Frequently Asked Questions
Diesel Emission Retrofit Questions
What is an Engine Family or EPA Engine Family Number?
What is a Diesel Emission Control System (DECS)?
What is the Diesel Risk Reduction Plan?
What is PM Level Verification?
What is NOX Level Verification?
What are the Biodiesel requirements for use with DECS?
Q What is an Engine Family or EPA Engine Family Number
A Engine Family or EPA Engine Family Number is an identification system used by the US EPA to verify emission levels of internal combustion engines offered for sale in the United States. EPA Engine Family numbers identify engine displacement, power output, emission control equipment configuration and actual emission levels. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) also uses these numbers to identify what engines are verified for use with various diesel emission control retrofit systems. To identify what EPA Engine Family a specific engine belongs to, check the engine for a decal like the one below (it is usually located on the valve cover).
Q What is a Diesel Emission Control System (DECS)?
A The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has developed a verification process for diesel emission reduction systems. The goal of the process is to provide systems that provide real emission reductions and are durable and reliable. The process of system verification is part of the CCR 13, Chapter 14.
Q What is an Executive Order?
A An Executive Order is the legal document prepared by California Air Resource Board (CARB) staff that verifies a Diesel Emission Control Strategy for use. Executive Orders usually define the engines, applications and conditions required to use a particular Diesel Emission Control System (DECS). CARB gets its authority to issue Executive Orders pertaining to Diesel Emission Control Systems from the California Code of Regulations and the California Health and Safety Code.
Q What does CARB stand for?
A California Air Resources Board
Q What is the Diesel Risk Reduction Plan?
A
In February 1998, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) published its exposure and health risk assessments for diesel exhaust. The report relied on over 30 human epidemiological studies. The report characterized diesel exhaust as, “a complex mixture of gases and fine particles.” and found that nearly all of the particulate fraction of diesel exhaust was < 10µm and the 94% of the particulate fraction was < 2.5 µm. Particles of this size penetrate deeply into lung tissue and thus, are a regulated under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The report also estimated that PM accounts for 2000 premature deaths per year, 250 annual cases of lung cancer, decreased lung function in children, chronic bronchitis, increased respiratory symptoms and cardiovascular hospitalizations, aggravated asthma, lost work days, reduced visibility and contributed to global warming.
To reduce the exposure risk to Californians, the California Air Resource Board is implementing plans to reduce diesel emissions from stationary, mobile, and marine sources.
Q What is meant by Stationary?
A A stationary source in air quality terminology is any geographically fixed emitter of air pollutants, such as fossil fuel burning power plants, emergency generators, petrochemical plants, food processing plants and other heavy industrial sources. (Source: Wikipedia)
Q What is meant by Portable?
A A portable source in air quality terminology is a non-stationary source of air pollutants, where the emissions are generated by some device that does not provide the motive force for the vehicle. (Examples: the vacuum motor on a street sweeper is a portable emission source. The drive engine of the street sweeper is a mobile source.)
Q What is meant by Mobile?
A A mobile source in air quality terminology is a non-stationary source of air pollutants, such as automobiles, buses, trucks, ships, trains, aircraft and various other vehicles. (Source: Wikipedia)
Q What is PM Level Verification?
A PM Level Verification is when the California Air Resources Board verifies Diesel Emission Control Systems (DECS) based on the level of pollutant reduction they provide. Level three DECS reduce PM levels by 85%. Level two DECS reduce PM emissions by 50%. Level one DECS reduce PM emissions by 25%. In general, when retrofitting a vehicle or device with a DECS, the device selected must provide the highest level of PM control available.
Q What is NOX Level Verification?
A The California Air Resources Board verifies Diesel Emission Control Systems (DECS) based on the level of pollutant reduction they provide. For a system to be NOx verified, it must reduce NOx emissions by 15%. Additional levels of verification are given for each additional 5% of NOx reduction. (Example: a system that provides a 25% NOx reduction would be level three NOx verified.)
Q What is 2009 NO2 Compliance?
A Verified Diesel Emission Control Systems (DECS) may not increase baseline NO2 emissions of the engine they are installed on by more than 20% beginning on January 1, 2009.The current standard for NO2 increase is 30%.
Q What are the Biodiesel requirements for use with DECS?
A
- The biodiesel portion of the blend shall be 20 percent or less of the fuel
- The biodiesel portion of the blend complies with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specification D6751 applicable for 15 parts per million sulfur content
- The diesel fuel portion of the blend complies with Title 13, California Code of Regulations, sections 2281 and 2282
- The use of biodiesel applies to devices verified to reduce only diesel particulate matter
- Other alternative diesel fuels such as, but not limited to, ethanol diesel blends and water emulsified diesel fuel are excluded
The manufacturers of the verified DECS have indicated that their systems are compatible with biodiesel per the above specifications. The Executive Orders for DECS will be updated to reflect compatibility with biodiesel. Use of biodiesel blends that meet these specifications DOES NOT void the DECS warranty.