Why upgrade?
Many facilities have backup generators that rarely get used and are expensive to maintain. Instead, turn your backup generator into a source of revenue by upgrading the exhaust system to meet EPA (RICE NESHAP) standards allowing use of the generator in non-emergency situations. This means you can use your generator for economic purposes like peak shaving, demand response and other grid reliability programs that pay customers to reduce energy at peak times. Your electrical generator can become a revenue generator.
Please remember, a backup generator can be upgraded for any reason, not just to create another revenue source. Many customers upgrade simply to reduce emissions around their facility and meet sustainability requirements.
Contact us to learn more about demand response (DR) and how you can monetize your generator.
What is the solution?
The solution is to clean up around 90% of the Carbon Monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons by installing a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) or diesel particulate filter (DPF). Your permit must also be modified to show the allowance for non-emergency use.
Most backup generators are diesel, but we have solutions for natural gas (NG) as well. Both fuel types can be upgraded to meet non-emergency requirements.
The DOC and DPF are referred to as emission control equipment and they work by changing the dangerous greenhouse gases into harmless gases which is better for anyone who is downwind of the exhaust, including the local community and the earth.
How does it work?
We will ask for photos and nameplate of the backup generator(s) that you are looking to upgrade. We will also need to review your current permit(s) to determine the ability to upgrade.
We can then quote the cost of the upgrade and the approximate timeline. Once you sign the quote, then we will send our team out to take final measurements to order equipment.
It takes 2-4 months from start to finish, the actual installation is only about 6-8 hours for each generator.
We offer compliance services to maintain the necessary documentation and testing for all DOC, DPF and SCR upgrades.
Next steps
Compliance standards can be pretty complex, and emission requirements are no different. But to get you started, if you can answer “yes” to these two questions about your diesel generator’s engine, chances are quite good that it is not compliant but can be upgraded.
- Is the generator engine larger than 225 kW or 300 hp?
- Did you order it (or was it manufactured) before April 1, 2006?
- If you have a natural gas generator, or answered “no” to any of the above, please let us know as we can still help.
If you are interested in learning more about an emissions upgrade on your generator, then contact us today.
Please include: make, model, year, HP of the generator's engine.
Types of Emissions Control Systems
Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC)
A diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) is a device that reduces emissions from diesel-powered equipment by converting pollutants in the exhaust into less harmful substances:
- What it does DOCs use oxygen in the exhaust to oxidize carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor. They also oxidize nitrogen oxide (NO) into nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
- DOCs are similar to catalytic converters in cars.
Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
A diesel particulate filter (DPF) is often coupled with a catalyst which increases efficiency and allows the DPF to further reduce carbon and particulate matter.
Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)
Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is a technology that reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from stationary engines, such as backup generators.
SCR works by injecting a reductant, like urea or ammonia, into the exhaust thus converting the NOx into water and diatomic nitrogen. SCR can achieve removal efficiencies of up to 90%.
This technology is the most advanced and is required in areas of tight emissions requirements. Many new Tier-4 engines come with an SCR from the factory.