Ricardo to aid Tenneco with DPF support

Ricardo has been selected by Tenneco (Suzhou) Emission Systems Co. Ltd.  to provide diesel particulate filter (DPF) control software and development support.

Ricardo is a leading developer of next-generation fuel-efficient and clean technologies, and is no stranger to working within the Chinese market and has a well-equipped engineering facility and team in Shanghai.

Under the contract, Ricardo will supply clean diesel technology including DPF control algorithm models, hardware-in-the-loop testing support, control strategy calibration tools and on-site calibration training to Tenneco’s Kunshan facility near Shanghai, China. 

“I firmly believe that market demands and legislative pressures for the latest low emissions engine and exhaust after-treatment technologies are likely to grow substantially over the coming years in China, particularly within the medium and heavy-duty diesel sectors,” said Ricardo Asia president Gary Tan. “As a company, Ricardo is committed to developing clean, fuel efficient and low carbon technologies and adapting them to meet the specific needs of our customers in all parts of the world.”

Last month, Tenneco showcased its emission control solutions to meet upcoming US EPA Tier 3 emissions regulations.

A demonstration vehicle will test and evaluate the latest catalytic converters and other technologies that are lighter in weight, incorporate advanced designs and offer improved thermal management.

In addition to meeting the upcoming Tier 3 emissions regulations, the technologies are designed to deliver additional efficiency improvements that can help automakers further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The US EPA Tier 3 emissions standards are aimed at significantly reducing criteria pollutants in tailpipe emissions for light-duty passenger cars and trucks beginning in 2017.

These criteria pollutants include particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and non-methane organic gases (NMOG) that contribute to increased ambient ozone levels. Of particular importance is reducing emissions at engine cold start when the greatest concentration of pollutants typically occurs.

Tenneco is using the demo vehicle to push its fabricated manifolds, which offer weight reduction of up to 50 per cent compared with cast manifolds.  Test data seemingly confirm fabricated manifolds can also achieve temperature benefits of up to 50°C, resulting in faster catalyst light off and improved overall catalyst efficiency.

Other systems down the road include: Catalytic Converter Systems; Air Gap Pipe (a double-walled exhaust pipe with an “air gap" between layers of pipe to promote insulation and allow faster converter light-off for reduced emissions); and Waste Heat Recovery (Tenneco’s heat exchanger helps powertrain reach efficient operating temperatures more quickly). Heat exchangers also offer benefits for stop-start engine and hybrid applications.

Tenneco Inc. based in Lake Forest, Illinois has 26,000 employees worldwide. In 2013, revenues reached $8 billion of which $5.5 billion came from clean air activities, and the rest ($2.5 billion) from ride performance.

In the clean air market, North America accounted for nearly half of revenue with Europe pulling in 35 per cent, and Asia 16 per cent. Likewise in ride performance, North America accounted for half of sales with the rest from Europe.

Tenneco claims over 40 OEM customers ranging from General Motors and Ford, through Volkswagen and Daimler, and then Toyota and SAIC to TATA and Mahindra & Mahindra.