BOARD MEETING DATE: June 3, 2005
AGENDA NO. 5

Execute Contract to Cosponsor Demonstration of Particulate Filter and Gas-to-Liquid Diesel Fuel in Transportation Refrigeration Unit Engines

SYNOPSIS:

Transportation refrigeration units (TRUs) powered by diesel engines are used to preserve perishable products during transport. CARB estimates particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions from statewide TRUs to be 2 and 20 tons per day (tpd). This action is to award a contract to the U.S. DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to evaluate, quantify, and compare emissions from TRUs powered by engines equipped with and without particulate filters and fueled with gas-to-liquid fuel and CARB specification conventional diesel fuels at a cost not to exceed $260,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund. Cost share is being provided by U.S. DOE NREL and its partners for a total project cost of $512,580.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, May 27, 2005, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Authorize the Executive Officer to:

1. Execute an interagency agreement with CARB to receive funding in an amount of $40,000 to cosponsor a project with the U.S. DOE’s NREL, and recognize this funding, upon receipt, in the Clean Fuels Fund;
    
2. Execute an agreement with the NREL to co-sponsor demonstration of particulate filters and gas-to-liquid diesel fuel in transportation refrigeration units in an amount not to exceed $260,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Transportation refrigeration units (TRUs) are used to preserve perishable products in different types of mobile sources such as semi-trailer vans, truck vans, shipping containers, and rail cars. TRUs are directly or indirectly powered by diesel engines ranging in sizes from 7 to 36 horsepower (hp), with 35 hp being the most common size. CARB estimates that about 40,200 TRUs operate in California at any given time with an annual diesel fuel consumption of approximately 20 million gallons. CARB also estimates that PM and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from these units are 2 and 20 tons per day (tpd), respectively. PM emissions are projected by CARB to increase to about 2.5 tpd in 2010 and to over 3 tpd by 2020.

In February 2004, CARB promulgated an Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ACTM) to reduce PM emissions from TRUs beginning in 2008, establishing new performance standards based on engine horsepower. The AQMD, U.S. DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and CARB are assessing alternative diesel emission control strategies which could reduce PM emissions from in-use TRU engines by 90 percent or greater to meet the provisions of the ACTM. One such strategy aims at accelerating the introduction of gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel into niche markets to replace diesel fuel. GTL fuel has outstanding ignition qualities, is sulfur-free, and may enable the use of advanced emission control technologies that would be infeasible with conventional diesel fuels.

Proposal

The proposed project is to assess the impact of GTL fuel and advanced emissions control systems on TRUs operating in the South Coast Air Basin. The scope of the project includes the evaluation, quantification, and comparison of emissions from TRU diesel engines fueled with: (1) GTL fuel equipped with particulate filter, and (2) CARB specification conventional diesel fuel. U.S. DOE’s NREL proposes selecting up to twelve TRU-equipped vehicles, six of the TRUs will be powered by GTL-fueled engines and retrofitted with particulate filters. The remaining six TRUs will be operated exclusively with CARB specification conventional diesel serving as control groups. One of the TRU engines will be tested over steady-state test procedures on an engine dynamometer while the engine is independently powered by GTL fuel and CARB diesel fuel. The result of this test and in-use field data logging of exhaust temperature and pressures from the test TRU engine will be used to develop and optimize a particulate filter system. The catalyst system will then be installed on four to six TRUs’ engines. The same TRU engine will be again tested. The TRU-equipped vehicles will then be demonstrated in service for six to 12 months to evaluate performance, reliability, and the emission-reduction potential of the GTL fuel and particulate filter system.

This action is for AQMD to enter into an agreement with the NREL to co-sponsor the demonstration of particulate filters and GTL fuel in TRUs in an amount not to exceed $260,000 ($220,000 is AQMD funding plus $40,000 in CARB pass-through funding).

Benefits to AQMD

The proposed project is included in the 2004 Technology Advancement Plan Update under the category, "Investigate and Demonstrate Near-Term Emissions Control Technologies." The proposed project supports the implementation of near-term emission control technology that could reduce PM emissions from diesel-powered TRUs engines to 0.02 g/bhp-hr.

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.d: Other circumstances exist which in the determination of the Executive Officer require such waiver in the best interests of the AQMD. Specifically, these circumstances are: Projects involving cost sharing by multiple sponsors B.2.d.(8).

NREL is a national laboratory and has many years of experience in evaluating a wide range of alternative fuel and energy technologies for on-road applications. NREL has secured cost sharing from the DOE, CARB, Engine Control Systems, and Thermoking.

Resource Impacts

The total cost for this project is estimated to be $512,580, of which the AQMD cost shall not exceed $220,000. CARB will contribute $40,000 through an interagency agreement and another $60,000 in in-kind funding. NREL and its partners will contribute the remaining $192,580 in direct funding and in-kind contributions. The total estimated cost-share for this project is provided below:
 

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.

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