BOARD MEETING DATE: January 8, 1999 AGENDA NO. 6
PROPOSAL:
Execute Contract to Cosponsor Development and Demonstration of Advanced Natural Gas Engine Electronic Controls
SYNOPSIS:
The Board has adopted a policy of encouraging the reduction of diesel engine emissions in the Basin to improve air quality and reduce health impact. Natural gas heavy-duty engines have exhibited NOx emissions below 2.0 g/bhp-hr. Cummins Engine Company proposes a cooperative program to design, validate and implement PC-based electronic tools for an advanced natural gas engine management system. The proposed control system will permit future engine enhancements to enable higher efficiency while maintaining ultra-low emissions. AQMD cost-share of this $602,550 project will not exceed $265,000.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, December 17, 1998, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve execution of a contract with Cummins Engine Company for development and demonstration of advanced natural gas engine electronic controls. Total cost to the AQMD will not exceed $265,000.
Barry Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
According to the AQMP, over 60 percent of the Basin’s emissions inventory can be attributed to on-road mobile sources. The majority of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in the Basin are powered by diesel engines, which contribute significantly to the Basin’s emissions inventory. ARB has declared the components in diesel exhaust as Toxic Air Contaminants. Because of the emissions and health impacts of the use of diesel fuel, the AQMD Board has a policy encouraging the reduction of diesel exhaust in the Basin.
Alternative fuel engines can provide significant emissions reductions over diesel engines. Natural gas engines for urban transit applications are commercially available products, and pilot programs for the use of natural gas engines in trucking applications are underway. Cummins Engine Company (Cummins) has taken the lead in the development of spark-ignited natural gas heavy-duty engines. The Cummins L10G (10 liter) natural gas engine is certified for both transit and truck applications, and currently meets ARB optional low-NOx certification. Over 1,000 Cummins L10G engines are operating in California, with approximately two-thirds of these in the South Coast Basin. The following illustrates the very low emissions performance of this engine:
COMPARISON OF EMISSIONS
(g/bhp-hr)
| 1998 ARB Standard: Transit |
1998 ARB Standard: Truck |
1998 Transit L10-300G w/catalyst |
1998 Truck L10-300G w/catalyst |
|
| NOx | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 1.6 |
| NMHC | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| NOx + NMHC | 1.4 | 1.7 | ||
| PM | 0.05 | 0.10 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| CO | 15.5 | 15.5 | 4.1 | 4.6 |
Engine manufacturers have found that electronic engine controls are crucial to being able to achieve and maintain low emissions throughout the driving cycle. Electronic tools are also important as a means of detecting and diagnosing operational problems. Cummins began incorporation of electronics with their natural gas engines in 1994. Use of electronic controls ensured the achievement and durability of low emissions; however, spark-ignited engines continue to lack the type of performance characteristics typically associated with diesel engines.
Proposal
Cummins proposes to cost share the development and demonstration of next-generation electronic controls for natural gas engines. Specifically, the proposal is to design, validate and implement PC-based tools for electronic subsystems test, diagnostics and product support of the L10G Plus engine. Cummins expects the following potential benefits from development of this technology:
Cummins proposes to implement the enhanced control technology on a prototype L10G Plus engine replacing a L10G Phase I (1992 vintage) engine operated by Sunline Transit. The L10G Plus upgrade will be field tested in a bus for a one-year period, during which Cummins will collect data and continue to optimize the technology. At the completion of the field demonstration, the engine will be fully upgraded to current production level, and ownership of the engine transferred to Sunline. Once the electronics package has been fully developed for the L10G Plus engine, the technology will be transferred to Cummins’ other natural gas engine products.
Benefits to AQMD
The proposed project is included in the November 1998 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under Project 98M1-1, Advanced Heavy-Duty Engine Component Development and Demonstration Program." The AQMP relies on the expedited implementation of advanced technologies and clean-burning fuels in Southern California to achieve air quality standards. Natural gas engines have very low emissions, but have less fuel efficiency than their diesel counterparts. Advanced electronic controls provide the tools needed by the manufacturer to continue to improve the engine technology. PC-based tools enable the proper diagnosis and repair of potential engine operation problems.
As stated previously, the L10G is currently certified by ARB to 2.0 g/bhp-hr NOx, below the ARB low-NOx certification standard of 2.5 g/bhp-hr. (Actual emissions experienced in certification testing are 1.4 g/bhp-hr NOx.) The field test of the L10G Plus will utilize one bus. Emissions reductions for the demonstration bus compared to a diesel bus certified to the 4.0 g/bhp-hr NOx standard, operated 50,000 miles for one year will be 1,262 pounds. With the development of sophisticated electronic controls, manufacturers could develop heavy-duty engines with NOx emissions of 1.0 g/bhp-hr or lower. Using as an example the approximately 650 L10G engines currently operating in the Basin, reducing the NOx emissions of these engines to 1.0 g/bhp-hr, compared to a 4.0 g/bhp-hr diesel engine, would provide emission reductions of about 468 tons for one year.
Sole Source Justification
Section VIII.B.2. of the Procurement Policy and Procedure identifies four major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified. This request for a sole source award is made under provision B.2.c.(2): the project involves the use of proprietary technology. Cummins Engine Company is the leading engine manufacturer for products greater than 200 horsepower. This leadership is maintained by continuing to improve on the reputation for providing reliable, durable, fuel efficient engines to the marketplace. Cummins has been a leader in the development and commercialization of natural gas engines, currently offering more commercial products than any other manufacturer. Cummins premier natural gas product is the L10G natural gas engine, used extensively in transit applications and also in heavy-duty trucks. Cummins, along with a consortium consisting of Columbia Gas, Consolidated Natural Gas, Gas Research Institute, Gas Technology Canada, New York Gas Group, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and SoCal Gas are investing almost $3.5 million in developing the next generation L10 engine, the L10G Plus. Development of sophisticated electronics for this engine will complete this engine development work, and will result in an extremely low emission engine, with improved performance.
Resource Impacts
The total amount of AQMD funding for the proposed project will not exceed $265,000. Total project costs of $602,550 are as follows:
| Organization | Direct Funding |
| Cummins | $325,000 |
| SCAQMD | 265,000 |
| Sunline (in-kind) | 12,550 |
| Total Project Amount | $602,550 |
Sufficient funds are available in the FY 1998-99 Budget, from revenues received from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program. The Clean Fuels Program, under Health and Safety Code Sections 40448.5 and 40512 and Vehicle Code Section 9250.11, establishes mechanisms to collect revenues from mobile and stationary sources to support projects to increase the utilization of clean fuels in both sectors, including the development of the necessary advanced enabling technologies. Funds collected from motor vehicles are restricted, by statute, to be used for projects and program activities related to mobile sources that support the objectives of the Clean Fuels Program.
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