MAN premiered a powerful new biogas engine for trucks at the BioEnergy 2010 fair in Hanover yesterday.
Dubbed E2876 LE 202, the gas-powered engine has been developed specifically for efficient operation using gases with only 50% methane content.
The six-cylinder, in-line engine is based on its E2876 series and has a single-stage exhaust turbocharger as well as two-stage cooling of the boost mixture, with high- and low-temperature circuits.
Reiner Rössner, head of sales for engines and components at MAN, says that specialising on a single type of fuel results in increased power and efficiency. The new engine delivers 220kW – 20kW more than a unit compromised to run on a range of fuels, from natural gas to dual-fuel.
He explains that dual-fuel engines require gas with at least 60% methane content, and that to compensate for lower quality gas and improve efficiency, the combustion chamber geometry had to be re-optimised.
"Further gas-powered engines will be following the new biogas-optimised E2876," comments Rössner.
"They will be designed specifically for special gases such as biogas, mine and sewage gas, or optimised for running on natural gas."
