Fuel Management Flashcards
What is the most common fuel in the US?
Gasoline
What types of vehicles use gasoline?
cars, SUVs, RVs, small aircraft, equipment, and generators
What is the difference between unleaded and leaded gasoline?
leaded has tetraethyl lead and is poisonous. Only unleaded is legal now.
What seasonal cycles do the demand for gasoline follow?
Demand is lower in colder months and higher in warmer months.
What process if used to refine crude oil?
simple distillation.
When is gasoline recovered during the refining process?
during the lowest temperatures of refining
What is downstream distillation?
encompasses a variety of highly complex units designed for very different upgrading processes.
Why are additives used in gasoline?
attempt to increase the octane rating
What are the main additives used in gasoline?
oxygenates, antioxidants, antiknock, fuel dyes
What are the most common vehicle emissions caused by gasoline?
hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter
What are the uses of diesel fuel?
trucks, trains, boats, barges, buses etc
What is ultra low Sulphur diesel?
has lower sulfur content than other diesel fuels
Why is USLD valuable in North America?
because the maximum allowable sulfur is 0.05 percent nationwide compared to other nations that may be 10 to 20 times that.
At which point is diesel recovered in the distillation process?
middle temperature (not low like gas) 356 to 716 degrees
What is cetane and how is it measured?
colorless gas that requires a low amount of heat to ignite
Why is water a concern in diesel fuel?
water can make microbes form at the meting point. Once formed, they cause acid formation, rust, corrosion and filter plugging
What can happen to diesel fuel and the equipment that is used in if there is a microbial contamination in the fuel?
acid formation, rust, corrosion and filter plugging
Why are additives used in diesel fuel?
increase mileage, clean injectors and engine deposits, remove water, increase cetene rating
What terms are used to characterize the cold flow properties of diesel fuel?
Cloud point and Cold filter plugging point
What is cloud point of diesel?
temperature at which small crystals are first visually observed
What is cold filter plugging point for diesel?
temperature at which a fuel will cause a fuel filter to plug
How is diesel fuel kept warm in most modern engines?
excess fuel is brought to the engine and warm fuel that has come close to the engine is recycled back to the fuel tank.
What are the leading options to treat diesel in the cold weather?
blend it with kerosene, utilize and additive that enhances cold flow properties, utilize fuel tank, fuel filter or fuel line heaters and store vehicle in building when not in use
How can you find certified retrofitted technologies to reduce diesel emissions?
Go to the EPA or CARB website
What vehicle emissions are listed by the DOE and EPA as problems?
Particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide
What are the effects of the problematic emissions?
damaged trees/crops, hard to breathe, acid rain, ozone issues, respiratory irritation
What is particulate emission and why is it controlled?
from diesel exhaust that creates respiratory irritation
What is ozone and what are the health risks associated with it?
great thing in the upper atmosphere where it blocks harmful UV radiation. Creates smog which damages trees/crops, respiratory problems and eye irritation
What are some other problems associated with vehicle emissions?
Dirty air, global warming, energy dependence
What are two types of ambient air quality standards?
Primary standards - provide public health protection
Secondary standards - provide public welfare protection (protection against decreased visibility etc)
What might US states in non-attainment areas for ground level ozone have to do?
impose new controls on industrial plants, restrict transportation, require tougher vehicle inspection programs, require special use of cleaner burning gas
Define alternative fuels
any materials or substances that can be used as a fuel, other than conventional fuels
What is the main purpose of fuel?
to store energy in a form that is stable and can easily be transported from the place of production to the end user.
What is the major environmental concern according to the intergovernmental panel on climate change?
greenhouse gas emissions increasing raising global temperature
Describe the peak oil theory concern
predicts a rising cost of oil derived fuels causes by severe shortage of oil during an era of growing energy consumption.
What are sustainable alternative fuels?
fuels that can be derived from living and recently dead biological material which can be turned into fuel (plant matter for biofuel)
Why would non-sustainable alternative fuels be used?
they still help reduce pollution at the point of use
What is biomass?
refers to living and recently dead biological material which can be used as fuel or for industrial production.
