMD645engineswereconvertedtorunonNGwithlow-pressureearly-cycleinjec+onkitsfromEnergyConversions,Inc.(ECI).Thesewerethefirstdiesellocomo+vesanywherewithEFI;madeiteasytochangeinjec+on+ming.

!  Achievedfullratedhorsepowerwithaninnova+veheattransfersystem:itmovedwarmedethyleneglycolfromenginetotendercartogasifytheLNGsotheNGcouldmovetotheengineasagasat100psi;thecooledethyleneglycolwasthenmovedbacktotheengineaeercoolerwhereitwasusedtocooltheinletairenteringthecylinders,thuspreven+ngengine“knock.”

!  Engineranondieselfuelwhenidlingandnotches1&2;NGinjec+onini+atedatnotch3,and,bynotch8,95%oftheenergywasprovidedbyNGand5%bydieselfuel.


!  Atendercar(DOT-113cryogenictankcar)fedtwolocomo+vessimultaneouslyandheldsufficientLNGforacomplete1800mileround-tripfromfuelingsta+ontocoalminetopowerplantorportandreturn.

!  Tendercarshadacentersilltowithstandbuffanddraeforcesandhadframe-bracedtrucksforstability(aBNdecision).

!  TTCtestedLNGtendercarinsula+onforBN,andanalyzedin-trainstressesontheLNGtendercarusingtheTOESmodel.

!  Locomo+veswereequippedwithhealth-monitoringsystemanddataradiosforreal-+meon-boardmonitoring.

!  Locomo+vesunderwent500hoursofsta+onarytes+ngbeforeover-the-roadservicebegan.

!  RevenueservicefirstonlocaltrainsonOlympicPeninsulainWashington,thenonunitcoaltrainsforfouryears(1991-1995)betweenWyomingandnorthernMinnesotaandWisconsin.

NGLocoDemoProgramBurlingtonNorthernRailroad1988–1995(cont’d)

!  Locomo+veswereequippedwithmethanegasdetectors;theywouldshutoffthegasatthetenderandontheloco,andthelocowouldautoma+callyswitchtodieselfuel.

!  Gaslinesbetweentendersandlocoshadair-operated,spring-loaded-returnsafetyshut-offvalves.

!  Tendercarsandfuelingsta+on(atStaples,MNwhereLNGwastruckedin)suppliedbyAirProducts&Chemicals,Inc.;BNspentabout$10millionontheoverallproject.

!  WasgivenAAR’s“OutstandingTechnicalAchievementAwardfor1992.”

!  Locomo+vecrewsandmaintainers,unionofficials,communi+es,andCongressmenbecameadvocates.


NGLocoDemoProgramUnionPacificandSantaFe/BNSFinLABasin1993-2013

!  FourMorrison-Knudsen1200Gswitcherlocomo+vesequippedwithCaterpillar3516Gspark-ignitedgasengines;twoleasedtoUPandtwotoATSF,wentintoservicein1995.

!  DieselversionofCat3516engineratedat2000HP;gasversionat1200HP.

!  LNGcarriedinbellytanks;gasifiedon-boardfordirectinjec+onintocylinders;LNGwastruckedintofuelingsta+on.

!  ProgramdemonstratedreducedemissionsintheLABasin;locosre+redaeer20yearsofservice.

!  Becausetheydidnotconsumemuchfuel,therewasanissueofboilingoffandven+ngofmethane.

NGLocoDemoProgramUnionPacificandSantaFe/BNSFinLABasin1993-2013(cont’d)

NGLocoDemoProgramUnionPacific1992-1995

!  UPundertookaprogramwithGEandEMDtolookintohigh-pressure(3600psig)late-cycleinjec+onofLNGintoenginecylinderswithpilotinjec+onofdieselfuel.

!  PhotoshowsaGEC41-8Wlocomo+veandatender(DOT-113tankcar)equippedwithcryogenicpumps.

!  LNGcarriedat3600psifromtendercartolocomo+vetoenginecylinders.

!  Limitedsta+onarytes+ngatthetwolocomo+vebuilders(5hoursatGE),andthelocomo+vesneverenteredrevenueservice.

NGLocoDemoProgramUnionPacific1992-1995(cont’d)

NGLocoDemoProgramNapaValleyWineTrain1999-present

NGLocoDemoProgramNapaValleyWineTrain1999-present(cont’d)

•  AlcoFPA-4withEMD64512-cylinderengine;originallyequippedin1999withECIdual-fuelconversionkit,60%NGand40%diesel.

•  Furtherconversionto100%NGin2003.

•  CNGiscarriedinon-boardtanks.

•  Incon+nuousopera+oneversince.

