Modelling of fuel consumption and fuel cost analysis for vehicles combination intended for compressed natural gas transportation

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.