What is non-conventional oil?
fossil fuel chemically identical and with the same origin as convectional or traditional oil, but existing in a different form (more contaminants and more energy intensive).
What are the sources of non-traditional oil?
tar sands, oil shale and biutmen
What is the fischer-tropsch process?
converts carbon monoxide and hydrogen into heavier liquid hydrocarbons, including synthetic oil.
What is methane hydrate?
form of natural gas that consists of methane molecules trapped within the crystalline structure of water ice and is found in deposits under ocean sediments.
How can methanol and ethanol be used as energy sources?
Methanol and ethanol can be used in an internal combustion engine (with minor modifications)
What are the alternative fuels being considered to power today’s fleet vehicles?
Biodiesel, renewable diesel, ethanol, electric, hybrid, hydrogen, natural gas and propane
What is biodiesel?
clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable sources (no petroleum unless blended).
How can biodiesel be used?
it can be used in compression ignition (diesel) engines with little to no modifications.
How is biodiesel made?
chemical process called transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil.
How might an organization adopt biodiesel for purposes such as federal or state statute?
put in regular diesel engines
Why use biodiesel?
better for the environment than conventional diesel because it is made from renewable sources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel.
Are renewable diesel and biodiesel similar?
yes. Both use similar feedstocks, but they have different processing methods and create chemically different products.
What is renewable diesel?
broad class of fuels derived from biomass feedstocks including oils or animal fats, but processed by other means.
How is renewable diesel made?
Hydrotreating - hydrogen replaces other atoms such as sulfur, oxygen and nitrogen and converts the oil’s triglyceride molecules into paraffinic hydrocarbons.
What are the benefits of renewable diesel?
reduced waste and byproducts, higher energy density and improved cold flow properties.
How might the use of renewable diesel be able to impact carbon emissions?
reduces emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter.
What is ethanol?
clean burning, high octane motor fuel that is produced from renewable sources. Mostly produced from corn or other starch based crops.
How can ethanol be used as fuel?
a percentage of ethanol is combined with regular unleaded fuel and can be used in regular flex fuel vehicles
What is E10?
10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gas (can be ran in most vehicles)
What is E85?
85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gas (must be put in flex fuel vehicle)
Are all vehicles ethanol compatible?
Yes. All vehicles can run on up to 10 percent ethanol with no modifications to the engine.
What is the ultimate blend level of ethanol?
E20 or E30 because fuel efficiency is higher than gas
What is cellulosic ethanol?
made from cellulosic feedstocks such as grass, wood and crop residues.
What is an electric vehicle?
vehicle with one or more electric motors for propulsion.
What sources might the energy used to power the vehicle come from?
batteries, fuel cells or a generator
What sources of energy could hybrid electric vehicles use?
onboard rechargeable energy storage system and an internal combustion engine
What is hybrid electric vehicle?
auto that has two or more major sources of propulsion power.
What are some of the considerations when looking at hybrid fuel sources?
fuel efficiency, power, driving distance, or reduced green house gas emissions.
How does a gasoline electric hybrid function?
has one or two auxiliary electric motors that supplement the main gasoline engine.
What is a hydrogen vehicle?
uses hydrogen as its on board fuel for power
What are two broad categories for hydrogen fueled vehicles?
combustion or electrochemical conversion (fuel cell)
What is the source of hydrogen fuel?
natural gas or water
What are the benefits of using hydrogen as a fuel?
decreased ghg emissions and ozone precursors. less reliance on petro products
How does a fuel cell function?
uses hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to produce electricity
What are the most significant issues involved in using hydrogen as a fuel source?
hydrogen storage, cold weather operation, availability, safety
What are some of the issues with storing hydrogen?
the amount of hydrogen stored in a vehicle does not allow it to travel as far as a regular ICE vehicle
What are the temperature concerns with hydrogen powered vehicles?
fuel cell systems contain water which will freeze at low temperatures.
