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The aggressive reduction of future diesel engine NOx emission limits forces the heavy- and light-duty diesel engine manufacturers to develop means to comply with stringent legislation. As a result, different exhaust emission control technologies applicable to NOx have been the subject of many investigations. One of these systems is the NOx adsorber catalyst, which has shown high NOx conversion rates during previous investigations with acceptable fuel consumption penalties. In addition, the NOx adsorber catalyst does not require a secondary on-board reductant. However, the NOx adsorber catalyst also represents the most sulfur sensitive emissions control device currently under investigation for advanced NOx control. To remove the sulfur introduced into the system through the diesel fuel and stored on the catalyst sites during operation, specific regeneration strategies and boundary conditions were investigated and developed.

This paper reports the test results from the DPF (diesel particulate filter) portion of the DECSE (Diesel Emission Control - Sulfur Effects) Phase 1 test program. The DECSE program is a joint government and industry program to study the impact of diesel fuel sulfur level on aftertreatment devices. A systematic investigation was conducted to study the effects of diesel fuel sulfur level on (1) the emissions performance and (2) the regeneration behavior of a continuously regenerating diesel particulate filter and a catalyzed diesel particulate filter. The tests were conducted on a Caterpillar 3126 engine with nominal fuel sulfur levels of 3 parts per million (ppm), 30 ppm, 150 ppm and 350 ppm.

The Coordinating Research Council conducted a program to measure the reversibility of fuel sulfur effects on emissions from California Low Emission Vehicles (LEVs). Six LEV models were tested using two non-oxygenated conventional Federal fuels with 30 and 630 ppm sulfur. The following emission test sequence was used: 30 ppm fuel to establish a baseline, 630 ppm fuel, and return to 30 ppm fuel. A series of emission tests were run after return to 30 ppm to ensure that emissions had stabilized. The effect of the driving cycle on reversibility was evaluated by using both the LA4 and US06 driving cycles for mileage accumulation between emission tests after return to 30-ppm sulfur fuel. The reversibility of sulfur effects was dependent on the vehicle, driving cycle, and the pollutant. For the test fleet as a whole most but not all of the sulfur effects were reversible.

The Coordinating Research Council conducted a program to measure the effect of fuel sulfur on emissions from California Low Emission Vehicles (LEVs). Twelve vehicles, two each from six production LEV models, were tested using low mileage as-received catalysts and catalysts aged to 100k by each vehicle manufacturer using “rapid-aging” procedures. There were seven test fuels: five conventional fuels with sulfur ranging from 30 to 630 ppm, and two California reformulated gasoline (RFG) with sulfur of 30 and 150 ppm. Reducing fuel sulfur produced statistically significant reductions in LEV fleet emissions of NMHC, NOx and CO. Comparing conventional fuel and California RFG at the same sulfur level: California RFG had lower NMHC and NOx emissions and higher CO emissions, but only some NMHC and NOx differences and none of the CO differences between conventional and California RFG were statistically significant.

Four vehicle fleets, consisting of 3 to 4 vehicles each, were emission tested on a 48″ roll chassis dynamometer using both the FTP urban dynamometer driving cycle and the REP05 driving cycle. The REP05 cycle was developed to test vehicles under high speed and high load conditions not included in the FTP. The vehicle fleets consisted of 1989 light-duty gasoline vehicles, 1992-93 limited production FFV/VFV methanol vehicles, 1992-93 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles and their gasoline counterparts, and a 1992 production and two prototype ethanol FFV/VFV vehicles. All vehicles (except the dedicated CNG vehicles) were tested using Auto/Oil AQIRP fuels A and C2. Other fuels used were M85 blended from A and C2, E85 blended from C1, which is similar to C2 but without MTBE, and four CNG fuels representing the range of in-use CNG fuels. In addition to bag measurements, tailpipe exhaust concentration and A/F data were collected once per second throughout every test.

