Reduction of PM Emissions from Refuse Trucks through Retrofit of Diesel Particulate Filters

Diesel particulate matter emissions, because they do not disperse as readily gaseous emissions, have a very localized effect and eventually settle to the ground not far from where they were emitted. One subset of heavy-duty diesel vehicles that warrant further attention for controlling particulate emissions matter is sanitation trucks. Cummins Inc. and West Virginia University investigated particulate emissions reduction technologies for New York City Department of Sanitation refuse trucks under the EPA Consent Decree program. Regulated emissions were measured on four retrofitted sanitation trucks with and without the DPF installed. Cummins engines powered all of the retrofitted trucks. The Engelhard DPX reduced PM emissions by 97% and 84% on the New York Garbage Truck Cycle (NYGTC) and Orange County Refuse Truck Cycle (OCRTC) respectively. The Johnson-Matthey CRT system reduced PM emissions by 81% and 87% over the NYGTC and OCRTC respectively. HC emissions with the DPX installed were below the detectable limit of the laboratory over the OCRTC. The CRT showed a reduction of 87% relative to the untreated exhaust over the OCRTC. On average, the Engelhard DPX and Johnson Matthey CRT particulate filters reduced the diesel CO emissions, on a g/mile basis, by 83%.