EnerG2, a Seattle-based company manufacturing advanced nano-structured materials for energy storage breakthroughs, and NW Natural, an Oregon gas utility, are partnering to improve the fuel storage on board vehicles that use CNG by developing a new adsorbed natural gas (ANG) technology. “We believe it will make NGV fleets an even more attractive choice for businesses, and we hope to partner with other companies and agencies as our initiative progresses,” said Chris Galati, NW Natural CNG Program Manager.
The research and development project is intended to make natural gas a more useable transportation fuel for consumers and businesses through a new approach to an emerging ANG technology. The adsorbent material packs inside an existing CNG tank and increases the energy density of natural gas at a given pressure. This allows the vehicle to travel longer distances. A CNG tank with adsorbent material could contain 20 percent more energy at certain pressures and extend the vehicle range proportionately.
EnerG2’s world-class carbon adsorbent material transforms the way natural gas tanks on vehicles are designed and function, which could increase the number of natural gas vehicles on the road since the cost of tanks is the most expensive component on these cars and trucks. This material, which packs at optimal density and has been produced at scale, is compatible with any and all tank geometries and systems.
NW Natural and EnerG2 expect to complete a series of bench tests and vehicle road tests in the second quarter of 2014. These tests should confirm the long-term viability of the technology and inform future development of the ANG product material.
Source: EnerG2/NW Natural
