Ricardo Inc., headquartered in Van Buren Township, Mich., has upgraded its heavy-duty engine test facility at its Chicago Technical Center
. The upgrade has focused on the Constant Volume Sampling systems, which allows the facility to provide certification testing of heavy-duty engines for on- and off-highway applications to the new EPA 40 CFR Part 1065 procedure.

This new procedure applies to 2010 and later model year engines. The system used by Ricardo is also similar to that installed at the EPA engine testing facility in Ann Arbor, Mich., with both having been supplied by Horiba.

Through the Part 1065 procedure, the EPA has sought to improve the accuracy, repeatability and lab-to-lab variability of heavy-duty engine emissions measurements by requiring several enhancements to the test systems along with calibration and operating procedure changes. The mandated enhancements required for CVS tunnels include modifications to allow operation at lower dilution ratios, which raise the concentration of the gases being measured. Tunnel heating is required to prevent condensation. Further enhancements to calibration methods and analyzer interference checks are also needed.

"This upgrade of our CVS systems represents a substantial investment and demonstrates Ricardo's on-going commitment to our clients in the North American heavy duty engine market, even at this time of market uncertainty," said Graham Weller, U.S. product group director for diesel projects.

Ricardo is an independent provider of technology, product innovation, engineering solutions and strategic consulting to the automotive, military, transport and new energy industries.