Emissions Research and Measurement Division (ERMD)
Research Capacity: The Emissions Research and Measurment Division (ERMD) has a capability to undertake emissions testing and research on a broad variety of mobile and stationary sources. The mobile emissions testing includes cars, trains, planes, marine vessels, offroad vehicles, and utility/recreational vehicles.
The ERMD conducts the vehicle emissions testing for the federal government's compliance audit program for new light-duty vehicles offered for sale in Canada. This program evaluates new vehicles for exhaust/evaporative and particulate mass emissions to determine compliance with federal standards and regulations.
The Division investigates alternative fuels and alternative engine technologies to determine the potential impact on Canadian air quality and to provide emission factors for predicting total national emissions.
The ERMD undertakes joint government/industry programs to evaluate and develop new technologies or optimize existing equipment which will result in performance improvements, and energy and emission reduction.
Testing programs are conducted to update the Canadian fleet emissions estimates, including work on in-use vehicle monitoring, effects of ambient temperature conditions, and results of emissions-control tampering. As a result of testing of this nature, the government develops regulations and guidelines to protect the Canadian environment more effectively.
The ERMD provides a unique technical advice and assistance program which includes limited testing for industry. The program includes evaluation of fuel-saving devices and the provision of technical assistance to the general public, governments, industries, and institutions.
Projects Undertaken: Research on alternative fuels and aftermarket exhaust emissions control equipment for on-road, heavy-duty vehicles; research on alternative and reformulated fuels for light-duty passenger cars and trucks; research on electric vehicles and hybrids for both light- and heavy-duty vehicle applications; exhaust emissions characterization of light-duty vehicles and heavy-duty trucks and buses; research on onboard marine vessel propulsion system exhaust emissions analysis from medium-and low-speed diesel engines; outboard marine engine exhaust emissions testing and two- and four-stroke utility engine exhaust emissions evaluations; field measurements of aircraft engine exhaust emissions - Bench testing of locomotive engines.
Research Organization: The ERMD is an organization within the Canadian Federal Department of the Environment, which has been conducting laboratory and field studies of air pollution from mobile sources for over two decades. The staff of about 30 engineers, chemists and technologists are located at
the Environmental Technology Centre, the Department's centre of technical expertise for air pollution and pollution emergency issues. The Centre, which houses the ERMD's Vehicle and Engine Testing Laboratory, is located in Gloucester near Ottawa, Ontario.
An important objective of the organization is to support the development of new technologies which could result in reductions of pollution from mobile sources. Many of the Division's projects have been collaborative efforts with industry to help to develop a product for commercialization, or to optimize the environmental performance of an existing commercial product using the expertise and specialized resources of the Division. This work has included: engine optimization for alternative fuels, tailoring of catalyst materials for specific exhaust streams, optimization of control systems for hybrid electric vehicles, development of new exhaust emission control devices for light- and heavy-duty vehicles and the development of reformulated fuels.
Company Details
Company Information
Fred Hendren
Title:
Manager
Telephone:
(613) 990-5859
Fax:
(613) 952-1006
Email:
Click Here
Products
Environmental Products And Services
Alternative Fuel Blends And Exhaust After-treatment Technologies.
Small two-stroke utility engines emit very high levels of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons. Work on new fuel blends is underway to find combinations that will reduce these emissions. For example, very promising work is underway on a commercially available gasoline blended with 20% to 30% ethanol. Initial results indicate that the carbon monoxide rates are cut by 50% and the alcohol emissions remain at acceptable levels, without a significant loss of power.
Additional work is planned on other fuel blends and on exhaust after-treatment technologies like catalytic converters.
Research & Development On Emission-reducing, Light-duty Vehicle Technologies.
R&D on Emission-reducing, Light-duty Vehicle Technologies: Alternate fuels (CNG, ethanol, propane, hythane); composite/ceramic materials for engine and exhaust components; electric and hybrid vehicles; electronic control for gaseous-fuelled vehicles (CNG, propane); exhaust after-treatment devices (catalytic converters, particulate traps).
A wide range of research and development on the above-noted topics is being performed in co-operation with private companies, universities and all levels of government. The work is being performed using chassis dynamometer exhaust emission sampling and analysis on vehicles ranging in weight from 400 kg to dual-axle trucks and buses up to 18,000 kg/axle. Cold-temperature chassis dynamometer exhaust emissions work on both light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles is conducted in a cold-temperature Test Cell capable of maintaining temperatures between -5C and -25C. Research into the effects of cold temperatures on electric vehicles and development of improved battery systems is also being conducted in the cold-temperature Test Cell. An analytical chemistry capability has been developed specifically for measurement of mobile source emissions, including Volatile Organic Compounds, aldehydes, and PAHs.
Research & Development On Emission-reducing, Heavy-duty Vehicle Technologies.
R&D on Emission-reducing, Heavy-duty Vehicle Technologies: Catalytic exhaust after-treatment; conversion to alternate fuels; development of alternative propulsion systems; installation of pre-heater technologies to eliminate extended idling periods.
Beginning in the late 1980's, Canadian and U.S. governments implemented exhaust emission standards for heavy-duty diesel engines. These standards have become increasingly stringent through the 1990's. The main focus of these standards is the particulate matter or soot normally associated with diesel combustion. The motive for this regulation is based upon two related considerations. Firstly the size of the material,
over 90% of diesel particulates are less than 1.0 m in size, which allows inhaled particulates easy to be deposited deeply in the lungs. Secondly, particulate matter has exhibited mutagenicity in biological testing. Known carcinogenic compounds have been isolated from the matrix of compounds which comprise the material.
The technologies listed above offer the potential for significant emission reductions from specific segments of the heavy-duty transportation fleet. Research on the performance and improvement of these technologies has been, or is being, performed with the following companies: Catalytic Exhaust After-treatment: Diesel Engine Controls; Engine Control Systems. Conversion to Alternate Fuels: Gas Equipment and Supplies; GFI Control Systems Inc. Installation of Pre-heater Technologies to Eliminate Extended Idling Period: Telflex; Webasto. Development of Alternative Propulsion Systems: Ballard Technologies; Fuel Cell Technology Inc.; Orion - General Electric.
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