(a) Except as specified in paragraph (b) of this section, natural gas for testing must meet the specifications in the following table:

Table 1 of §1065.715—Test Fuel Specifications for Natural Gas

Open Table
Property Value1
Methane, CH4 Minimum, 0.87 mol/mol.
Ethane, C2H6 Maximum, 0.055 mol/mol.
Propane, C3H8 Maximum, 0.012 mol/mol.
Butane, C4H10 Maximum, 0.0035 mol/mol.
Pentane, C5H12 Maximum, 0.0013 mol/mol.
C6 and higher Maximum, 0.001 mol/mol.
Oxygen Maximum, 0.001 mol/mol.
Inert gases (sum of CO2 and N2) Maximum, 0.051 mol/mol.

1Demonstrate compliance with fuel specifications based on the reference procedures in ASTM D1945 (incorporated by reference in §1065.1010), or on other measurement procedures using good engineering judgment. See §1065.701(d) for other allowed procedures.

(b) In certain cases you may use test fuel not meeting the specifications in paragraph (a) of this section, as follows:

(1) You may use fuel that your in-use engines normally use, such as pipeline natural gas.

(2) You may use fuel meeting alternate specifications if the standard-setting part allows it.

(3) You may ask for approval to use fuel that does not meet the specifications in paragraph (a) of this section, but only if using the fuel would not adversely affect your ability to demonstrate compliance with the applicable standards.

(c) When we conduct testing using natural gas, we will use fuel that meets the specifications in paragraph (a) of this section.

(d) At ambient conditions, natural gas must have a distinctive odor detectable down to a concentration in air not more than one-fifth the lower flammable limit.

[73 FR 37342, June 30, 2008, as amended at 79 FR 23811, Apr. 28, 2014]


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