Exhaust and hot soak evaporative emissions were measured in a fleet of 1993 production flexible/variable-fueled vehicles on methanol fuels blended with a reformulated gasoline. A fleet of 1993 California Tier 1 gasoline vehicles was also tested on the same reformulated gasoline blended to meet the specifications of California Phase 2 fuel. Ozone-forming reactivity, expressed as reactivity weighted emissions and specific reactivity, was calculated using 1991 SAPRC and 1994 CBM MIR and MOR factors. Within the FFV/VFV fleet, FTP exhaust and reactivity weighted emissions were significantly lower by 18 to 32% with Phase 2 gasoline relative to Industry Average gasoline. With the exception of greater NMOG emissions with the M85 blends, and lower OMHCE emissions with M85 blended with Industry Average gasoline, exhaust organic emissions, CO and NOx with the methanol fuels were not significantly different than their base gasolines.

Three-day diurnal SHED evaporative emissions were measured in a fleet of ten Auto/Oil current (1989) and 2 older (1984) vehicles using Auto/Oil Industry Average fuel. SHED temperature cycled each 24-hour period from 72 to 96 F (22.2 to 35.5C). Measurements included speciation of individual hydrocarbons in the SHED as well as total mass emissions at the end of each of the three 24-hour test periods. Previous evaporative emission studies provided evidence that permeation and/or fuel seepage could contribute significantly to the mass of diurnal and hot soak emissions. Data from this investigation were used to quantify the contribution of liquid fuel to total SHED emissions during diurnal testing. A calculation method, based on the concentration of 29 select hydrocarbons in the SHED, is presented to apportion SHED emissions between those associated with liquid fuel losses and those associated with fuel tank head space vapor losses.

During the fall of 1992, the Michigan Roadside Study was conducted. During this study IM240 tests were conducted on vehicles that had also been emissions tested during on-road operation via two remote sensors that were separated by 100 feet. The use of two remote sensors provided an indication of the short-term real-world emissions variability of a large number of on-road vehicles. This data was used to determine the frequency of flippers, i.e. vehicles that are sometimes high emitters (>4% CO) and at other times low emitters (<2% CO). The data show that the flipper frequency increases for older model year vehicles. Also, the correlations between remote sensor readings of emissions concentrations and IM240 mass emissions rates were determined. The data show that the correlation between remote sensing and IM240 improves with increasing numbers of remote sensing readings. For three remote sensor readings, CO correlates with an r2 of 0.69 and HC correlates with an r2 of 0.54

Effects of gasoline sulfur content on emissions were measured in a fleet of ten 1989 model year vehicles. Two ranges of sulfur content were examined. In a set of five fuels, reducing sulfur from 450 to 50 ppm, reduced fleet average tailpipe emissions of HC, NMHC and CO each by about 18%, and reduced NOx 8%. The largest effect on HC and CO emissions was observed in FTP Bag 2. This and the absence of any significant effect on engine emissions indicate that sulfur affected the performance of the catalytic converters. The response of HC and NMHC to fuel sulfur content was non-linear and increased as sulfur level was reduced. In the second set of three fuels, reducing sulfur from 50 to 10 ppm reduced HC and NMHC by 6% and CO by 10%, but had no significant effect on NOx. The effects on HC, NMHC and NOx were not significantly different from predictions based on the prior fuel set. The reduction in CO was larger than predicted.

The analysis of data from the Auto/Oil Air Quality Improvement Research Program (AQIRP) study of the effect of aromatics, MTBE, olefins, and T90 on mass exhaust emissions from current (1989) vehicles was extended to include individual vehicles during individual operating modes. The results of the modal data analysis agree with and complement results which have been reported previously by AQIRP. Beyond this, attention is focused on three fuel compositional changes where the effect on emissions shows a reversal in sign depending on the vehicle operating mode chosen.

