You may not be aware of the sophisticated technology available today for cleaning up vehicle emissions and improving air quality. Well NCT is, and we have recently applied it to some of our buses.
The new technology is being applied to the Euro 2 Standard Diesel Engines, which not only significantly reduces the highly visible Particulate Emissions (Soot) by 90% , but it also "Targets and reduces all the other legislated Pollutants" (such as Carbon Mon-oxides, Hydrocarbons, and Nitrous Oxides) NOx is the main contributor to smog and acid rain, this emmison is reduced by 50%. taking the emissions standards beyond that which is being regulated for 2005 (Euro 4).
The technology, described as a "Low Pressure Cooled EGR (Exhaust Gas Re-Circulation) System", was purchased from the Swedish company STT Emtec (part funded by the Energy Savings Trust's "Cleanup Program")
Now comes the technical bit... The concept behind this technology, explains Alan Barnard (STT's UK Representative), is that "Clean - Particulate Free" Exhaust Gases which is rich in CO2, is re-circulated back into the Air-Intake Side of the Engine's Turbo Charger, replacing some of the incoming air with CO2 rich exhaust gases that absorbs heat in cylinder and effectively lowers the "Peak Combustion Temperature" preventing the formation of NOx (Nox normally being formed at high temperatures and high pressures).
The impressive part This is not just a "First for Nottingham", but is also a "First for any English City outside of London", something that both Nottingham City Council and Nottingham City Transport are very proud of.
The program so far has been introduced on just a handful of buses, however, on completion it will hopefully be expanded to include more vehicle types that operate in the Nottingham City Centre Clear Zone. |
