With the standards constantly changing and getting stricter on diesel emissions both here and overseas, it is more important than ever to learn about diesel emission controls. There are two broad areas of diesel emissions standards. The first is in the standards and testing of diesel vehicles exhaust emissions. Just like other vehicles, diesel engine vehicles are subject to emission standards. These are based on the maximum amount of diesel pollutants that are acceptable in the gases emitted from diesel engines. These “tailpipe standards” are tested over a variety of conditions and engine speeds. Diesel vehicles not meeting these standards are either not licensed for use or face fines and penalties.
The other type standard for diesel emission control concerns diesel exhaust in confined spaces from diesel powered generators and other power generation equipment. In the United States, these standards are set forth by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Similar regulations are in place in other countries under similar Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards organizations. These standards not only control the allowable amount of pollutant these devices can emit, but how the diesel emissions have to be vented from the spaces, creating a safe working environment.
One of the more interesting new technologies in controlling diesel emissions is the development of gold-based emissions control. A Silicon Valley developer is working with European diesel car manufacturers to test this new application with a potential reduction of emissions of up to 30%. The advancement in this technology, in particular the durability of the gold-based emissions control system may outstrip the use of older catalytic converter and catalytic stripping technologies in older diesel emissions control systems.
