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A Deere of a propane engine

July 1, 2002 By    

A lean-burning, 74-horsepower propane engine developed by engineers at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, demonstrates a low-emissions alternative to diesel power.

Researchers at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio are excited about the possibilities for propane-fueled tractor engines. Now being field tested, the prototype built in partnership with John Deere offers comparable performance and fuel economy with less noise and significantly reduced pollution than its diesel counterpart.
Researchers at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio are excited about the possibilities for propane-fueled tractor engines. Now being field tested, the prototype built in partnership with John Deere offers comparable performance and fuel economy with less noise and significantly reduced pollution than its diesel counterpart.

The new engine replaces a 60 kW diesel in a John Deere 5410 tractor and can be modified for other off-road vehicles aimed at the agricultural, construction and power generation industries.

“This prototype demonstrates that a clean, efficient alternative to diesel-powered tractors and other off-road equipment is feasible,” says John T. Kubesh, a principal engineer in the Institute’s Engine and Vehicle Research Division.

“Market demand and the economics of production will have to be studied before any decision to produce this tractor is made by John Deere, but the concept appears to be workable,” Kubesh says.

“We used existing CNG (compressed natural gas) and diesel engine hardware to the extent possible for this engine to help minimize costs. Should market demand ever lead to the propane engine being placed in production, the use of common diesel and automotive components will help keep costs low.”

Off-road engine manufacturers became subject to emissions regulations in the 1990s when off-road emissions were identified as a major source of air pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency proposed the Tier 3 standards to help make significant, long-term improvements in air quality in many areas of the United States.

The propane engine produces significantly lower emissions than a diesel, meeting the EPA’s Tier 3 standards scheduled to go into effect in 2008.

“Such an engine would be especially practical in emissions non-attainment areas,” Kubesh points out.

The propane engine features a lean-burn combustion system and electronic controls to help it rival the performance and fuel economy of a diesel engine. The propane engine delivers 55 kW, nearly as much as the 60 kW diesel engine. Full-load thermal efficiency of 34.8 percent is nearly on par with the 35.4 percent efficiency of the diesel engine. Noise levels are lower with the propane engine, which provides a 7-decibel reduction in noise over the diesel.

The tractor also features the use of factory-conformable fuel storage, used for the first time in an off-road vehicle. The new storage system enables higher fuel capacity and convenient, single-point refueling.

The Deere engine development program was funded by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), Texas Alternative Fuels Council and the John Deere Product Engineering Center. The initial concept and support for the project was generated by the Alternative Fuels Research and Education Division of the Texas Railroad Commission.

Later this year, PERC is to sponsor a follow-up project to gather feedback and real-world fuel-use data from operators in the Houston-Galveston area who will assess the tractor’s performance and reliability.

Emissions reduction in off-road vehicles can be particularly challenging because the vehicles come in a broad range of engine sizes and are used in a vast array of applications and operating environments, including climates with excessive heat, dust and moisture.

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