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Emissions Removal Efficiency from Diesel Gensets Using Aftermarket PM Controls
Citation:
Yelverton, T., A. Holder, AND J. Pavlovic. Emissions Removal Efficiency from Diesel Gensets Using Aftermarket PM Controls. CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY, 17(7):1861-1871, (2015).
Impact/Purpose:
The adverse impacts of diesel PM and BC on human health and the environment has spurred interest in reducing these emissions from diesel combustion sources. In this study the effectiveness of aftermarket controls on reducing PM and BC from three stationary diesel gensets was investigated. Uncontrolled emissions were compared with emissions controlled with a passive (P-DPF) and active diesel particulate filter (A-DPF) and a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC). A suite of instruments and filter methods were used to characterize the steady state PM and gaseous emissions from the gensets.
Description:
Diesel particulate matter (PM) has been associated with adverse health effects in humans and is classified as a human carcinogen. Additionally, diesel PM, particularly the strongly light absorbing fraction, black carbon (BC), is an important climate forcer. The adverse impacts of diesel PM and BC on human health and the environment has spurred interest in reducing these emissions from diesel combustion sources. In this study the effectiveness of aftermarket controls on reducing PM and BC from three stationary diesel gensets (230kW, 400kW, and 600kW) of varying engine displacement (from 8.8-27 L) and physical size was investigated. Uncontrolled emissions were compared with emissions controlled with a passive (P-DPF) and active diesel particulate filter (A-DPF) and a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC). A suite of instruments and filter methods were used to characterize the steady state PM and gaseous emissions from the gensets. Overall, a DPF resulted in significant PM mass removal (~80-99%), while a DOC resulted in statistically insignificant reductions (~0-25%). Both BC and elemental carbon (EC) removal followed a similar trend, but EC/PM ratios varied from 0 to 0.79 over all test conditions, indicating changes in the particulate composition with the addition of aftermarket controls or changes in load. Particle number concentrations were also significantly reduced when using DPFs, with a greater than 97% reduction in particle concentrations with the P-DPF and greater than 82% reduction with the A-DPF. The DOC exhibited much lower particle reductions, reducing the particle concentration by only 5 to 35%, depending upon the genset or load. Further, the single scattering albedo (ratio of light scattering to light extinction) of PM was slightly decreased from the DPFs compared to the uncontrolled case. These results demonstrate that while DPFs are effective at reducing PM and BC emissions, the particle characteristics are altered from those of uncontrolled emissions.
