Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar has announced technology plans to meet upcoming U.S. EPA Tier 4 Interim, European Stage IIIB and Japan MLIT Step 4 mobile non-road emissions regulations that take effect in the year 2011. These emission standards will require emissions reductions of particulate matter (PM) by 90 percent and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) up to 50 percent beyond EPA Tier 3/EU Stage IIIA standards.
Caterpillar technology plans cover all Caterpillar industrial engine applications and regions subject to these emissions regulations. Less than 75 hp Tier 4 Interim compliant industrial engines, now in production, were announced in 2007. The engine emissions technologies represented in these plans will meet Caterpillar global industrial engine OEM customer needs for highly integrated, yet flexible engine systems.
Caterpillar previously achieved reductions in regulated engine emissions through its launch of ACERT Technology for Tier 3/Stage IIIA. The company continues its commitment to enabling customers to be more sustainable in their operations. The recent technology establishes the foundation for virtually zero particulate matter non-road emissions by 2014, the company said. These reductions are coupled with the additional environmental benefit of fewer greenhouse gas emissions achieved through planned fuel efficiency improvements.
Utilizing ACERT Technology as a foundation, Caterpillar will add next generation turbo charging, advanced electronics, advanced fuel systems, particulate after-treatment systems and a suite of NOx reduction technologies to provide tailored emissions solutions to industrial engine OEM customers. Through years of proven results with ACERT Technology, Caterpillar has provided a broad range of emissions technology solutions in the industry with a full range of fuel system, engine system, after-treatment, machine system design and integration capabilities.
To provide additional customer value and further leverage successful platforms, Caterpillar will offer a new 7-liter engine designed specifically for Tier 4 Interim and future emissions compliance. In addition, the industrial C9 ACERT will feature increased displacement. These two developments will offer customers additional power choices in the 250- to 400-hp segment.
As Caterpillar leverages its suite of ACERT solutions, particulate reduction technology will include the use of advanced combustion technology, oxidation catalysts and diesel particulate filters with advanced regeneration systems that will optimize up time, fuel efficiency and operator convenience. During the past 14 years, Caterpillar has produced more than 1 million particulate after-treatment devices. Caterpillar has the ability to apply its extensive particulate after-treatment design and application experience to match the appropriate technology with the specific application to meet customer and OEM requirements, and optimize machine and engine applications.
A suite of NOx reduction technologies will be tailored to optimally meet varied customer requirements. Caterpillar non-road mobile industrial engines will not utilize selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for Tier 4 Interim regulations. In each case, Caterpillar has selected and implemented the technology that optimally satisfies customer needs based on the application and emissions regulations.
“Caterpillar customers can expect Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB engines to continue to provide excellent power, response and durability as did Tier 3/Stage IIIA engines, with fuel efficiency improvements planned,” said Hans Haefeli, Caterpillar vice president responsible for industrial engines.
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