NGLocoDemoProgramBrazil2010-present

!  ThreeGEDash-9locomo+veswith7FDL16–EFIenginesconvertedin2010-2011withECIdual-fuelkitstoinjectNGintoinletair;NGreplaces50%ofdieselfuel.

!  Enginesderatedfrom4400HPto4000HP.

!  OperateonVitoria-MinasRailroad(EFVM),insoutheastBrazil–anironoreheavyhaulline.

!  Tendercarinphotoisaprototype;conven+onalcryogenictankcarshavesincebeenbuilt.

NGLocoDemoProgramBrazil2010-present(cont’d)

NGLocoDemoProgramRussia1990-1994

NGLocoDemoProgramRussia1990–1994 (cont’d)!  Locomo+vewasmanufacturedatLuhanskteplovozinLuhansk,

Ukraine,workingwiththeAll-Soviet(nowAll-Russian)RailroadResearchIns+tuteinShcherbinka(Moscow),Russia.

!  Enginewasa3000HPtwo-strokecycleopposed-pistonFairbanksMorseengine,manufacturedinKolomna,Russia,withanFMdual-fuelgasconversionkit.

!  Tendercarhadtwo4-footdiameterLNGcylindersstackedver+callywithinacarbodythathadaninternalwalkway;contained17metrictonsofLNGforarangeof500milesfor2locomo+ves;pneuma+cgassensors;LNGgasifiedon-board.

!  Noover-the-roadtes+ng.

NGLocoDemoProgramRussia1990-2002+

NGLocoDemoProgramRussia1990-2002+ (cont’d)

! Switcherlocomo+vemanufacturedatLuhansk,Ukraine,andtestedattheRailroadResearchIns+tuteatShcherbinka,nearMoscow.

! Enginewasa1200HP,6cylinderfour-strokecycledual-fuelenginemanufacturedbyKolomnaandsimilartoanAlco251engine.

! CNGcontainedinbellytanks,enoughforthreedaysofopera+on.

! PlannedforserviceinMoscowarea.

NGLocoDemoProgramCanadianNa.onal2012-

NGLocoDemoProgramCanadianNa.onal2012-(cont’d)

!  CNprogramini+allyusedthesametechnologyastheBNNGlocomo+vedemoprogramof20yearsearlier(i.e.,EMDSD40-2locomo+ves,ECIdual-fuellow-pressureinjec+onconversionkits,revisedcoolantcycle).

!  WasinrevenueservicebetweenEdmontonandFortMcMurray,Alberta,un+lautumnof2013

!  TopphotoshowstendercarborrowedfromtheUP.FuturetendercarswillbeintermodalwellcarswithISOcontainersholdingLNG;onetendercarwillfueltwolocomo+ves.

!  CNtookdeliveryoftwoEMDSD70-MlocoswithHigh-PressureDirectInjec+on(HPDI)enginesmodifiedbyWestportandawell-cartenderinautumn2014.

NGLocoDemoProgramBNSF2013-

DOT-113Tender Well-carTender

!  BNSFisworkingwithbothGEandEMDondual-fuelnaturalgaslocomo+ves.

!  TwoEMDSD70ACelocomo+veshaveundergonetes+ngatTTCinPueblowitharefurbishedDOT-113tendercarfromthe1990sdemonstra+onprogram,and,withFRApermission,areinover-the-roadlocalserviceoutofBarstow,CA.

!  TwoGEES44AClocomo+veswithanotherrefurbishedDOT-113tendercarareunderwentemissionstes+ngatSwRIinSanAntonio,TXbeforeheadingtoBarstow.

!  BNSFhasalsobuiltfourwell-cartenderswithsmallertanks!  Ul+matelyplantousetheLNGlocomo+vesoncorridorsthat

havehighburnrates.

NGLocoDemoProgramBNSF2013- (cont’d)

NGLocoDemoProgramCSX2013-

!  CSXworkedwithGEonaNextFuelNGretrofitkitfordual-fuel(LNGanddiesel)capability.Es+ma+ngupto80%gassubs+tu+on,andpoten+alreduc+onoffuelcostby50%.

!  Alsoworkingouttechnicalandregulatorydetailswithtender-carvendors,fuelsuppliers,andFRA.

!  Tes+ngbeganearly2015.

!  GEad:“Thisisgoingtobesomethingthatisgoingtochangetheindustrylikegoingfromsteamtodiesel.”

NGLocoDemoProgramCSX2013-(cont’d)

NGLocoDemoProgramFloridaEastCoast2014-

NGLocoDemoProgramFloridaEastCoast2014-(cont’d)

•  FECtookdeliveryin2014of4GEES44C4swithNextFuelLNGkitsinstalled(liketheCSXunits).

