Evaluation of Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle Emissions During Cold-Start and Steady-State Idling Conditions and Reduction of Emissions from a Truck-Stop Electrification Program

Cold-start and extended-idling emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) were measured from 24, class-8B, heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDV8B) using portable emission monitoring equipment. The ratio of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to NOx and the ratio of PM2.5 to total PM were reported. Truck model years ranged from 1992 to 2004. All vehicles were tested in the field during summer and fall months under ambient environmental conditions at low (600-800 rpm) and high (1000 rpm) engine idling speeds with the truck cab air-conditioner operating at “on” and “off” modes. Sampling data thus obtained were used to generate typical average cold-start and extended-idling emission factors and were used to estimate potential emission reductions associated from using Truck Stop Electrification (TSE) Itechnology. Results indicated that cold-start emission rates, which were determined from the first 5-minutes of the cold-start period, were higher than the extended-idling emission rates by factors of 2.5 for CO, 1.5 for NOx and 1.7 for PM2.5. Overall, the extended-idling emission factors of the present study compared favorable to both the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) values that are recommended for State Implementation Plans (SIP) and average emission factors that were established from a previous review of the literature. In summary, the NOx emission rates were greater than those reported for EPA-SIP purposes and from the literature review by 23.5% and 17.4%, respectively. The PM2.5 emission rates observed in this study were less than those reported for EPA-SIP purposes by 3.8% and were greater than those reported in the literature by 6.3%, respectively. The average extended-idling emission factors for CO, NOx and PM2.5 were 64.5 g/hr, 167 g/hr and 3.51 g/hr, respectively. Electricity utilization and related emissions from TSE were calculated for a coal-fired power plant equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology for NOx removal and that meets New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for NOx and PM2.5 emissions. In general, it was found that the cold-start emissions and the emissions from electricity were moderately small in comparison with the extended-idling emissions. Conversely, it was determined that the actual emission savings that could be associated with the TSE technology were 62.4 g/hr for CO, 158 g/hr for NOx and 3.19 g/hr for PM2.5. Finally, the corrected or actual emission reductions for CO, NOx and PM2.5 using a cold-start period for 5-minutes were approximately 3.2%, 5.0% and 10% less than the extended-idling emission rate, respectively

Data Analysis and Correlations for the Particulate Matter Continuous Emission Monitoring System Test Program at the TSCA Incinerator

A field study was conducted to evaluate the performance of three commercially available particulate matter (PM) continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) during 1999-2000 at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Incinerator located near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The incinerator is permitted to treat mixed-waste, Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous and nonhazardous waste, and wastes containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). The mixed-waste treated at the incinerator contains both low-level radioactive and hazardous chemical constituents. The air pollution control system of the incinerator utilizes Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT), which is comprised of a rapid quench, venturi scrubber, packed bed scrubber, and two ionizing wet scrubbers in series. The CEMS chosen for the demonstration were two beta-gauge devices and a light-scattering device. The performance of the CEMS was evaluated using the requirements in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) draft (11-3-98) Performance Specification 11 (PS11) and draft (11-3-98) Procedure 2. The various possible combinations of treating liquid, aqueous, and solid wastes simultaneously presented a challenge in establishing a single, acceptable correlation relationship for the individual CEMS. The flue gas of the incinerator was also continually at or near saturated moisture conditions, yet offering an additional challenge to the CEMS. The results of the EPA reference Method 5i stack tests for establishing the calibration .curves demonstrated that the beta-gauge monitors could meet PS11 criteria, and the light-scattering monitor could not meet PS11 criteria. Experience seemed to establish however, that more than one set of correlation tests might be necessary to determine the nature of the calibration curve

Open innovation and sustainable value in cultural productions

In the field of innovation studies, open innovation (Chesbrough, 2008) identifies a participative model based on the involvement of lead users in the creative process. This approach is recalled by the experience of “Produzioni dal basso,” an independent web platform used to financially support artistic and cultural projects through micro-shares subscribed by a community of users. The model involves users in a participative context of production (Green 2007) and has been extensively applied to cultural products supporting the change from a mass market to a complex set of niches and different interests (Dal Pozzolo 2008; Anderson 2007). This paper is part of a research aiming to investigate the world of open innovation in cultural contexts. We propose a qualitative analysis (Cardano 2003) of three case studies : Malastrada.Film in film production, E.S.P. Esperimenti Scenici Permanenti in theatre, and Controprogetto in design. These represent different experiences of cultural production and, because of their diversity, they also identify different applications of the open approach. As a result, the concept of sustainable value emerges. This concept is defined under three main perspectives: the economic sustainability descending from the autonomous search for private funds; the context sustainability descending from the creative participation of co-authors; the process sustainability, emphasising the control of the artist/producer over the creative process. Each dimension contributes to define the open approach as an innovative model for sustainable cultural projects

Integrating Macroeconomics and Corporate Finance in Executive Education

Executive education is increasingly using team teaching and an integrated approach to curriculum development and delivery. We outline one example of how economic policy and basic finance concepts can be connected. Specifically, we utilize a simple model to illustrate the impact that monetary and fiscal policy, via interest rate and tax rate changes, can have on the growth capacity and dividend paying capacity of the firm