ACERT Technology: How Caterpillar Engines Meet Current and ...

The global Research & Development (R&D) activity is supported by our Technical
Research Center located at Caterpillar’s headquarters in Peoria/Ill. It
supports our engineers with fundamental research on combustion, emissions,
noise, structures, advanced materials and complete power systems. Engines
are tested in over 100 cells capable to accommodate units up to 9000 hp.
Emissions have been the primary driver of engine development during the last
decade, as shown here for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) NOx
limits. The most restrictive on-highway limits precede only by 2 - 4 years the
land based application. NOx and particulate emissions have been dramatically
reduced and will be reduced by an additional 95 % until 2010. Eventually all
emissions will converge towards a “Near Zero Emission” situation.
Marine emission rules are lagging behind but show a downward trend as well.
They will leverage the technology developed for the on-highway application.
The pressure is increasing, not only from the regulator side who even offers
incentives for low emissions but also from the users and shipbuilder side.
They are ready to accept their environmental responsibility, want to preserve
the value of their investment and favor low NOx solutions, “Green Ships” and
invisible smoke.
The diesel industry has responded to the challenge and established a record
of continuous improvement in customer value while making our engines
cleaner.
As emission limits become more stringent, solving the value equation becomes
more difficult:
Emission reduction with conventional methods may reduce customer value,
affecting fuel efficiency, requiring complex systems, expensive aftertreatment
installations, addition of water, etc.
We, at Caterpillar, have accepted the challenge to reduce emissions but increase
customer value at the same time.
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