Timloto Project Day - 4 April 2009 8th Project Day - course year 2008-2009 Location: Eurogas, Veldhoven, The Netherlands Host: Gert-Jan Rap Present: see attendance list.

1. Ep Gernaat opened the project day with a number of announcements:
- the EBS course has the go-ahead and will be given in co-operation with INNOVAM. A certificate for the course is being designed.
- the Go for Africa Project has been completed for this year and was, once again, highly successful.
- the Timloto/Elektor Project is nearly finished. The controller can now be ordered (see the Timloto and Elektor site). The project was written up in the April edition of Elektor.

2. Gert-Jan Rap provided the group with information on the use of all types of gas, including natural gas, in vehicles. With a view to instructing automotive science teachers, he gives courses twice a week. Timloto has been given permission to use the Eurogas information in the lesson-grid materials. It is important that automotive mechanics develop a more positive attitude towards the use of gas. One problem encountered in this sector is that design modifications have to be made in a very short time while the vehicle manufacturers take up to three years for their own modifications. Eurogas provides complete gas-sets for different makes and types that comply with all requirements. Other suppliers sell only universal units which means that various elements always need to be adapted. This is often reduces the quality which gives gas, as a vehicle fuel, a bad name.

3. A fantastic presentation was given on the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of gas. Speaking from a computer perspective, a Master-Slave system is used. The slave (the gas computer) adapts the signals from the master (the original motor management system). Petrol or gasoline is thus the principal factor. In case of malfunctions, the petrol system takes over from the gas system. Petrol is always used for ignition. There is limited development in natural gas systems at the moment. The only real motivator is emission standards but the production process also requires a lot of energy. Liquified Natural Gas and Compressed Natural Gas are the options. The difference between the two was demonstrated in figures on pressure, temperature and the necessary storage.

4. To conclude the theoretical part of the presentation, the subject of safety was brought up. Photos of a number of accidents were shown. In almost all cases, the gas tanks remained undamaged.

5. In the afternoon session, Bas Wijnen demonstrated the use of gas in practice and showed a number of possible malfunctions. With the aid of the computer, the group could see how the look-up tables could be set. It was remarkable to see how attractively the complete installation can be built in. The injectors do produce more noise but thanks to the insulation in the car's interior, this is not heard.

6. Following the presentation, there was a discussion on how the Eurogas material can be used in the lesson-grid material. Ep Gernaat will lead the lesson material production.


The project day was closed by Henk Widschut at 15:00 and a brief Timloto Foundation board meeting followed.

The next project day will be held on 29 May 2009 at the Albeda College in Rotterdam.


Report by Kees van den Berg

Photos by Willem Tulp