Difference Between Natural Gas Trucks and Diesel Trucks

As more and more fuel can be used by humans, the fuel types of trucks have also become richer. Natural gas trucks have gradually become popular in recent years. Currently common types of Natural gas trucks are CNG truck and LNG truck. However, diesel trucks are still the most widely used. Now, let’s get to know what are natural gas trucks and diesel tractors.

Natural gas trucks

Natural gas truck refers to a heavy-duty truck using compressed natural gas as fuel. Due to the different ways the fuel is used, it can be divided into two types – single-fuel natural gas trucks (only CNG or LNG as fuel), dual-fuel natural gas trucks (use diesel or gasoline as fuel together with natural gas). Currently, the majority of natural gas trucks run on a single fuel.

Diesel trucks

Diesel trucks are trucks that use diesel as fuel. Light diesel oil and heavy diesel oil are distinguished due to their different boiling points. Generally light diesel oil is used as fuel in trucks. Heavy diesel oil is generally used in heavy equipment such as ships, railway locomotives, and mining machinery.

Through the above introduction, it is not difficult for us to make out that the most obvious difference between Natural gas tractors and diesel trucks is their different fuel types. Besides, do you know the difference between Natural gas truck and diesel truck?

Different engine of Natural Gas Trucks and Diesel Trucks

The difference in fuel results in different engines for natural gas tractors and diesel trucks. Because the ignition points of diesel and natural gas are different, the engine working principle of the two models is quite different.

The ignition point of diesel is 220 °C, so the diesel engine is a compression ignition type; the ignition point of natural gas is 650 °C, so the natural gas engine is an ignition type.

Other differences between Natural Gas Trucks and Diesel Trucks

1.The combustion products of the engine are different:

After the natural gas is burned in the engine, water and carbon dioxide are mainly generated, so the exhaust gas does not contain sulfide and lead. Carbon monoxide is reduced by 80%, hydrocarbons by 60% and nitrogen oxides by 70%. It is therefore more environmentally friendly to use natural gas as a truck fuel.

In addition to water and carbon dioxide, the combustion products of diesel trucks also contain a large amount of carbon monoxide, HCand NOx (hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides), PM (particulate, soot), etc., which is instrumental in theprotection of environment.

2. The engine cooling water circuit is different:

LNG needs to absorb the heat of the engine and convert the liquefied natural gas into vaporized natural gas to supply the engine, so the hot water of the engine needs to be connected through the rubber tube and the gas cylinder carburetor.

3. Different exhaust systems:

Usually, there is a three-way catalytic converter in the exhaust system of LNG trucks, which is the main external purification device of the engine.

Its function is to purify the noxious gas such as CO, HC and NOx in the exhaust gas of the truck into environmentally friendly carbon dioxide, water and nitrogen through oxidation and reduction.

In general, The most prominent feature of natural gas trucks is “low pollution”, especially LNG heavy trucks, which are called true zero-emission trucks. At the same time, natural gas is more difficult to ignite than gasoline and diesel, and also has the anti-riot performance that diesel cannot match.

Therefore, natural gas trucks are safer than diesel trucks. If you are interested in CNG truck and LNG truck, welcome to contact us for advice.