Species analyses have been performed on engine-out and tailpipe hydrocarbon mass emissions to help understand why fuels with increasing amounts of heavy hydrocarbon constituents produce significantly higher tailpipe hydrocarbon emissions. Mass and speciated hydrocarbon emissions were acquired for a fleet of ten 1989 model year vehicles operating on twenty-six fuels of differing heavy hydrocarbon composition. These fuels formed two statistically designed matrices: one examining the effects of medium, heavy, and tail reformate and medium and heavy catalytically cracked components; and the other examining the effects of heavy paraffinic versus heavy aromatic components and the effects of the 50% distillation temperature. In this paper the fates of fuel species were traced across the engine and across the catalyst, and correlations were developed between engine-out and tailpipe hydrocarbon species emissions and fuel composition.

Modal analyses have been performed on engine-out and tailpipe hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide mass emissions to help understand why fuels with increasing amounts of heavy hydrocarbon constituents produce significantly higher tailpipe hydrocarbon emissions, yet do not produce significantly higher tailpipe carbon monoxide emissions. Mass emissions were acquired for a fleet of ten 1989 model year vehicles operating on twenty six fuels of differing heavy hydrocarbon composition. These fuels formed two statistically designed matrices: one examining the effects of medium, heavy, and tail reformate and medium and heavy catalytically cracked components; and the other examining the effects of heavy paraffinic versus heavy aromatic components and the effects of the 50% distillation temperature.

Effects of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) and tertiary-amyl methyl ether (TAME) on emissions were compared in a fleet of ten 1989 model year vehicles. Test fuels containing 11.5 vol.% MTBE or 12.7 vol.% TAME were blended in a base fuel representing federal emission certification fuel. The oxygen content of both fuels was about 2.0 wt.%. No significant differences were found between the two fuels in exhaust mass HC, NMHC, CO, or NOx; in exhaust or evaporative toxic air pollutants, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, acetaldehyde, or total toxic emissions; or in evaporative hot soak emissions. The only differences found to be significant at the 95% level were in mass and estimated reactivity-weighted diurnal evaporative emissions, for both of which the TAME fuel was about 24% lower than the MTBE fuel; and in formaldehyde emissions, which were 28% higher with the TAME fuel.

Emission effects of gasoline hydrocarbon components distilling above 300°F were investigated to determine whether the effect of 90% distillation temperature (T90) found in an earlier Auto/Oil Program study is due to fuel distillation properties or to hydrocarbon composition, and also to determine whether the T90 effect is linear. Twenty-six fuels were tested in two sets. In Matrix A, the independent variables were catalytically cracked (FCC) and reformate stocks with nominal distillation ranges of 300 to 350, 350 to 400 and 400+°F. In Matrix B, the independent variables were a reformate stock (320 to 370°F), a heavy alkylate (330 to 475°F), and a light alkylate distilling below 300°F, which was used to vary fuel T50 at fixed levels of T90. Exhaust mass and speciation were measured using ten 1989 vehicles of the Auto/Oil Current Fleet. Tailpipe hydrocarbon emissions were found to increase nonlinearly with progressive addition of the heavier components.

Fuel economy measurements from portions of Phase I of the Auto/Oil Air Quality Improvement Research Program were analyzed. The following fuel variables were examined: aromatics, olefins, T90, RVP, and various oxygenates (MTBE, ETBE and ethanol). Two vehicle fleets were tested: twenty 1989 vehicles and fourteen 1983-1985 vehicles. Three measures of fuel economy were analyzed. EPA Fuel Economy used the calculation defined in the Federal Register and is an attempt to correct for changes in fuel properties. Volumetric Fuel Economy is based on a carbon balance calculation and is a measure of the actual volume of gasoline burned. Energy Specific Fuel Economy is a measure of fuel economy based on energy content. The following fuel changes resulted in reductions of Volumetric Fuel Economy in both fleets: reduced aromatics, reduced olefins, reduced T90, and addition of oxygenates. Changes in RVP did not have a significant effect on fuel economy.

