Overview
The 2010 Standards
The drive to reduce diesel emissions has made significant strides over the past decade, and 2010 will represent another step in that direction. Diesel engine manufacturers have made great efforts to meet the newest and most strict regulations in a consistent and thoughtful manner, and meeting the 2010 emissions standards is further proof of this dedication.
As shown in the graph, since 1998 emission standards have demanded a 90% reduction in particulate matter and will require a 95% reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 2010. Each of the significant milestones is being achieved through technology advancements and improvements.
Particulate matter (PM) is formed by the incomplete combustions of fuel in diesel engines. NOx is formed in small amounts when fuel is burned at high temperatures and pressures during an engine's combustion process.
By 2010, engine manufacturers will be required to meet the US Environmental Protection Agency's more stringent diesel emission standards. These regulations dramatically decrease discharges of particulate matter (soot and ash) and NOx, virtually eliminating these emissions from on-road diesel engines. New diesel engines will be required to emit no more than 0.2 grams per brake horsepower hour (g/bhp-hr) of NOx and 0.14 g/bhp-hr of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC).
Meeting the 2010 Standards
Engine manufacturers are working to meet the 2010 standards through a variety of means, including engine modifications for cleaner combustion and adding exhaust aftertreatment devices. These remove pollutants from exhaust gases after they leave the engine's combustion chamber. As of now, it appears that most diesel engine makers and truck manufacturers will add selective catalytic reduction systems to their 2007 base platforms. Only one company has announced that it would use an advanced exhaust gas recirculation system.
Meeting the reduced pollutants standards has also required a change in diesel fuel to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD) and a reformation of engine oils. In 2006, diesel sulfur dropped to 15 parts per million (ppm) from 500 ppm, and by 2010, the EPA will require 100% of the diesel fuel sold in the US to meet the 15 ppm standard.
The A&D Solution
The key advantage in working with A&D Technology is the fact that our products and services are flexible and tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual customer. A&D Technology can provide a full turnkey heavy-duty diesel emissions test stand, or remove antiquated portions of an existing test cell and replace them with state-of-the-art products. With interfaces to over 150 third-party devices, customers can select from best-in-class suppliers without the concern of being confined to a single source.
The A&D solution is based on iTest, our newest and most robust data acquisition and control software. A&D provides a library of iTest software application modules ready for use with diesel engine emissions testing. The tests are independent of test cell configuration, and can be stored centrally and used across multiple test cells. These tests have been written to specifically support international legislative test procedures.
The range of tests available includes:
- US Heavy Duty Diesel Transient Test
- US Smoke Test
- European Steady-State Cycle
- European Load Response Test
- European Transient CycleELR and ETC
- ISO 8178
- Non-Road Transient Cycle
- World Harmonized Steady-State Cycle
- World Harmonized Transient Cycle
All the tests have been developed with a common structure allowing the tests to share tools and be easily updated as legislative procedures change and/or new tests are introduced.
Features/Benefits
Important iTest features include:
- Easy-to-use operator interface
- Automated test procedures
- Test support utilities including denormalization, setpoint adjustment and regression analysis
- End-of-test reports that are complete with exhaust measurement calculations
- Open test configuration that can be edited/modified by the user
- Common test module operation and structure
Other standard features include:
- Versatile user GUI that can be edited either in runtime or development mode
- Test result data in a tab delimited format that can be read directly in MS Excel
- Easy export of test data and reports to a central host library (e.g. iCentral Lab Management tool)
- Fully customizable end-of-test reports that support comprehensive array formula functions (print or save as PDF)
- Simple method of "adding" and "exporting" tests to and from the test cell solution
- Supports test simulation for desktop preparation (reduces test cell downtime)
- Fully customizable application configuration that can be edited by the user; this includes editing test cycles, logged data list, report layout, report calculations, etc.
- Security tools to control user access
Sample Screens
 |
Runtime test display showing test pick list |
 |
Runtime test schedule showing Edit Lock/Unlock Control |
 |
Typical end-of-test reports with Report Parameter Definition Editor
|
 |
Typical supported transient test procedure |
 |
Test cycle support utilities in CycleManager including Denormalization and Regression Analysis |
 |
Power Map test displays showing Test Options display and specific 40 CFR Part 1065 Power Map Status Display |
[ back to top ]