The Log
28 November 2008: Crankcase Ventilation—new Technology Guide paper covers crankcase blowby emissions and crankcase ventilation systems.
19 November 2008: Updated Technology Guide papers: Emission Formation in Diesel Engines, Combustion in Diesel Engines, Idling Emissions.
17 November 2008: The Engine Manufacturers Association developed consumption estimates for urea solution (diesel exhaust fluid, DEF) by US and Canadian onroad commercial vehicles from 2010 to 2019. In 2010, 54.6 million gallons of DEF will be used. By 2019, the number will increase to 1.34 billion gallons. The data was compiled from engine manufacturers’ confidential DEF consumption estimates, which were based on engine sales forecasts, vehicle miles traveled estimates, and DEF dosing rates.
14 November 2008: Cities from Beijing to New Delhi are getting darker due to the effects of man-made atmospheric brown clouds (ABCs), concludes a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme [press release | summary report]. The brown clouds—the result of burning of fossil fuels and biomass—are in some cases and regions aggravating the impacts of greenhouse gas-induced climate change. The cloud is also having impacts on air quality and agriculture in Asia increasing risks to human health and food production for three billion people.
3 November 2008: The Texas Environmental Research Consortium (TERC) announced a new funding opportunity, RFGA-17, to develop and verify NOx reduction technologies from diesel engines. Eligible technologies include engine upgrade kits, aftertreatment, novel combustion methods, reduction of off-cycle emissions (e.g., idling), and engine duty cycle modifications. The anticipated maximum funding is $6,500,000.
30 October 2008: Two new papers in the Technology Guide discuss low temperature combustion (LTC). The first paper covers LTC basics, the other discusses a number of LTC applications, including the PREDIC, HiMICS, UNIBUS, NADI, EPA Clean Diesel Combustion, Nissan MK and others.
23 October 2008: Presentations from the CIMAC Circle on efficient and clean ship transportation, held in Hamburg in September, are available from CIMAC web site. From the same web site, you can also download the newest edition of the VDMA emissions legislation brochure.
21 October 2008: The driver “inducement” system in Mercedes SUVs with urea-SCR technology will allow for 20 engine restarts when the urea level in the tank becomes “critically low”. Once this countdown is reached, the vehicle can be started only after the urea tank is filled. The vehicles have a 7 or 8.5 gallon urea tank, which is normally refilled every 10,000 miles during regularly scheduled maintenance at the dealership. Urea is also available in the retail in half-gallon no-spill, tamper proof bottles. Three urea-SCR models—the R320, ML320 and GL320—went on sale in the Unites States this month. The details on the system appeared in a number of consumer automotive web sites, among which we kind of liked the AutoWeek (but even that report could not refrain from the rather feeble urine jokes).
20 October 2008: Hybrid buses in Toronto are not performing up to the expectations, reports the Toronto Star. Batteries that should be lasting five years are surviving only about 18 months. The fuel saving, expected to be 20-30%, is only about 10%. There will be 564 Daimler/BAE hybrids on Toronto streets by the end of the year, about one-third of the 1,700-bus fleet, but the city will go back to buying conventional diesel buses in the future.
14 October 2008: The California ARB released a searchable database for verified diesel emission control systems. The database is searchable by device name, engine family name, or a less specific search by engine model year, engine manufacturer, and displacement.
10 October 2008: International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted final Tier II/III emission standards and low sulfur fuel requirements for ocean-going ships [more ...]
26 September 2008: New Technology Guide paper discusses flow-through filter (aka open filter | partial filter | PM catalyst) technology.
Updated Technology Guide paper about dimethyl ether as automotive fuel.
25 September 2008: FactsAboutSCR.com is a new web site providing information on urea-SCR technology, including urea infrastructure development for the North American market. The site is managed by Quixote Group on behalf of the North American SCR Stakeholders Group.
18 September 2008: The California ARB released two new reports which conclude that the state’s climate change law will bring a net economic benefit—including $27 billion in increased production and 100,000 new jobs—as well as a public health benefit. The AB 32 law requires that California greenhouse gas emissions be reduced by 30% by 2020 (Press release | Economic Analysis and Public Health Analysis reports).
9 September 2008: A new report by the University of California, Davis analyzes various scenarios to meet the California target of 80% greenhouse gas reduction from the transportation sector by 2050 (80in50). The goal, deemed potentially feasible, can be met in multiple ways, utilizing a combination of technological and behavioral options. Scenarios were analyzed that used various degrees of vehicle efficiency improvement, as well as biofuels-, electricity-, and hydrogen-intensive scenarios, and a reduction in travel demand scenario.
Diesel Engine & Emissions
Diesel engine is the most efficient power plant among all known types of internal combustion engines. Heavy trucks, urban buses, and industrial equipment are powered almost exclusively by diesel engines all over the world. In Europe, diesel powered cars have been increasingly popular. The diesel engine is a major candidate to become the power plant of the future. Before that happens, however, further progress in diesel emission control is needed.
Internal combustion engines are significant contributors to air pollution, which has a damaging impact on our health and the environment and is suspected to cause global climate changes. Environmental benefits of diesels, such as low greenhouse gas emissions, are balanced by growing concerns with emission of nitrogen oxides and diesel particulates. Increasingly tighter environmental regulations worldwide call for advanced emission controls and near-zero diesel emission levels in the years to come.
DieselNet, the only information service exclusively devoted to engines and emissions, is the internet forum for the exchange of technical and business information on engines, emissions, emission control, and all related issues which, hopefully, will contribute to the development of the clean diesel engine of the future.