•  Tes+ngtookplacebetweenJacksonvilleandNewSmyrnaBeach,FL.

•  LNGini+allytruckedinfromGeorgia,butplansaretobuildLNGterminalinJacksonville,capableofproducing300,000gallonsdaily.

NGLocoDemoProgramNorfolkSouthern2013-

!  NSconvertedanEMDGP38-2locomo+vewitha645Eengineintoa100%CNG-poweredlocomo+veatitsJuniata,PAshop.

!  Usedaspark-igni+onconversionkitsuppliedbyEnergyConversions,Inc.(ECI).Asparkplugwasfitina“pre-chamber”inplaceofthedieselinjectorineachcylinder.

!  Theprojectincludesaslugwhichdoublesasatender.TheslughaseightsteelCNGtanksthattogetherhold1,000DGEs–dieselgallonequivalents

NGLocoDemoProgramNorfolkSouthern2013-(cont’d)

!  UPis“workingcloselywithlocoandenginemanufacturers,cryogenicfuel-tanksuppliersandnaturalgas/LNGsuppliers.”

!  “Safe,reliableandcost-effec+velocomo+veenginesthatcouldbefueledbyLNGhavenotyetbeendeveloped.”

!  “Locomo+veengineperformance,includingfuelefficiencyandemissions,hasnotbeenthoroughlyevaluated.”

!  “Alocomo+ves+llneedstobemodifiedandatenders+llneedstobesetup.”

!  “UPisplanningtotestLNGasafuelsourceforlocomo+vesinearly2015.”

!  HasreclaimeditstendercarslenttotheCN.

NGLocoDemoProgramUnionPacific2013-

NGLocoDemoProgramCanadianPacific2014-

•  Apparentlyconver+ngtwoSD40-2storunonCNGatSt.Paul,MNshops

•  Remaining+ght-lippedaboutotheraspectsofitsprogram

NGLocoDemoProgramRussia2014–

NGLocoDemoProgramRussia2014–(cont’d)

! Switcherlocomo+vemanufacturedatBryansk,andtestedintheSverdlovskregion

! TEM19locomo+vehason-boardLNGtank.

! WasdesignedbytheRussianIns+tuteofResearch,Design,andTechnicalStudies

NaturalGasBuses

! ManythousandsofCNGbusesarenowinserviceintheUS.

!  CNGiscarriedintanksonroofsunderthemetalshields.

! ManyofthebusesarebuiltbyNewFlyerIndustries,Inc.ofWinnipeg,Manitoba,andhaveCumminsWestportCNGspark-ignitedengines.

!  CNGbusesarerefueleddailyormorefrequently.

NaturalGasBuses(cont’d)

EarlyNaturalGasBusinChongquing,China

!  Naturalgasisquitesafe;weuseittocookourfoodandheatourhomes.

!  Methaneisflammableonlyoveranarrowrangeofconcentra+ons(5to15%)inairifthereisanigni+onsource;ifunconstrained,itwillburn;ifinaconstrainedspace,itwillexplode.

!  TherearenospecificFRAsafetyregula+onsatpresentregardingtheuseofNGasalocomo+vefuel.ThependingGrowAmericaActwouldhaveFRAissuesafetyregula+onsforNGlocomo+ves.

!  FRArequiresthathazardousmaterialsbeinghauledincommercebeplacedatleastacarlengthbehindtheloco;nosuchrequirementexistsforlocofuels.

SafetyofNaturalGas

!  Nevertheless,FRAisconcernedwithallsafetymacers,andwantsgasdetectorsonlocosandtenderstodetectleaksandvalvestoshutdowntheflowofNGifthereisaleak.FRAalsoreportedlyconcernedaboutuseofintermodalwellcarswithISOcontainersastendercars.

!  In1990,BNRailroadcontractedwithLosAlamosNa+onalLaboratoryfora“SafetyAnalysisofAlterna+veLocomo+veFuels”.

!  Asexpected,theanalysisshowedthatdieselfuelwasthesafestlocomo+vefuel,followedbyLNG,CNG,andmethanol,withLPG(propane)beingthemosthazardous.

SafetyofNaturalGas(cont’d)

!  Mostpeoplehaveheardofhousesthathaveexplodedduetoleakingnaturalgas.

!  PeopleconfuseNG(methane)withLPG(a/k/aNGL–propaneandbutane).

!  MemoriespersistofLNGfromrupturedtankrunningintosewersinClevelandin1944,followedbyfiresand150deaths.

!  Toaddressadversepercep+onsofsafetyofNG,educa+onandtrainingoftraincrews,maintenanceshoppersonnel,fuelingsta+onstaff,communi+es,andfirstrespondersisabsolutelynecessary.

