US diesels will use Danish technology to meet EPA 2010 emission standards

Haldor Topsøe A/S of Denmark introduced their urea-based SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system for removing nitrogen oxides (NOX) and unburnt hydrocarbons from diesel powered trucks and buses in 2002. Cummins Diesel, Mack Trucks and Volvo have chosen this 100% Danish technology to meet future Clean Diesel targets in the US.

NOX is a precursor to chemical smog, and exhaust smells result from unburnt hydrocarbons, the catalyst sued also assist in removing the mani health hazard from diesel exhaust which is the ultra-fine particles which are believed to present the biggest health hazard, especially to asthmatics.95% of diesel particulate falls into PM 2.5 (2.5 microns size) which penetrate deep into the lung and worsens preexisting lung condistions like Asthma and COPD.

The Urea-SCR System, has a storage tank for a 32.5% liquid urea solution, a urea injection system, and a catalyst. The heat in the exhaust decomposes the urea which produces ammonia NH3 which reacts with NOX on the catalyst surface and produces harmless nitrogen (N2) and water vapour (H2O). Removal of hydrocarbons and particles takes place on the catalyst independent of the injection of urea.

Grundfos A/S, the Danish pump manufacturer have worked with Topsoe to provide a complete solution either fitted to original equipment or retro-fitted. After several years of development they now have just announced a major multi million US$ contract with US company Cummins Inc., the world's largest producer of diesel engines a dosage-pump that releases specific amounts of urea to the dieselto supply pumps to be installed into diesel cars.

Volvo Truck Group to use SCR for 2010

Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) and Mack Trucks, are truck manufacturing companies of the Volvo Group, a publicly held company based in Gothenburg , Sweden.(Volvo cars is part of Ford). Both companies have chosen to use SCR to meet EPA’s 2010 diesel engine emissions standards and have been running field tests of SCR-equipped trucks in operation since 2000 and 2003, respectively logging more than two million miles on ten customer vehicles

“Our experience indicates that vehicles utilizing SCR can achieve better fuel economy than those using only Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) for NOX control, while at the same time meeting the dramatically lower emission standards coming in 2010,” Mack president & CEO Paul Vikner said.

The 2010 regulations, developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), call for NOx emissions levels to be reduced more than 80 percent from the standard set to take effect in January 2007. Since June 1st this year refiners have had to produce low sulfphur emission diesel fuels.

EU regulations (Directive 70/220/EEC plus amendments) require that the amount of nitrogen compound from diesel exhausts (Euro 4 emissions regulations) be decreased by 30 % by 1 October 2006. Starting in 2009, the amount of nitrogen oxides in exhausts must be reduced by a further 49 %.