Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/932759
26 AGGREGATES MANAGER / February 2018 Buy certifi ed fl uids S ince the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) engine tiers mandate came out in 1996, there have been varying degrees of implementation. Based on the phase-in of Tiers I through Tier 3 and ending with Tier 4 Interim (T4i) and Tier 4 Final (T4F), there have been different emissions levels acceptable for larger and smaller pieces of equipment that have changed throughout the phase-in. "Sometimes it has been hard for people to grasp what tier equipment they are dealing with and the complexity of the machine," says Brad Stemper, product manager for Case Construction Equipment. "They have tried to categorize where everything fi ts in — whether processes are happening in or after the engine." Tier 1 and Tier 2 emissions processes essentially all took place in the engine, Stemper points out. With Tier 3, Tier 4 interim, and Tier 4 Final came exhaust gas recirculation and after-treatment systems. "The emissions mandates created complexity due to the OEM's chosen path to compliance," Stemper says. "Some manufacturers chose to implement one solution across all products, and others chose various solutions depending on what specifi c solutions made sense for different machines and applications." The key to effectively managing mixed equipment fl eets is to take a comprehensive inventory and create a "cheat sheet" for each machine, Stemper says. "I suggest this to our own fl eet managers," he says. "You need to know what machine you are looking at and what it has as far as the emissions control system." There are myriad emission control technologies, including cooled exhaust gas recirculation (CEGR), diesel oxidation catalyst (DCO), diesel particulate fi lter (DPF), and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). "There are variations of these," Stemper says, "so it's important to familiarize yourself with your applicable equip- ment and technologies to be most profi cient." For engines equipped with SCR technology, this includes understanding proper handling and transporting of diesel exhaust fl uid (DEF) for Tier 4i and Tier 4F equipment, says Luke Van Wyk, national sales manager for Thunder Creek Equipment. Using a closed system to transfer DEF from container to container eliminates potential contaminants, he notes. Many of the closed DEF systems come with the same kind of dispensing nozzle as found on fuel pumps. They are kept "closed" through the same type of coupler found on a keg tap, he adds, which eliminates contaminants that could occur with the use of a DEF poured from an open container into a funnel inserted into the DEF tank. "SCR system failures are directly related to how DEF is handled and, most likely, someone in the supply chain who contaminated it on the way to the machine," he says. "Equipment operators and managers shouldn't be afraid of technology. It is unavoidable, but with proper education and practices, equipment will become a seamless part of any operation. The key is to be intentional with management to have the right systems in place so there is no negative experience with technology." Taking on the Tiers Ensure that diesel exhaust fl uid (DEF) purchased meets ISO Standard 22241. Confi rm this by looking for the American Petroleum Institute (API) diesel exhaust fl uid certifi cation mark or label. "Backyard blends" of DEF may contain urea, ammonia, or oth- er corrosive contaminants, which will get trapped inside the catalyst of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system and cause rust, because the catalyst is made of rare metals. This can result in thousands of dollars of catalyst replacement costs. 1