Diesel Technology Forum publishes a new report covering upgrades to existing diesel engines to reduce emissions—including retrofits, repair/rebuilt, refuel, and repower.
http://www.dieselforum.org/news/may_13_2003.html Clean Diesel Technologies Can Improve Existing Engines New White Paper Details Strategies for Upgrading and Modernizing Diesels Full Report http://www.dieselforum.org/whitepaper/downloads/retrofit.pdf WASHINGTON, DC - Thanks to continuous improvements in clean diesel technologies, new diesel engines and equipment are significantly cleaner than those built just a decade ago. A new report from the Diesel Technology Forum - a unique organization that represents engine makers, fuel refiners and manufacturers of emissions control devices - details how many of these same clean diesel advancements can be applied to some existing diesel engines. "Diesel engines are the workhorse of the American economy, often lasting hundreds of thousands of miles or running for hundreds of thousands of hours," said Allen Schaeffer, DTF's executive director. "Upgrading these older, durable engines with new clean diesel technologies can be a win-win situation - the region gets cleaner air and the operator gets better engine performance." "While some upgrades can reduce key emissions by more than 90 percent, it's important to realize there is no one-size-fits-all solution," Schaeffer continued. In fact, the Forum's new report - entitled Cleaner Air, Better Performance: Strategies for Upgrading and Modernizing Diesel Engines and available on the Forum's web site at www.dieselforum.org - explores five options for enhancing emissions performance: * Repair/Rebuild - Regular engine maintenance plays a critical role in ensuring proper engine performance and engine rebuilding can significantly lower emissions in some cases. * Refuel - The use of advanced diesel fuels, such as ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), can lower emissions with or without the addition of other emissions control devices. * Retrofit - The installation of exhaust aftertreatment technologies - such as particulate filters, oxidation catalysts, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), selective catalytic reduction (SCR) devices, and NOx catalysts - can reduce emissions of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides (NOx). * Repower - Replacing the older engine with a new clean diesel engine can be a cost effective option for certain highly-valuable pieces of diesel equipment. * Replace - Replacing entire vehicles or equipment may be the best, most cost-effective option for some of the oldest engines. The Forum finds that identifying the best candidates for upgrading in a fleet - namely, matching the right engines with the appropriate clean diesel enhancement technology - is crucial to a successful project. To assist on this front, the report identifies several key project startup issues and outlines a number of technical and financial resources available to help facilitate diesel engine upgrades. The report also profiles a number of engine upgrade projects that are currently demonstrating success in the field. These case studies include upgrades to New York City's transit bus fleet, the retrofit of construction equipment at Boston's Big Dig project, and a pilot project to upgrade freight trucks undertaken by ARCO/BP and Ralph's Grocery in California. Schaeffer cautioned that, while these diesel retrofit projects are often very cost effective when measured against other emissions reduction strategies, the costs are not insignificant to the owners and operators of the equipment. A number of state and federal programs have been developed to help fund diesel emission reduction projects, and the Forum's web site includes a directory of funding sources for these types of projects. "Upgrading existing engines with new clean diesel technologies is a strategy that today is producing quantifiable air quality improvements in many regions of the United States," concluded Schaeffer. "Whether it's cleaner new engines or upgrades to the existing fleet, clean diesel can simultaneously help meet our environmental goals and power our economy." ### The Diesel Technology Forum represents manufacturers of engines, fuel and emissions control systems. It brings together the diesel industry, the broad diesel user community, civic and public interest leaders, government regulators, academics, scientists, the petroleum industry and public health researches to encourage the exchange of information, ideas, scientific findings and points-of-view to current and future uses of diesel power technology. For more information about the Forum and to view our white paper, visit our web site at www.dieselforum.org. Cleaner Air, Better Performance: Strategies for Upgrading and Modernizing Diesel Engines NOTE: You will need Adobe Acrobat to view the following: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY [.18 MB PDF format] I. THE ISSUE: NEW VERSUS EXISTING DIESEL ENGINES [.35 MB PDF format] II. EMISSIONS PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT OPTIONS [1.1 MB PDF format] III. IMPLEMENTING EMISSION PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENTS [.90 MB PDF format] IV. EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD: CASE STUDIES [.82 MB PDF format] V. ENDNOTES [.26 MB PDF format] FULL REPORT [3.7MB PDF format] Media Contacts: California: Pam Jones, mobile 650/576/9377 650/598/9905 At Forum Office: Allen Schaeffer, 301/668-7230 Bill Buff, 202/289-2001 News Releases Table of Contents ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> FREE Cell Phones with up to $400 Cash Back! http://us.click.yahoo.com/_bBUKB/vYxFAA/ySSFAA/9bTolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuels at Journey to Forever http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel at WebConX http://webconx.green-trust.org/2000/biofuel/biofuel.htm List messages are archived at the Info-Archive at NNYTech: http://archive.nnytech.net/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