What are some of the current limitations of hydrogen powered vehicles?
getting hydrogen to customers, availability, safety, competition with other fuels and public acceptance
What are some of the safety concerns regarding hydrogen fuel?
handling compressed hydrogen is dangerous and can explode.
How has the competition from other fuel sources affected the adoption of hydrogen as a fuel source?
ICE and other alternative fuel vehicles are getting more fuel efficient and more affordable in comparison.
How can natural gas be used to decrease our dependence on foreign oil?
There is an abundance of natural gas in the US which can lead to not relying on foreign oil
How might the use of natural gas powered vehicles reduce vehicle exhaust emissions?
produces lower Co2 emissions than gas or diesel.
Why is natural gas the lowest producer of GHG out of all of the fossil fuels?
substantial reduction in co2 emissions when compared to other fuels
What are the safety benefits of using natural gas as a fuel?
dissipates into the atmosphere in the event of an accident (gas pools on ground and is flammable)
how common are natural gas vehicles and their refueling infrastructure?
very available and often used in buses or large trucks
How expensive is natural gas as a fuel?
25-42% cheaper than diesel
Is propane an alternative fuel?
yes. It qualifies for EPAct
What is a bi-fuel propane vehicle?
two separate fueling systems that enable the vehicle to use either propane or gas
How do propane powered vehicles handle in comparison to gasoline powered vehicles?
power, acceleration and cruising speed are all similar
How expensive is it to maintain a propane vehicle?
maintenance is generally much lower
What are some of the other benefits of propane powered vehicles?
significant decrease in harmful emissions and less dependence on foreign oil.
Why is RFG used?
has lower sulfur levels and includes an oxygenate to promote complete burning. Produces less carbon monoxide
Is RFG an alternative fuel?
No.
How common is the use of RFG?
used in over 1/3 of US vehicles
What tools are available to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Alternative fuel data center. Petro reduction per year, GHG reduction per year, fuel savins per year etc.
What tools can be used to calculate GHG reduction in Canada?
Environment Canada GHG reduction tool
Why is it important to understand the dynamics of fuel supply and demand?
makes it easier to anticipate price changes, follow key fuel standards and identify the steps and technologies to improve fuel efficiency.
Why is oil imported?
because demand exceeds US supply
What are some concerns for our growing appetite for oil?
eventually oil will become scarce and will run out more quickly as China, India and other countries develop energy intensive economies like North America
Have the Energy Policy Act of 1992 or 2005 achieved their goals of reducing the importation of foreign oil?
No. 2005 slowed the demand but did not achieve goals
How does OPEC influence oil supply?
adjusting production quotas of members and therefore, the supply.
What is the benchmark price for crude oil on the New York Mercantile exchange?
East Texas Sweet Crude.
How can market speculation affect the price of crude oil?
Speculators bet on the future price considering possible disruptions to the delicate balance of supply and demand.
What is the US strategic petroleum reserve?
serves to buffe4r the market in case oil imports are temporarily reduced. Its in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana
How much oil is stored in the strategic petroleum reserve?
695 million barrels
How much oil is consumed in Canada vs the US?
US - 19.4 million barrels per day
Canada - 2 million barrels per day
how much oil is imported in Canada vs the US?
US - 9.4 m barrels per day
Canada - 634,000 barrels per day
How much oil is refined in Canada vs the US?
US - 141 operable refineries
Canada - 19 refinderies
What is the North American Pipeline system?
refineries from multiple companies enter the same pipelines and at some times actually mix. Spands all through US.
What three elements make up the price of gas?
crude oil, cost of refining and taxes
What is the methodology for assigning the costs of fuel to its pump price?
