New Technology Research Grants

0 Comments | Environmental Insider News, August 2, 2004

An early clue as to what types of projects may receive Texas Emission Reduction Program (TERP) grants for 2005 may be found by looking at the New Technology Research and Development Program grants for 2004. The NTRD program both supports the development of commercialization technologies and seeks to streamline and expedite the process whereby TCEQ and EPA give recognition of and credit fro new, innovative, and creative technological advancements. The program also helps to spur the entrepreneurial and inventive spirit of Texans to help develop new technologies to solve today's air quality problems.

On July 29, the NTRD program recommended funding 17 projects that together would cost $8,349,374. Topping the list is a recommended $1.2 million to Cummins West, Inc., dba Cleaire Advanced Emission Controls, for verification testing as well as advanced product development tests on the LonestarO system (for which TERP grants have already been awarded in 2004), which helps to reduce emissions from on-road vehicles. Other recommended projects include -

* $1,074,600 to Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, in partnership with S&S, Allison, and Cummins, for development and certification of a hybrid transit bus. The project will include construction of two hybrid electric-diesel buses, evaluation of new emissions reducing technologies, and certification of a new hybrid electric-diesel bus.

* $738,000 to GE Rail for verification of a locomotive rebuild from Tier 0 to Tier 2, including final development and certification of a low NOX retrofit (rebuilt) system to be deployed on switcher locomotives equipped with EMD 645E engines. The objective is to achieve EPA Tier 2 NOX levels on EMD switcher locomotives - reduction of 42% of the Tier 0 level and 50% of non-regulated locomotives could be achieved.

* $703,764 to Converter Technology Incorporated for verification of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system with claims of 70% NOX reductions.

* $699,375 to HydroFuels Systems, Inc., for verification of a retrofit device (Aqua vapor system) for on-road engines that uses water injection to lower NOX emissions for on-road vehicles.

* $666,815 to Eaton Corporation for development of hydraulic technology for on-road vehicles. The concept of this technology, which targets class 2B through class B commercial vehicles, has been proven on light-duty vehicles.

* $560,028 to Oshkosh Truck Corporation for development of a hybrid refuse collection vehicle that incorporates a hybrid electric drive train and an automated side loader body.

* $395,691 to David Allen at the University of Texas for a study on ozone transportation, which will add six ozone monitors at strategic locations in east and north Texas to measure background levels during the 2005-06 field study. The information collected could be used to support a 126 petition requesting another state to reduce pollution, to evaluate the effectiveness of controls in place in Texas. The study proposes to have the temporary monitors in place for several months. Many of the locations proposed have never had ozone monitors. Monitor placement will not have a regulatory impact or affect attainment status due to the limited duration of the study.

* $392,213 to Benny Freeman of the University of Texas for development of novel polymeric membrane materials that have high hydrogen permeability, high hydrogen-carbon monoxide and hydrogen-carbon dioxide selectivities, and high thermal stability in order to reduce the cost of high-purity hydrogen production needed for advancing the development of fuel cell technology.

* $354,600 to ROTEC Design Ltd. For verification of a retrofit device (FreedomAir) with claims of 65% NOX reductions from on-road vehicles and stationary engines.

* $331,630 to Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc., for development testing of a retrofit device (selective catalytic reduction) for on-road engines, with claims of 50% NOX reductions. Funding has been requested for conducting preliminary emissions tests and collecting field use data needed to determine durability and applicability of this device for use on heavy-duty vehicle applications.

* $326,607 to Texas Engineering Experiment Station for development of a selective non-catalytic reduction process for coal-fired power plants using a novel fuel called feedlot biomass (cow manure) as return fuel. The fuel contains nitrogen as urea, which is released as ammonia and can thus serve as return fuel and a SNCR agent. Initial results show 80% to 90% NOX reductions.

* $320,000 to Lubrizol Corporation for verification testing of PuriNOX fuel with DOC (Purimuffler) after treatment devices to lowe NOX and PM emissions.

* $291,749 to Eastern Research Group, Inc., to evaluate NOX benefits associated with the use of Texas low-emission diesel (TxLED) in heavy-duty diesel equipment. This project is an extension of a current effort to evaluate the impact of TxLED on emissions performance and maintenance of selected equipment in the Texas Department of Transportation vehicle first (TxDOT project 4576).