Remember the prototype of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Deutz-Fahr 5120C tractor on display at the 2015 Agritechnica and wondering what became of it? Well, since leaving the Hannover Fairgrounds the experimental tractor has clocked up over 500 hours of field trials.
The result of joint German research between the University of Rostock and the Thünen Institute, the project involved converting a Deutz 4cyl TCD 3.6 diesel engine to run on natural gas and then installing it in the SDF tractor – another of the project partners. The aim is to reduce pollutants and CO2 emissions without any loss of performance. Natural gas produces less CO2, and emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulates are also lower. While the last two can be contained relatively easily with modern exhaust after treatment systems, engine maker Deutz reckons natural gas can lower CO2 emissions by up to 24%.
The 236 litres of CNG on the Deutz-Fahr prototype is contained in seven tanks. Overall, there is space to accommodate eight tanks, increasing the storage volume to 316 litres (about 60kg of CNG), roughly equivalent to 77 litres of diesel. Converting the engine to run on natural gas required several major component adaptations. The self-igniting diesel injectors first had to be replaced with a spark ignition system, and a number of other adjustments were made to the pistons and cylinder heads. Started in 2012, the CNG project is funded by the German Foundation for the Environment. The work continues.
