U.S. EPA regulations continue to shape manufacturers' development programs. Cummins Power Generation Inc. will produce diesel engines for Doosan Infracore Portable Power’s line of portable generators, helping the latter to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 4 emission standards.
Cummins Power Generation is a business unit of Cummins Inc. that supplies the electric-power sector with alternators, generator-drive engines, and pre-integrated power systems. Doosan Infracore Portable Power is former Ingersoll Rand business acquired by South Korea’s Doosan Infracore in 2007. It manufactures portable air compressors, light towers and light compaction products, as well as mobile generators for mining, drilling, industrial, and construction industries.
EPA’s Tier 4 standards were released in 2004 and are to be phased-in to law by 2015. They require manufacturers of diesel engines to achieve NOx and particulate-matter (PM) emissions reductions of about 90% below the prior (Tier 3) standard (in place since 2000.) It indicated these emission reductions may be achieved by using control technologies —including advanced exhaust gas after-treatment — similar to those required in the 2010 standards for commercial truck (highway) diesel engines.
To date, Tier 4 is the strictest EPA emissions requirement for off-highway diesel engines. It sets specific limits on the level of nitrogen oxides and particulates that can be released into the atmosphere.
Doosan Portable Power already has incorporate Cummins' 6.7- and 9-liter engines into its product selection, and continues to work on the 4.5-liter integration. George Iarca, Cummins' North America Engine sales and marketing manager, stated: "The technology and quality of our product were deciding factors in Doosan's decision. Meeting stringent emission requirements and providing a seamless transition for customers have been challenging for both engine and equipment manufacturers. Yet, our engine technology allows us to meet the emission requirements, while still providing an efficient, robust and reliable solution."