Fuel effects on exhaust emissions of a sample of seven high emitting vehicles were studied. The vehicles had various mechanical problems and all ran fuel rich. The degree of enrichment varied between tests, and strongly affected mass emissions. Variable enrichment can cause incorrect apparent fuel effects to be calculated if not accounted for in data analysis. After variable enrichment was compensated for, the percentage effects of fuel oxygen, RVP, and olefins were largely in agreement with prior findings for normally emitting vehicles. Reducing fuel sulfur and T90 may have less benefit on hydrocarbon emissions in these high emitters than in normal emitters, and reducing sulfur may have less benefit on CO emissions. Reducing aromatics may be somewhat more helpful in reducing hydrocarbon and CO emissions in the high emitters.

A running loss test procedure has been developed which integrates a point-source collection method to measure fuel evaporative running loss from vehicles during their operation on the chassis dynamometer. The point-source method is part of a complete running loss test procedure which employs the combination of site-specific collection devices on the vehicle, and a sampling pump with sampling lines. Fugitive fuel vapor is drawn into these collectors which have been matched to characteristics of the vehicle and the test cell. The composite vapor sample is routed to a collection bag through an adaptation of the ordinary constant volume dilution system typically used for vehicle exhaust gas sampling. Analysis of the contents of such bags provides an accurate measure of the mass and species of running loss collected during each of three LA-4* driving cycles. Other running loss sampling methods were considered by the Auto-Oil Air Quality Improvement Research Program (AQIRP or Program).

Evaporative and running loss emissions were measured in a fleet of ten (1 989) current and seven (1983-85) older vehicles with fuels whose compositions varied in aromatic, olefin, and MTBE content and 90 percent distillation temperature (T9O). Emission compositions from each test were analyzed for individual hydrocarbon species. The individual hydrocarbon profiles were used to calculate evaporative and running loss emission reactivities using Carter maximum incremental reactivity (MIR) and maximum ozone reactivity (MOR) scales. Ozone reactivity estimates were expressed as Ozone Forming Potential (gO3/test) and Specific Reactivity (gO3/gNMOG) for both reactivity scales. The data were analyzed by regression analysis to estimate changes in the mass and reactivity of evaporative emissions due to changes in fuel composition. Previous studies have focused on how fuel volatility affects evaporative emissions without regard for the chemical composition of the fuels.

This report presents the Auto/Oil AQIRP results of a methanol fueled vehicle emission study. Nineteen early prototype flexible/variable fueled vehicles (FFV/VFV) were emission tested with industry average gasoline (M0), an 85% methanol-gasoline blend (M85), and a splash-blend of M85 with M0 (gasoline) giving 10% methanol (M10). Vehicle emissions were analyzed for the FTP exhaust emissions, SHED diurnal and hot soak evaporative emissions, and running loss evaporative emissions. Measurements were made for HC, CO and NOx emissions and up to 151 organic emission species, including air toxic components. M0 and M10 emissions were very similar except for elevated M10 evaporative emissions resulting from the high M10 fuel vapor pressure. M85 showed lower exhaust emissions than M0 for NMHC (non-methane hydrocarbon), OMHCE (organic material hydrocarbon equivalent), CO and most species. M85 had higher exhaust emissions for NMOG (non-methane organic gases), NOx, methanol and formaldehyde.

Exhaust and evaporative emissions were measured as a function of gasoline composition and fuel vapor pressure in a fleet of 20 1989 vehicles. Eleven fuels were evaluated; four hydrocarbon only, four splash blended ethanol fuels (10 vol %), two methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) blends (15 vol %) and one ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE) blend (17 vol %). Reid vapor pressures were between 7.8 and 9.6 psi. Exhaust emission results indicated that a reduction in fuel Reid vapor pressure of one psi reduced exhaust HC and CO. Adding oxygenates reduced exhaust HC and CO but increased NOx. Results of evaporative emissions tests on nineteen vehicles indicated a reduction in diurnal emissions with reduced Reid vapor pressure in the non-oxygenated and ethanol blended fuels. However, no reduction in diurnal emissions with the MTBE fuel due to Reid vapor pressure reduction was observed. Reducing Reid vapor pressure had no statistically significant effect on hot soak emissions.