!  ProbablybesttonotuseLNGfueltendersonpassengertrains.

Percep.onsofSafety

!  NGemits27%lessCO2thandieselfuelperunitofenergyconsumed.

!  ThereisnosulfurinNG;nooxidesofsulfur(SOx)areproducedwhenburningNG.

–  Mostofthesulfurhasbeenremovedfordieselfuelnowbeingdeliveredtorailroads.

!  Heatofcombus+onislesswithNGthanwithdieselfuel;thereforelessoxidesofnitrogen(NOx)areproduced.

!  Methaneitselfisagreenhousegas(GHG);completecombus+onisimportantandleakagemustbeprevented.

EnvironmentalAfributes

! InstalledLNGdual-fuelconversionkitscostontheorderof$500,000.

! LNGtendercarscostontheorderof$1million.

! Therefore,approximatecostfortwoconvertedlocomo+vesplustendercaris$2million.

! Newlocoswithspark-ignitedenginescarryapremiumofabout$1million.

! Costsneedtobeconfirmedbytalkingwithvendors;largerorderswillreducecosts.

Order-of-MagnitudeCostsforLNGLocomo.vesandTenders

Order-of-MagnitudeCostsforLNGFuelingSta.ons

!  LNGfuelingsta+onswithtankstoholdtrucked-inLNGcostontheorderofmillionsofdollars.

!  CombinedLNGliquefac+onplantandfuelingsta+oncostsontheorderofhundredsofmillionsofdollars.

!  EnergytorunLNGliquefac+onplantcancomefromheavierhydrocarbonsthatseparateoffduringthemethaneliquefac+onprocess.

!  CompaniesthatbuildandoperateLNGliquefac+onplantscouldbewillingtodothatandchargerailroadsfullyallocatedcostofliquefyingpipelineNG.

!  Costsneedtobeconfirmedbytalkingwithvendors.

EconomicsofNaturalGasvs.DieselFuel

“GiventhedifferencebetweenLNGanddieselfuelprices,railroadsthatswitchlocomo+vefuelscouldaccruesignificantfuelcostsavings.”

Source: Nicholas Chase, “Poten&alofliquefiednaturalgasuseasarailroadfuel,”Energy Information Administration, US Department of Energy, April 14, 2014


EconomicsofNaturalGasvs.DieselFuel(cont’d)

“ThenetpresentvalueoffuturefuelsavingsforanLNGlocomo+vecomparedtoadieselcounterpartiswellabovethe$1millionhighercostoftheLNGlocomo+veandtender.”



“Rela+velylargechangesinpaybackperiod,discountrate,orfuelpriceswouldberequiredtochangeLNGfueleconomicsforrailroadusefromfavorabletounfavorable.”



“Uncertaintyaboutfuturefuelpricessuggeststhatthereissomeriskforcompaniesinmakingsuchafundamentalchangeinfreightrailopera+ons.”

!  Propane•  Heavierthanair;explosive•  MoreexpensivethanLNGperunitofenergy•  Notavailabledomes+callyinlargequan++es

!  Turbineengines•  Moreexpensivethandieselenginesperunitofhorsepower•  Usealmostasmuchfuelwhenidlingasatfullpower•  Notreallysuitableforrailroadapplica+ons;theyliketorunat

constantspeedandtheylikecoldinletair

!  Hydrogen•  H2isthesmallestmolecule;requiresprecision“plumbing”on

locomo+ve•  Unlikemethane,itdoesnotexistnaturallyonearth;requiresmore

energytoproduceitthancanbeobtainedfromitasafuel•  Possiblyacrac+vewhensurplushydro,nuclear,andgeothermal

energyisavailabletoproducethehydrogenfrommethane

RelatedConceptstoAvoid

!  Theimplementa+onofnaturalgaslocomo+vesrequires“systemsthinking.”

!  Theeconomicsofnaturalgasasalocofuelareacrac+venow,butonlyonspecificroutes.

!  Railroadsmightmi+gatetheeffectsoffuturepricefluctua+onswithlongtermNGcontracts.

!  Thetechnologyworks.

!  ItreducesGHGemissions.

!  Educa+onofrailroadworkers,customers,andcommuni+esmusttakeplace.

!  OnBN,thetraincrews,unionreps,locomo+vemaintainers,communi+es,andevenCongressmenbecameadvocatesofnaturalgasasalocomo+vefuel.

Summary

Steve Ditmeyer Phone: 703-768-5540 Cell phone: 703-980-0073 Email: [email protected]

Ques.ons?

natural gas locomoves...bnsf is working with both ge and emd on dual-fuel natural gas locomoves. !...

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