The recent MBTA/MPI announcement is the only one I've seen to claim Tier 3 and besides saying it will be a GEVO series GE prime mover, they don't say much. I've postulated it will just use Ultra Low Sulfur, but that's just a guess on my part.
Both EMD and GE are quiet on this issue right now. When should an observer expect to start seeing demo units or at least technology announcements?
When EMD got bought in June there was a flurry of discussion hear about the 710 and what it coudl do, but all of that was based on Argonne labs and the current equipment. Nothing official from EMD about what comes next.
I'm getting antsy, as an observer and fan, I want some new Engine technology to discuss.
Not much information out there at this time, but all of my HO model trains are certified Tier III.
CZ
I think they should drop tier three emissions and instead put further restrictions on active volcanoes, talk about pollution !!
It's a tough one. The diesel engine has gone about as far as it can be taken re: pollution control. The heavy truck diesel engine builders, with their much larger market, have been struggling with this since the government first proposed emission standards in the 1970s. There has been an unbelievable amount of research done on this attempting to find commercially feasible methods of controlling diesel engine emissions. The net result has been that the diesel engine has been exempted for a very long time from the standards that apply now to all other commercial combustion technologies.
Tier III is about where gas engines and coal-fired power plants were 20-30 years ago in terms of emission requirements. It's inherent in the physics of the diesel engine; it's an extremely dirty technology and while I haven't kept up with recent developments, I am curious about current proposals to meet Tier III ... and the cost.
Look for EGR's and SCR being applied next to Locomotives. UREA is a Huge COmpoinant in SCR and it actually converts NOX and other stuff in Diesel Exhaust to Water and CO2 compared to alot of what comes out of Stacks now it is an Improvement. However what is not so good is the LOSS of FUEL ECONOMY we have had with these motors. With the First EGR engines that hit the market in 2005 a Cummins ISX that was getting 6-7 MPG dropped down to 4-5 Detroit dropped from 7 to 5 MPG. Caterpiller went a differant way with their ACERT technology and they fell from 6 to 3-4 MPG. Yet Emissions were only reduced 20% over the previous Years motors. Then the First DPF's hit 2 years later and then it got WORSE. We had Trucks Burn from Regens over a Patch of grass and Catch Fire. Regens are going to be Fun on the RR's. Can you Imagine a Stack Train Climbing Cajon Pass when all of a Sudden the Computer on either the EMD or GE goes Sirry you lost your Power for 2 Hours while I Clear out a Fiter while on the Grade. IT WILL HAPPEN.
Well, the information I've heard from little engineer birdies out of both camps is no urea for Tier III, but those are the little birdies scurrying around LaGrange/Argonne and Erie, not official announcements.
I have a friend who works for Freightliner in Portland and he was surprised they get Tier 2 emissions without urea, so I'm not so sure the physics are equal.
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