Browse Topic: Environmental protection
R-1234yf is used in almost every new car sold in the U.S., but the EU is discussing a ban and the industry is investigating alternatives like CO2 and propane. According to its manufacturer, Chemours, use of R-1234yf has grown so much since the refrigerant replaced the long-established R-134a that it's now used in 95% of new cars sold in the U.S. An estimated 220 million cars on global roads are also using it. The problem with R-134a, which came in cars and trucks in the 1990s, is that it's a gas with “a global warming potential (GWP) that is 1,430 times that of CO2,” according to the EPA. Since 2017, EU legislation has banned the use of any refrigerant in new vehicles with a GWP higher than 150. That rule doomed R-134a but opened the door for R-1234yf, which has a GWP of only four. The EU is currently revisiting R-1234yf emissions rules and may ban the substance in a few years. In the U.S., the EPA stands by its use
Backed by a consortium of companies, Southwest Research Institute's demonstrator vehicle aims to prove the commercial viability of hydrogen engines for on-road trucks. For decades, the running joke around hydrogen being a viable fuel for commercial trucks has been that it's “ten years away from being ten years away.” Though hydrogen-fueled rigs operating at scale has long seemed like a pipe dream, shifting winds around the globe blowing towards decarbonization have finally pushed this technology to be ready for the road. With the demand for the development of new propulsion technologies rising, organizations such as the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) have ramped up R&D efforts to make this tech commercially viable. SwRI is an independent provider of research services and can rapidly assemble teams to tackle problems. SwRI's main mission is to push the boundaries of science and technology to develop innovative solutions
There is great recognition regarding the importance of hydrogen as an energy route for the decarbonization of road vehicles. Several countries are making large investments to create products, services, and infrastructures that allow hydrogen to be used as a clean source for propulsion, but there are still many open questions. This complete hydrogen chain involves production, transformation, transport, storage, and use. Although many initiatives are seeking global production, the use of low-carbon hydrogen is not yet economically competitive. Therefore, for this industry to establish itself, and acknowledging the characteristics of each region, there needs to be more intense coordination of efforts between the different industrial and political segments. Low-carbon Hydrogen Use Across Economic Sectors and Global Regions establishes premises for the hydrogen economy and its main environmental aspects. It also includes proposals and scenarios to establish a strategy that relates to
This specification covers disinfectants or chemicals for use in disinfecting aircraft after carrying livestock
This SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) describes a method of conducting an endurance test using contaminated air when the applicable specification requires non-recirculation of the contaminants. The objective of the test is to determine the resistance of the engine mounted components to wear or damage caused by the contaminated air. The method described herein calls for non-recirculation of the contaminants and is intended to provide a uniform distribution of the contaminant at the inlet to the Unit Under Test (UUT). The UUT may require the use of a hydraulic fluid for actuation of components within the test unit. Contamination of the test hydraulic fluid is not part of this recommended practice. If contaminated hydraulic fluid is required by the applicable test specification, refer to MAP749
This SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) contains guidelines and recommendations for subsonic airplane air conditioning systems and components, including requirements, design philosophy, testing, and ambient conditions. The airplane air conditioning system comprises that arrangement of equipment, controls, and indicators that supply and distribute air to the occupied compartments for ventilation, pressurization, and temperature and moisture control. The principal features of the system are: a A supply of outside air with independent control valve(s). b A means for heating. c A means for cooling (air or vapor cycle units and heat exchangers). d A means for removing excess moisture from the air supply. e A ventilation subsystem. f A temperature control subsystem. g A pressure control subsystem. Other system components for treating cabin air, such as filtration and humidification, are included, as are the ancillary functions of equipment cooling and cargo compartment conditioning
This SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) defines the requirements for air cycle air conditioning systems used on military air vehicles for cooling, heating, ventilation, and moisture and contamination control. General recommendations for an air conditioning system, which may include an air cycle system as a cooling source, are included in MIL-E-18927E and JSSG-2009. Air cycle air conditioning systems include those components which condition high temperature and high pressure air for delivery to occupied and equipment compartments and to electrical and electronic equipment. This document is applicable to open and closed loop air cycle systems. Definitions are contained in Section 5 of this document
