Dragan Z. Vašalić

The paper presents a fuel consumption estimation model for vehicles with different fuel types, diesel and compressed natural gas, whose main activity is the transportation of compressed natural gas. The model combines the effects of operational conditions and technical characteristics of vehicles and bodies on fuel consumption. Its output results are displayed as fuel consumption expressed in kilograms of fuel burned per kilometer traveled, depending on the operational speed and the amount of gas transported. The approach includes the effects of different body types, pressure vessels made of steel and composite materials, and their technical characteristics concerning volumes, pressures, and construction materials on transported amount of gas, vehicle mass utilization, fuel consumption, and fuel costs. Considering that the paper analyzes the fuel consumption of vehicles differing in tractor fuel type and the amount of compressed natural gas transported in different body types, fuel costs were also analyzed. The results show that vehicle combinations with pressure vessels made of composite materials transport an average of 44% more gas and have lower fuel consumption for both fuel types. Fuel costs are 36% lower on average for vehicles powered by compressed natural gas and bodies with pressure vessels made of composite materials.

This research focuses on heavy-duty vehicles intended to transport compressed natural gases, i.e., class-2 dangerous goods. The analysis includes heavy-duty vehicles powered by diesel and compressed natural gas and trailers with two body types. The body types used in the research are battery bodies and multiple-element gas containers, with pressure vessels made of composite materials (Type-4) and steel (Type-1). The paper presents the methodological procedure for predicting fuel and exhaust gas emission costs as a function of fuel consumption and transported gas quantities. The effects of different types of bodies and different types of fuel on the transported quantities of gas, vehicle mass utilization, fuel consumption, and exhaust gas emissions are shown. The obtained results show that bodies with Type-4 pressure vessels transport 44% more gas than bodies with Type-1 pressure vessels for one turn. The most cost-effective solution for emission costs is diesel-powered, newer-technology vehicles and Type-4 vessels, requiring EUR 2.82 per ton of gas. Similarly, the most economical choice for fuel costs is compressed natural-gas-powered vehicles with Type-4 bodies and a cost of EUR 19.77 per ton of gas. The research results’ practical application pertains to the selection procedures of vehicles and bodies intended for the transport of gases; they should be considered in the decision-making process, with the aim of attaining a sustainable transport sector with lower costs and less impact on the environment.