To '07 ... and beyond: While questions remain concerning the costs, durability and maintenance of 2007 engines, a technology once considered for '07 could be the ticket for 2010

摘要

With a little more than a year to go before the next round of emissions regulations kick in, the technology and engineering path for 2007 heavy-duty diesel engines is becoming clear. That doesn't mean, however, that everyone is happy and eomfortable. As we have been reporting, fleet managers are concerned that: · The new engines will use a diesel particulate filter (DPF), which won't be cheap and will rquire periodic maintenance to prevent performance and fuel economy losses due to exhaust backpressure. Another worry lies ahead for operations requiring active regeneration (see "Trapped!" page 54). · '07 engines will use higher levels of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), except for Caterpillar's, which will use a second-generation of its Advanced Combustion Emissions Reduction Technology (ACERT) with Clean Clean Gas Induction (CGI) - a lower-voume EGR system in which the exhaust gas id drawn aft of the DPE. This likely will mean even higher underhood temperatures in most cases.