METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING NATURAL GAS ENGINE OPERATION BASED ON FUEL PROPERTIES

A method, system, and apparatus use infrared spectrometry onboard an internal combustion engine running on a natural gas fuel to detect characteristics of the fuel. At a site having a plurality of natural gas engines, detection of natural gas fuel components and concentrations of the components also is conducted at the site upstream of the point of intake of the natural gas fuel to one or more of the engines. Operating parameters of the engine or a plurality of the engines may be controlled on the basis of the detected composition of the natural gas fuel.