Advanced Aftertreatment System Development for a Locomotive Application

Abstract

For the first time in the locomotive industry, an advanced exhaust aftertreatment system for a locomotive application was successfully demonstrated to reduce nitrogen oxides from 6.46 g/kW·hr to 1.21g/kWhr to meet the needs of local NOx reduction requirements for non-attainment areas. Five 2,240 kW (3,005 horsepower) PR30C line-haul repowered Progress Rail locomotives were equipped with diesel oxidation catalyst and selective catalytic reduction technologies to accumulate more than 27,000 hours in total in revenue service. Full emissions performance including carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter was conducted at Southwest Research Institute on a regular basis to measure the change of emissions performance for two selected locomotives. The emissions performance of the aftertreatment system did not show any degradation during 3,000 hours operation. After 3,000 hours operation, 0.13 g/kW·hr carbon monoxide (89–91% reduction), 0.027 g/ kW·hr hydrocarbons (91% reduction), 1.08–1.21 g/ kW·hr nitrogen oxides (81–83% reduction) and 0.05–0.08 g/ kW·hr particulate matter (38–58% reduction) were measured on the line-haul cycle. The baseline emissions levels of the engine are within Tier 2 EPA locomotive limits. The newly developed close loop control software successfully controlled targeted nitrogen oxides reduction with minimum ammonia slip during the locomotive emission cycle tests.

Comparison of motor coach exhaust emissions in real operating conditions for different testing procedures

“…The emission norms for rail vehicles differ from the norms for road vehicles, but the combustion engines and exhaust aftertreatment technologies are similar for these two groups of vehicles [1,2]. This, in turn, indicates a certain likelihood of the methods and limits pioneered for road vehicles to be eventually incorporated in similar legal provisions for rail vehicles and other NRMM (Non-Road Mobile Machinery).…”