Crude oil, Refining, Distribution and marketing costs, taxes
What is fuel hedging?
contractual tool some large fuel consuming companies use to reduce their exposure to volatile and potentially rising fuel costs. (contract that allows for a fixed cost)
What would happen if a company were to purchase a fuel swap and the price of fuel were to decline?
company is forced to pay an above market price for fuel
What is a fuel call option?
a pre-purchase of fuel with a premium so if fuel price decreases they can lower the cost but lose out on the premium paid up front.
Why might an organization consider an in-house fueling system?
cost or efficiency reasons
What issues might be caused by water contamination in a fueling system?
agitation from refilling tanks will temporarily mix fuel with water at higher levels
How will residual water in a storage tank affect gasoline blended with ethanol?
water in the tank will bind with ethanol causing a reaction creating phase separation which make fuel unusable.
How can you test for residual water in a fuel storage tank?
fuel tank monitors test for water. Paste on the end of the measurement stick can also be used to test for water
What types of biological contamination are found in diesel fuel?
bacteria, yeasts and funguses
What are suitable conditions for the reproduction of microbes in diesel fuel?
Presence of water or humid conditions will allow microbes to propagate
What is an underground storage tank?
tank and any underground piping connected to the tank that has a least 10 percent of its combined volume underground
What types of storage tanks are not regulated by the EPA?
Farm, residential, heating oil tanks, emergency spill or overflow tansk and septic tanks
What three things did the EPA mandate that fuel storage tanks be designed with or upgraded with?
to protect from corrosion, spills and overfills or be replaced with new UST’s.
How does the EPA allow local government to manage UST regulation?
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act allows them to operate in lieu of the federal EPA program.
Where can you find more information on American and Canadian UST regulations?
US - EPA website
Canada - http://laws-lois.justice
What responsibilities do the owners of underground storage tanks have?
legal requirements and liability associated with leaking tanks.
What are the environmental impacts of faulty or leaking underground fuel systems?
contaminate surrounding soil, groundwater or surface waters and affect indoor air spaces.
What is required to replace an existing UST with an AST?
requires closing the existing UST properly which includes giving 30 day notice to regulatory authority, site assessment, having the tank emptied and cleaned and either removing the tank or leaving it buried
What might be required for AST’s to meet local state/province requirements?
construction, installation, operation and maintenance requirements that are intended to prevent fires and other hazards that ca come from mismanaged or substandard AST’s.
What are some of the safety issues regarding above ground storage tanks?
secondary containment, vehicle impact protection, tank shell integrity testing, site security and control of storm water run off
What are the environmental concerns with AST’s?
leak, spill, or overflow which causes contamination of soil and water supply
What are the best leak detection methods?
10 percent difference between what was put in the tank and what is actually in the tank there is a strong chance of a leak. Also, alarm will sound in the event of a leak
What are the best release prevention methods?
standard tank filling practices, secondary containment areas (110%) of the tanks contents. Also, perform monthly reconciliation to look at tank height levels
What is subject to The Spill, Control and Countermeasure regulation?
A facility that stores, processes, refines, uses or consumes oil and is non-transportation related is subject tot the SPCC rule.
What steps can fleet managers take to prevent oil spills?
use suitable containers, provide overfill prevention (alarms), appropriate sized secondary containment, periodically inspect pipes and containers.
What should an SPCC plan address?
operating procedures to prevent spills, control measures to prevent spills and countermeasures to contain, cleanup and mitigate the effects of an oil spill.
What are the inspection requirements of the SPCC?
designed to detect oil leaks, spills, or other potential integrity or structural issues before they can result in a discharge of oil to navigable waters of the US or adjoining shorelines.
What is wet hose fueling?
mobile fueling or on site fueling, process of brining fuel to the location where the vehicle is parked or domiciled
What is the wet hose fueling process?
fuel truck travels to vehicle location, driver fuels all vehicles that need fuel, driver tracks how much fuel went into each vehicle and fleet manager manages the data in an online wet hosing fuel account
What are the advantages of wet hose fueling?
driver doesn’t have to stop for fuel, control (no fraud misuse etc) and versatility
What are disadvantages of wet hose fueling?
environmental issues and cross fueling. More expensive.
