On August 13, Cummins announced plans to add selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment to its heavy-duty products, including the 15-liter, heavy-duty ISX engine, to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2010 emissions regulations. Cummins Emissions Solutions, provider of SCR systems, will supply the integrated exhaust aftertreament systems for Cummins mid-range and heavy-duty engines.
Cummins previously said it would use exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) technology to combat nitrogen oxide emissions, but then decided to also use SCR, which requires the chemical additive, urea, to reduce heavy-duty engine emissions.
The company will combine copper zeolite catalyst technology with its XPI fuel system, cooled EGR, Cummins variable geometry turbocharger, Cummins particulate filter and advanced electronic controls to meet EPA regulations and provide up to a 5 percent improvement in fuel economy, depending on application and duty cycles. Cummins claims it chose copper zeolite technology because it has shown better thermal durability compared to iron zeolite technology typical of common catalytic systems.
“With diesel costs averaging between $4 and $5 a gallon, even a 1 percent savings in fuel costs can be tremendous for truck fleets,” says Jeff Jones, vice president, sales and marketing, Cummins. If a truck burns 20,000 gallons of fuel a year, Jones explains, then a 1 percent increase in fuel economy will equate to $1,000 per truck added annually to the company’s bottom line.
Currently, Cummins has more than 200,000 SCR-equipped engines running in heavy-duty commercial truck applications in Europe. The company believes this will leverage its knowledge when developing the 2010 North American product lines.