The next-gen 15-liter diesel engine meets all 2027 EPA emissions regulations while boosting fuel efficiency. Cummins provided extensive details of the design and engineering efforts involved in developing the new HELM version of its X15 diesel engine. The company says its new engine will offer up to a 7% improvement in fuel economy compared to the current EPA 2024-certified X15 while also meeting all 2027 emissions targets. Truck & Off-Highway Engineering was invited to tour the company's headquarters in Columbus, Indiana, where journalists were given a comprehensive update on the hardware powering the latest X15
Toyota, Mazda and Subaru announced a new technological effort to create new internal combustion engines and ways to use them in the electrification era, specifically for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The companies said at a joint press conference in Japan that they would encourage increased use of petroleum alternatives like biofuels and eFuels in their effort to create carbon-neutral vehicles. A joint statement from the three OEMs claims this push for new and better ICEs comes with a focus on “carbon as the enemy” as they develop engines that can better work with electric motors, batteries, and other electric drive units. Toyota, Mazda and Subaru made clear they are not getting rid of EV-only vehicle plans. Here's how each company will approach the new ICE+EV era (quotes provided in English by on-site interpreters
Sustainability remains a dominant trend in packaging and processing, continuing to attract the attention of the life sciences industry and inspire its new initiatives. Although pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers must prioritize patient safety and product protection, concerns about climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, plastic waste, and pressure to move toward a circular economy are prompting a greater focus on improving the sustainability of their products and packaging
The transportation sector has an enormous demand for resources and energy, is a major contributor of emissions (i.e., greenhouse gases in particular), and is defined largely by the kind of energy it uses—be it electric cars, biofuel trucks, or hydrogen aircraft. Given the size of this sector, it has a crucial role in combating climate change and securing sustainability in its three forms: environmental, societal, and economic. In this context, there are many questions concerning energy options on the path toward a more sustainable transportation sector. Is hydrogen the fuel of the future? Is there enough electricity to power a fully electric transportation sector? What happens when millions of electric vehicle batteries need to be decommissioned? Which regulatory measures are effective and appropriate for moving the sector in the right direction? What is the “right” direction? This chapter does not aim to answer all those questions. It does, however, highlight and discuss the most
Most heavy trucks should be fully electric, using a combination of batteries and catenary electrification, but heavy trucks requiring very long unsupported range will need chemical fuels. Hydrogen is the key to storing renewably generated electricity chemically. At the scale of heavy trucks, compressed hydrogen can match the specific energy of diesel, but its energy density is five times lower, limiting the range to around 2,000 km. Scaling green hydrogen production and addressing leakage must be priorities. Hydrogen-derived electrofuels—or “e-fuels”—have the potential to scale, and while the economic comparison currently has unknowns, clean air considerations have gained new importance. The limited supply of bioenergy should be reserved for critical applications, such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), aviation, shipping, and road freight in the most remote locations. Additionally, there are some reasons to prefer ethanol or methanol to diesel-type fuels as they are
Advanced two-dimensional (2D) materials discovered in the last two decades are now being produced at scale and contribute to a wide range of performance enhancements in engineering applications. The most well known of these novel materials is graphene, a nearly transparent nanomaterial comprised of a single layer of bonded carbon atoms. In relative terms, it has the highest level of heat and electrical conductivity, protects against ultraviolet rays, and is the strongest material ever measured. These properties have made graphene an attractive potential material for a variety of applications, particularly for transportation-related uses, and especially for automotive engineering. The goal of drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions has prioritized the electrification of transportation, the decarbonization of industry, and the development of products that require less energy to make, last longer, and are fully recyclable. While this chapter reviews the current state of graphene
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