Eaton: Cylinder Deactivation Tests Show Emissions-Reduction Effectiveness

Eaton said it has demonstrated cylinder deactivation (CDA) as an effective technology for meeting future global emissions requirements for diesel-powered commercial vehicles.

To date, the technology has been evaluated with a close-coupled selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment system with and without a 48-volt electric heater. 

“Our CDA technology has proven it can help our customers meet increasingly strict emissions regulations for diesel engines,” said Christopher Mancuso, business unit director, Engine Air Management, Eaton’s Vehicle Group. “This comes at a time when many global manufacturers are determining what technologies they will leverage in next-generation vehicles to reduce harmful emissions.”

New emissions regulations spearheaded by the California Air Resources Board, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the European Commission are slated for adoption in coming years. These agencies, in concert with other national and international regulators, seek to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants produced by heavy-duty trucks, vans and buses.

Rapid catalyst warm-up essential 

Findings from the Southwest Research Institute demonstrate that using CDA and a close-coupled SCR catalyst reduced both nitrous oxide (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions with fuel consumption savings of up to 40% at idle.

Previous results using CDA and a close-coupled SCR catalyst demonstrated compliance to forthcoming U.S. regulations for NOx and CO₂ emissions for diesel commercial vehicles. Testing with the new low-load cycle resulted in a 5% drop in CO₂ while dramatically reducing NOx. The assessment was developed by CARB to replicate real-world urban tractor and vocational vehicle operations at low engine loads. 

Eaton’s 2021 testing with SwRI showed further advancement, dropping NOx levels by 99.4% on the composite federal test procedure and lowering the low-load-cycle NOx to well within current guidelines. Notably, using the same aftertreatment system with the addition of a 48-volt electric heater located upstream of the SCR further achieved a reduction in CO₂. 

CDA technology can benefit vehicle manufacturers facing tightening emissions standards in Europe as well. The next set of requirements, known as Euro VII for heavy-duty trucks, is targeted for the second part of the decade.

In the U.S., CARB is introducing more stringent regulations as soon as 2024, while the EPA has circled 2027 to begin applying stricter emissions limits on new-model heavy-duty vehicles.

Collectively, these standards are designed to reduce tailpipe NOx emissions up to 90%, accelerating the need for global engine manufacturers to employ additional emissions-reduction strategies such as electric catalyst heating.