A feasibility project led by Porterbrook and Eminox to develop an exhaust after-treatment system (EATS) has delivered positive results during its first phase.
The First of a Kind 2022 (FOAK) project was funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) to help reduce NOx emissions in enclosed stations.
In its first phase, the project delivered a circa 80% reduction in NOx emissions when an engine is idling.
This development builds on a previous FOAK project, where the companies produced an EATS to reduce harmful emissions from mid-life diesel trains.
Testing showed that the initial EATS was effective when the train was moving, as the exhaust gasses were at an optimal temperature, but its impact dropped when the train was stationary.
The latest Emission Reduction in Closed Stations (ERiCS) project thus aimed to address this shortcoming by introducing an electrical heater to the Diesel Oxidisation Catalyst in the EATS.
The feasibility of this solution was tested on Class 158, 159 and 170 units from October 2022.
The results demonstrated that ERiCS can feasibly be fitted to significantly enhance the performance of the EATS.