What are alternatives to wet hose fueling?
onsite bulk fuel tanks and fleet fuel cards
How can fuel cards help to manage decentralized fleets?
no need to carry cash, product control is enhanced, no TEC’s, data collection, fuel discount
What is a corporate T&E card?
can be linked to a credit card that is used by consumers to purchase a variety of goods.
What is a universal/co branded card?
typically used for very specific purchases and have the capability to identify the actual product that was purchased at the point of sale.
What data is available from universal/co branded cards?
optimized fuel data, repair shop data
How can universal/co branded fuel cards aid a fleet manager or fleet management company to manage their fuel program?
helps ensure proper limits, accurate reporting, no fraud etc
What are the common features offered by fleet fuel card providers?
Purchase control, exception monitoring, flexible reporting options, tax exemptions, convenience, online customer access
What are company branded fuel cards?
issued by and associated with one fuel provider (shell or chevron)
What data and controls are available for company branded cards?
high level of control, purchasing data profile, limited availability (not good in large geographical area)
What is a private site card?
only used at one location and is more restrictive of all
What methods incentivize fleets to use a certain type of fuel cards?
Rebates, prompt payment incentive, online fleet data management
What types of information can fleet managers access online for fuel cards?
types of products purchased, how much fuel was purchased, how much was spent, where they purchased and what taxes were incurred.
How is fuel data used for maintenance purposes?
odometer readings and transactional history. Helps to show when vehicles need to be serviced.
How can data be used to monitor driver behavior?
tracking when and where purchases are made, when purchases are made out of state and monitoring MPG to determine speeding etc.
What commercial fuel card controls are available to managers?
hard controls (only can use during certain time of day and or declines), soft control (alerts when outside of timeframe), zip code reports that show out of state transactions
What points should be kept in mind when developing an emergency response fuel plan?
develop plans for most likely events, keep plan flexible, use three principles to guide the plan (survivability, adaptability and sustainability), write an emergency operations manual, train staff
What are some of the emergencies that should be considered in the plan?
hurricanes, hail, flooding, ice storms and snow storms
What does emergency plan survivability refer to?
your plan for your drivers and vehicles can continue at some level during the disaster.
What is emergency plan adaptability?
describes the need for your plan to be flexible and adapt to your given emergency
What does fleet emergency plan sustainability refer to?
recognizes that your fleet must be able to function for long periods of time.
What roles does regular service and following a PM schedule play in emergency planning and emergency operations?
maintained vehicles can be counted on to serve in time of emergency until you are able to rotate them out for PM or other maintenance.
Why are extra security precautions recommended during a time of emergency?
risk of losing valuable assets that you need to run your business (make sure supplies and equipment are locked up in case of theft)
What should be included in your emergency operations manual?
contact info for everyone in organization, list of all equipment needed to get through emergency, all docs essential to fleet,
how should the emergency response plan be communicated to staff?
classroom education on regular basis, drills, provide copy of plan and communicate their roles in the event of an emergency
What additional training opportunities are available?
fire departments for first aid, CPR and light search and rescue.
what are some considerations when developing a 24 hour emergency operations staffing plan?
plan must be capable of operating two or more shifts not exceeding twelve hours each. Divide staff into two or more teams
What revisions were made to the Underground storage tank regulation of 2015?
increasing emphasis on properly operating and maintaining UST equipment.
Where can you find additional information for all of the changes to UST regulation?
EPA’s website
What at three basic requirements that UST leak detection systems must meet?
able to detect a leak from any portion of the tank or its piping, install, calibrate, operate and maintain leak protection in accordance with the manufacture’s instructions and meets the performance requirements described in the federal regulations for leak protection
What are UST owners required to keep records of by law?
activities related to the maintenance of their UST system. (upgrades and repairs)
What are the record keeping requirements for a sacrificial anode system and an impressed current system?
Sacrificial anode system - should be tested within six months of installation and every three years after
Impressed current system - inspection every 60 days
What are three leak detection methods that are mandated by the EPA?
