Published on June 27, 2005

Are high oil prices hitting you in your hip pocket? Maybe natural gas is an alternative.

With the recent rapid increases in prices for petrol and diesel, natural gas is becoming popular, especially for public buses and taxis. However, it’s not that easy. Converting from liquid fuel to natural gas costs at least Bt60,000.

To save on modification, the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec), the National Metal and Materials Technology Centre (Mtec) and Kasetsart University have together developed a cheaper natural-gas vehicle (NGV) conversion kit to modify engines to run on natural gas.

Nectec has developed a computerised electronic system to control natural-gas distribution, while Mtec has come up with high-pressure equipment to contain the gas. Kasetsart University, which has experience in engineering NGVs, has been conducting testing.

Nectec researcher Suthee Phoojaroenchanachai said the project was expected to help with import substitution and save costs on maintenance and after-sales service while encouraging people to use natural gas.

Suthee said the Nectec research team had developed an electronic control unit (ECU) – embedded hardware that is attached to the vehicle’s engine to control gas distribution.

Using a computerised system, the ECU calculates the amount of liquid fuel that a vehicle would require, then determines the exact amount of natural gas that should be substituted, so that vehicle performance remains the same. The ECU is the heart of the NGV conversion kit, so it works with other sensors to control the supply of gas precisely.

Since it’s an embedded system, Suthee said it could link with a vehicle’s computer, allowing users to customise the system to suit each vehicle.

The appropriate programme is sent from the computer system to the ECU to work independently. Suthee said linking it with the computer would allow users to make a diagnosis of the vehicle’s engine and make adjustments as needed.

The team designed the ECU for use with both petrol and diesel engines. It’s now being tested, and a field trial with taxis is planned for this year.

“After that, we’ll work with PTT on a certification process,” he said. Suthee said being produced locally would save investment and maintenance costs for users. “Vehicles that are modified as an NGV, especially taxis or public buses that normally use large volumes of liquid fuels, can recover conversion costs within two years.”

Pongpen Sutharoj

The Nation

pongpen@nationgroup.com

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