AB 1107 (Moore, Chapter 940 Statutes of 1989), mandates the California Energy Commission to provide technical assistance and support for the development of clean diesel fuel and cleaner diesel engine exhaust. AB 1107 specifies candidate technologies as those that are as clean as alternative fuels, provide energy savings and promote the use of state-of-the-art energy technologies.
Through AB 1107, the Legislature established the Diesel Emissions Reduction Fund (DERF) to fund research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of clean diesel technologies. DERF funds originate from collected fines from on-road heavy-duty trucks cited through the Air Resources Board, Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection Program for "excessive" smoke emissions. As a result, the Commission established the Clean Diesel Program to fund RD&D of clean diesel fuels and engines.
The goal of the Clean Diesel Program is to co-fund development and demonstration of technologies that will make petroleum fueled, heavy-duty diesel engines as clean as "clean alternative fuel" engines. The Commission is seeking and promoting emission control options that promise the greatest NOx and particulate emission reduction with the least negative fuel economy impact.
The Commission will be seeking specific projects where its co-funding would bring technologies to market sooner than possible without co-funding, or which might otherwise not be funded due to the level of risk. Projects are awarded through a competitive solicitation process; where projects are evaluated for technical merit, including project cost. Through June 1998, the Commission has provided $700,000 for four projects that have demonstrated lower emissions and improved fuel economy.
By carefully choosing projects based on their technical merit and potential for commercial application, the Commission has played an important role in supporting the technologies for reducing diesel NOx and particulate emissions, without harming fuel economy. This program has also helped develop a basis for adopting more stringent heavy-duty emission standards and emphasizing the reduced emissions from heavy-duty mobile sources in the state implementation plan. The Commission has also contributed to statewide coordination efforts for introducing clean diesel technologies.
Program Supporters
| Allied Signal (now Honeywell) | Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority |
| California Trucking Association | NOXTECH |
| Cummins Engine Company | U.S. Department of Energy |
| Engine Manufacturers Association |
Low-Cost Microwave Regenerated Particulate Trap for Diesel Engines
- Reduced cost of particulate traps used for heavy-duty diesel engines
- Improved fuel economy and reliability
This project designed, fabricated and tested a microwave regenerated
silicon carbide fiber particulate trap for use in controlling particulate matter
from heavy-duty diesel engines. A corrugated paper fiber "trap" was used for
filtering particulate matter from the diesel engine exhaust. The collected
particulate matter was successfully heated using a microwave "source" to burn
off the particulate matter. The silicon carbide material is used as a coating on
a corrugated fiber paper filter structure to protect it from the heat resulting
from the microwave source.
Benefits
Feasibility Study of Diesel Truck Engine NOx Control Using Water Injection
- Potential low cost heavy-duty diesel on and off-road NOx emission reduction technology
- Developed a simple retrofit kit with minimal fuel economy impact
California State University, Fresno (CSUF) performed engine test stand work to determine the feasibility of using water injection and fumigation water vapor systems on a diesel truck engine.
CSUF confirmed a maximum of 65 percent NOx reduction with the use of water injection. They also evaluated fuel economy and limited engine transients performance. Hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide emissions were also monitored and found to maintain acceptable levels with modest water addition.
Benefits
Clean Diesel Fuel Study
- The Commission funds greatly accelerated the urgently needed investigation on diesel fuel related problems experienced with the introduction of low-sulfur and low-aromatic diesel fuel on October 1, 1993.
- Results confirmed the diesel fuel related problems were attributed to California and Federal reformulated diesel specifications.
- As a result of these findings the Governor directed the Air Resources Board to reimburse California residents for reformulated fuel related repair.
Funded research that investigated the performance effects of California and Federal October 1, 1993, complying clean diesel fuels. Various fuels with different aromatics were laboratory scrutinized with specific engine components mainly "O Rings." Fuel samples were taken and analyzed. Diesel fuel lubricity performance was also investigated.
Benefits
Late-Cycle Enhanced Mixing Project (With Southwest Research Institute)
Demonstrated an direct/indirect diesel injection engine design to reduce
particulate emissions and improve the diesel engine's tolerance of exhaust gas
recirculation for reducing oxides of nitrogen emissions.
This contract demonstrated reducing particulate emissions from a diesel engine by combining direct injection and indirect injection designs.
Using two injection systems, fuel is primarily injected into the main cylinder through direct in-cylinder injection and a small secondary fuel charge is injected into a delayed combustion chamber for later combustion.
Particulates are reduced by the increased late-stroke heat release and increased mixing generated by the second injection. This project was part of a four-year Clean Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine program involving 17 companies, including engine manufacturers.
Benefits
Commission funds were leveraged in an $8 million program sponsored by major heavy-duty engine manufacturers. If the development effort is successful, it may enable heavy-duty diesel engines to meet 2.0 g/bhp-hr for NOx and 0.05 g/bhp-hr for PM.
Workshop on Water Technologies for NOx Reduction
- Brought out factual, credible information on water technologies to illustrate the 50-70 percent NOx reduction, and 30 percent smoke reduction potential with fuel economy advantages with its use.
- Informed Air Resources Board and South Coast Air Quality Management District attending staff on the potential air quality benefits with this technology.
This workshop brought together the most current efforts associated with water used for reducing diesel exhaust emissions. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss various water technologies for NOx reduction in medium- and heavy-duty diesel engines. In this workshop leading manufacturers, researchers and technology developers presented their work on water technologies reducing NOx emissions from mobile and stationary sources and discussed the effectiveness of this technology.
Benefits