Interstitial, Internal, External
What are the two types of release detection methods available to eh owner of a tank installed on or before April 11, 2016?
monthly monitoring or monthly inventory control and tank tightness testing every five years
What are two methods of monitoring the pressurized piping of a fuel system installed on or before April 11, 2016?
Automatic line leak detector, annual line testing
What is required on pressurized piping installed or replaced after April 11, 2016?
Using an auto line leak detector which shuts off product flow, restricts flow and triggers an alarm
What are the release detection methods available for suction piping installed before and after April 11, 2016?
monthly monitoring, line testing every three years
What should you do after a leak has been confirmed?
attempt to identify the section of the tank that is leaking
How is monitoring the ground water used as a method of leak detection?
monitors the groundwater table near an UST for the presence of released free product on the water table.
How can spills be protected against?
catchment basin is a bucket sealed around the fill pipe to capture spills when the delivery hose is uncoupled from the fill pipe.
How can overfills be protected against?
making sure there is enough room in the tank for the delivery before the delivery is made and watching the entire delivery process
How can corrosion be protected against?
Cathodic protection (either sacrificial anodes or impressed current system).
Where can you find information on how to properly store alternative fuels?
EPA website
What are the three groups of UST operators in the revised underground storage tank regulations?
Class A - persons having primary responsibility for operation
Class B - Persons having daily responsibility
Class C - Daily on site employees having primary responsibility for emergency release
When do Class A, B and C operators need to be trained by?
October 13, 2018 or within 30 days of assuming duties (class C must be trained before assuming duties)
What training must class A operators have?`
trained or pass exam that determines if they have the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions regarding compliance
What training must Class B operators have?
Trained or pass exam about regulatory requirements and typical equipment used at UST facilities
What training are class C operators required to have?
be trained by a class A or B operator, complete a training program or pass a comparable exam. Training must evaluate their ability to take actions in response to emergencies.
What are the retraining requirements of class A and B operators who are out of compliance?
Class A and B operators at UST systems who are out of compliance must be retrained within 30 days. Retraining must be conducted by an independent organization and must cover areas out of compliance.
What operator records must be kept?
record identifying all currently designated operators at the facility. Name, class, duties and all training etc
How does the EPA work to help clean up UST releases?
EPA works with its state, territorial, tribal and industry partners to clean up releases from USTs.
How do local factors affect the best method to clean a release site?
sites vary because sometimes drinking water can be affected (substantial clean up that can cost millions of dollars)
What are the LUST corrective action resources?
Release discovery and confirmation, Site characterization, corrective action and site closure
Where can a complete version of the law which governs UST’s be found?
available in the US Code Title 42 Chapter 82
What are some industry codes and standards that must be followed?
all USTs must be designed, constructed and protected from corrosion in accordance with a code of practice
When does the State Program Approval regulations require states and territories to reapply by?
must reapply by 10/13/2018
What is the red tag program?
delivery prohibition programs physically identify UST’s that are ineligible to receive product
What is the green tag program?
means that a tank is compliant, can receive deliveries and the tag is visible at the facility
Are the majority of states in the red or green tag program?
Yes.
What is required when closing a UST?
notifying your regulatory authority 30 days before, conducting any necessary site assessments and remedial action, having the tank emptied and cleaned and either removing the tank or leaving it buried.
What do most AST’s need to meet as a minimum?
state and local fire codes
What are some of the other requirements of AST’s?
secondary containment, vehicle impact protection, tank shell integrity testing, site security, night lighting and control of storm water runoff.
How are AST’s inspected?
