A public-private partnership is testing a Urea-SCR-based NO_x reduction system (earlier post) on six waste collection vehicles trucks in Brooklyn and the Bronx.

Initiated by Clean Air Communities (CAC), the project also involves Waste Management (WM), Local Development Corporation of East New York (LDCENY), Combustion Components Associates (CCA), and ENSR International (ENSR).

The ELIM-NO_x system from CCA utilizes a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalyst using a 32% by weight aqueous urea solution as the NO_x reductant. The system includes an electronic control unit, which determines the necessary amount of urea to be injected into the exhaust stream based on a customized engine map. A “self-learning” monitoring system with sensors to measure NO_x, exhaust temperature, and other engine parameters is temporarily mounted on the truck during normal operations.

Once in the hot exhaust stream, the reagent decomposes to form ammonia and carbon dioxide. Ammonia mixes with the NO_x and passes over an SCR gas catalyst to turn ozone-forming NO_x into water and nitrogen.

CAC, Waste Management, LDCENY, CCA, and ENSR International will collect emissions data from the vehicles and equipment over the coming year to monitor the performance of the technology under actual working conditions to ensure that emissions are being reduced.

ENSR will construct air quality models with the resulting data to quantify the potential benefits of using this type of NO_x control technology on a local and regional level.

The project team is looking for a reduction of approximately 20% in ambient NO_x levels within heavily traveled NYC metro areas.