South Coast Air Quality Management District

Issue RFP for Development and Demonstration of Aftertreatment Technologies for PM Emissions Control of CNG-Fueled Heavy-Duty Engines

SYNOPSIS:

Many demonstration programs are now showing that PM emissions from diesel engines can be significantly reduced with particulate traps. However, no such controls have been demonstrated for CNG engines. The proposed RFP solicits cost-shared proposals to chemically characterize exhaust emissions from CNG engines, and based on this characterization, develop and demonstrate aftertreatment technologies capable of further reducing PM, NOx, CO, and hydrocarbon emissions from CNG engines. Cost to the AQMD for the proposed $850,000 project shall not exceed $450,000.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, December 7, 2001, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve issuance of RFP #P2002-21 to solicit cost-shared proposals to chemically characterize exhaust emissions from CNG engines, and develop and demonstrate aftertreatment technologies for PM emissions control of CNG-fueled heavy-duty engines, in an amount not to exceed $450,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund (Fund 31).

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The AQMD Board has adopted a series of clean fuel fleet vehicle rules and developed short- and long-term emissions reduction measures to reduce public exposure to both criteria and toxic pollutants from diesel-fueled vehicles. These measures include many strategies, one of which is further commercialization of alternative fuels for heavy-duty trucks and buses in the Basin. As part of an effort to compare toxic exhaust emissions from diesel and alternative fuel buses, the Board approved a project to study the emissions of CNG and diesel-fueled transit buses at its January 19, 2001 meeting. Realizing that the diesel bus would be equipped with a particulate trap, the Board expressed an interest in comparing the diesel bus with a CNG bus similarly equipped with a PM emission aftertreatment technology.

Since CNG engines are typically much cleaner than their diesel counterparts, little effort has been devoted to specifically address PM emissions produced from CNG engines. In particular, the combustion of lubricating oil from the cylinder walls of spark-ignition CNG engines, and the injection of diesel fuel to create a rich condition in diesel/CNG dual-fuel engines have not been analyzed. With tighter regulations and technology advancements, today’s heavy-duty diesel engines are much cleaner than when they were first regulated in the 1960s. While diesel engine emissions are still about twice as high in NOx emissions and about three times as high in PM emissions compared to typical CNG engines, the advent of aftertreatment control technologies has greatly reduced diesel PM emissions. This development has attracted attention to examine control technologies for further reducing PM emissions from CNG engines. On February 16, 2001, the Board authorized the Executive Officer to execute a contract with a vendor to retrofit a CNG transit bus with a particulate trap for the study approved on January 19, 2001.

On July 20, 2001, the AQMD issued a request for proposal (RFP #P2001-41) to develop and demonstrate aftertreatment technologies for PM emissions from CNG-fueled heavy-duty engines. Three letters were submitted in-lieu of proposals suggesting that a chemical composition of PM emissions from CNG-engines would have to be analyzed before any aftertreatment technology for PM emissions can be developed, laboratory tested, and installed on a CNG transit bus for an in-use testing and demonstration program. The AQMD concurs with these suggestions.

Proposal

The objective of the proposed RFP is to solicit cost-shared proposals to chemically characterize exhaust emissions from CNG-fueled engines, and based on this characterization, to develop and demonstrate aftertreatment technologies capable of reducing engine-out PM by at least 50 percent from current levels, and to potentially reduce NOx, CO, and hydrocarbon emissions from CNG transit buses. The project is expected to last 18 months.

The proposed project will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will involve chemical speciation of exhaust emissions from CNG-fueled buses. AQMD, CARB, BP, National Renewable Laboratory (NREL), West Virginia University, Desert Research Institute, and Johnson Matthey have recently completed a study to chemically characterize exhaust emissions from trucks and buses fueled on ultra-low sulfur diesel and CNG. If available, the information gathered from this study would be used in-lieu of the first phase to design an effective aftertreatment control system. The second phase will involve design, fabrication, and installation of an aftertreatment system capable of reducing PM emissions from heavy-duty CNG-fueled engines. Proponents will be required to perform a steady-state dynamometer testing of the engine to assess emission reducing potential and durability of the technology, and assess the effect of the technology on engine operational performance, and structural and mechanical durability. In addition, the retrofitted engine will be integrated into a CNG vehicle for chassis dynamometer, road durability, and in-use test for emissions of toxic pollutants, total hydrocarbons, NOx, CO, PM, and CO2.

Outreach

In accordance with the AQMD’s consulting and contracting policies, a public notice advertising the RFP and inviting bids will be placed in the following publications:
 

1.	Angeles Mesa Wave, The	11.	Inland Valley Daily Bulletin	21.	Palm Springs Desert Sun
2.	Antelope Valley Press	12.	Korea Central Daily	22.	Philippine News
3.	Black Voice News	13.	La Opinion	23.	Precinct Reporter
4.	Central News Wave	14	La Prensa Hispana	24.	Rafu Shimpo
5.	Chinese Daily News	15.	La Voz	25.	Press Enterprise
6.	Eastern Group Publications	16.	Los Angeles Daily News	26.	San Bernardino Sun
7.	El Chicano	17.	Los Angeles Sentinel	27.	Santa Clarita Signal
8	El Informador	18.	Los Angeles Times	28.	The Wave
9.	Excelsior, The	19.	M/W/DVBE Source	29.	State of California Contracts
10.	Inland Empire Hispanic News	20.	Orange County Register		Register

Additionally, potential bidders will be notified utilizing the Los Angeles County MTA and Cal Trans Directories of Certified Minority, Women, Disadvantaged and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises; the Inland Area Opportunity Pages Ethnic/Women Business & Professional Directory; AQMD’s own electronic listing of certified minority vendors; and AQMD Purchasing’s mailing list. Notice of the RFP will be mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business associations; and placed on the Internet at AQMD’s Web site [http://www.aqmd.gov, "Business and Job Opportunities" icon] and AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.

Benefits to AQMD

The proposed project is included in the March 2001 Update of the Technology Advancement Plan under 2001CFM2-2, "Development and Demonstration of Low Emission, Alternative Fuel Engine Technologies for On-Road Applications." The proposed project supports the implementation of advanced alternative fuel technology that could potentially be used to reduce PM as well as NOx, CO, and hydrocarbon emissions from CNG-fueled heavy-duty engines. In addition, the outcome of this project will provide a better means of characterizing emissions of toxic pollutants from CNG-fueled heavy-duty vehicles with aftertreatment technology for PM emissions.

Resource Impacts

The total cost for this project is estimated to be $850,000, of which AQMD cost shall not exceed $450,000. The trap manufacturers and others will provide the remaining $400,000 as cash and in-kind contributions. Significant cost sharing is expected and will be required in the RFP.

Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Program Fund established as a special revenue fund resulting 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 sources to support projects to increase the utilization of clean fuels, 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.

Attachment

RFP #P2002-21 - Development and Demonstration of Aftertreatment Technologies for PM Emissions Control of CNG-Fueled Heavy-Duty Engines

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