Facility must combine visual inspection with another testing technique such as hydrostatic testing, radiographic testing, ultrasonic testing, acoustic emissions testing or another system of non-destructive shell testing
What secondary means of containment are required for AST’s?
must have entire capacity of the largest single container and sufficient freeboard to contain precipitation
What detection devices must be installed in AST’s?
at least one of the following: high liquid level alarm, high liquid level pump cutoff, direct audible or code signal, fast response system
Explain hybrid electric, mild hybrid
hybrid electric - use both an internal combustion engine and electric power
Mild hybrid- auto engine shutoff startup
Explain series hybrid vs parallel hybrid
Series - internal combustion engine powers an electric generator and only the electric motor drives the wheels
Parallel hybrid - both the engine and the electric motor generate the power that drives the wheels.
What program was enacted by the EPA and Department of Transportation’s National Traffic Safety Admin in 2016 to reduce GHG?
National Program for GHG and fuel economy standards
How much might these standards reduce GHG?
250 million metric tons
What are the projected results of the standards?
avg of 163 grams per mile in CO2 or 54.5 MPG, cut 6 billion metric tons of GHG, save families more than $1.7 trillion in fuel costs and reduce Americas dependence on foreign oil by more than 2 million barrels per day
What are two intertwined and critically important needs of the US?
to reduce oil consumption and to address global climate change
How can the government help to reduce our dependence on foreign oil?
establishing higher MPG standards to reduce fuel use and GHG emissions
How does the transportation industry contribute to GHG?
29 percent of all US GHG
What are the benefits of the proposed HD National program?
reduction in GHG by nearly 250 million metric tons and save approx. 500 million barrels of oil over the life of vehicles sold during 2014-2018.
what are the costs of the proposed HD National program?
costs the affected industry approx. $7.7 billion, and generate total societal benefits of $49 billion, providing $41 billion in net benefits as a result of the standards over the lifetimes of model year 2014-2018 vehicles.
What are the three main regulatory categories of the HD National Program?
combination tractors, heavy duty pickup trucks and vans and vocational vehicles
What types of vehicles are included in the proposal?
Everything but trailers with engines
What is variable valve timing?
process of altering the timing of a valve lift event, and is often used to improve performance, fuel economy or emissions
What is active fuel management?
automobile variable displacement technology from GM. Allows V6 or V8 engine to turn off half of the cylinders under light road conditions to improve MPG
What is the Atkinson cycle engine?
type of internal combustion engine that provides efficiency at the expense of power density, or total power extracted per unit f displacement per rotation.
What is a partial zero emission vehicle?
vehicle that has zero evaporative emissions from its fuel system, has a 15 year warranty on its emission control components and meets Super ultra low emission vehicle tailpipe emission standards
What is electronic fuel injection?
replaced carburetors back in the mid 1980’s as the preferred method for supplying air and fuel to engines.
How can exhaust systems help reduce emissions?
more precise and accurate fuel metering reduces the concentration of toxic combustion byproducts leaving the engine.
What are the differences between direct and indirect injection?
Indirect - injected into a sub chamber shaped to swirl the compressed air and improve combustion
Direct - initiation of combustion takes place in a depression in the crown of the piston (more fuel efficient)
What is exhaust gas recirculation?
a nitrogen oxide emissions reduction technique used in gas and diesel engines. (reduces emissions)
What is a diesel particulate filter?
device designed to remove diesel particulate matter or soot from the exhaust has of a diesel engine.
How effective are DPF’s?
reduce 85 to 90 percent or more of diesel emissions
What is selective catalytic reduction?
advanced active emissions control technology system that injects a liquid reductant agent through a special catalyst into the exhaust stream of a diesel engine.
How can SCR reduce emissions?
Reduces NOx emissions up to 90 percent while simultaneously reducing HC and CO emissions by 50 to 90 percent.
What is the National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Lab?
leads the development of science and research in support of the EPA’s regulations in the transportation sector?
What sort of certification and compliance testing does the NVFEL perform on LD and MD engines?
confirms compliance with EPA’s exhaust emissions standards.
What system is being used by NVFEL in order to analyze different engine and transmission combos in order to predict their emissions?
Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS)
What tests does the NVFEL perform on HD engines?
mapping out the fuel consumption of HD engines and various operating conditions
