Each year the California Air Resources Board (ARB), in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), comes up with new standards and regulations concerning air quality for the state, particularly emissions regulations. These regulations have an enormous impact on the construction industry, as most equipment used in the industry is powered by diesel engines, known for their emissions of “black exhaust.”

Along with every other contractor in the state, Vance Corporation has seen the amount of time and money dedicated to retrofitting equipment with older engines (Tier 0 through 2) rapidly rise over the past five years.

According to Rob McNew, General Superintendent for Vance, it’s just not always possible to retrofit an older piece of equipment in order to reduce emissions. “This cycle (of new engines coming out) happens so fast,” Rob says. “We went from Tier 1 to Tier 3 engines like that.

“It really limits what you do with filters and after-market products,” he continues. “It’s kind of like trying to load Windows XP operating system on your Microsoft 3.1 computer. It’s just not going to happen.”

With Recat’s Combustion Technology Specialist Michael Avery’s help, Vance Corporation recently was able to upgrade a 1976 model Caterpillar 633D Scraper, which had a Tier 0 engine, with a Caterpillar Tier 3 engine and HUSS FS-MK Diesel Particulate Filter. The combination of the new engine and the HUSS filter means that 99% of the particulate matter in the exhaust is removed, Rob says. “Basically, when the operator jumps on the throttle, no black smoke is emitted.”

As Rob says, the “magic part about the HUSS filter” is that it is self-contained and self-regenerating. “In a sense, it functions like a self-cleaning oven,” Rob explains.

(L-R) HUSS representative discussing the filter regeneration system with Ken Williams of Vance Corporation.

According to HUSS’s website, the HUSS FS-MK filter “can be used with all on-and off-road diesel engines through the 2006 model year, except those equipped with either diesel oxidation catalysts or exhaust gas recirculation systems. The FS-MK series of filters uses a silicon carbide wall-flow filter with a fuel burner for regeneration.”

In order for the filter to be regenerated, the machine must be turned off. The Vance operator shuts the scraper off during the lunch break on a job, hits the regenerate button, and waits for 35 minutes while the filter cleans itself. The following morning, the shop mechanic starts the regeneration process again, to get rid of the particulate matter from the previous afternoon’s work. Using this method, the machine can be run seven to eight hours each day, Rob says.

“I’m a true believer in this product,” Rob says, “ but it’s not a panacea for every situation. It won’t fix every engine out there.

“The older the engine, the lower the tier of engine, meaning more emissions and more black smoke exhaust,” he continues. “A Tier 1 engine with a particulate filter can only be run one to two hours a day because of the increased matter that needs to be cleaned out of the filter.”

Although Vance Corporation owns many pieces of equipment, this is their only piece of equipment retrofitted with a HUSS filter.

(Left) Vance Corporation recently upgraded a 1976 CAT 633D Scraper from a Tier 0 engine to a Caterpillar Tier 3 engine. (Right) HUSS FS-MK particulate filter necessary for removal of particulate matter in exhaust. (Below) CAT 633D Scraper in front of Recat Inc. facility located in Perris, CA.

“We’re probably a little ahead of the game as far as other contractors updating our equipment,” Rob explains. “Probably about 50% of our fleet has unregulated or Tier 0 engines. About 20% have Tier 1 engines and very few have Tier 2 engines. Of course every new piece of equipment we buy has Tier 3 engines.”

Rob says, almost every new piece of equipment Caterpillar sells has a Tier 3 engine in it.

And the upgrading isn’t over yet. Rob says that California’s ARB regulations state that by the year 2021, every engine in every off-road piece of equipment must be Tier 4 with a diesel particulate filter.

That means that construction companies will have to upgrade their equipment at least twice in order to remain in compliance. The technology just simply isn’t available yet to meet the requirements for 2021.

“The cost for repowering twice is simply enormous,” Rob comments.

Not just the cost. As General Superintendent, part of Rob’s job includes overseeing all the equipment for the company. Rob estimates that in the last year, he has spent 10 hours every week on issues related to bringing equipment into compliance with ARB’s regulations.

Vance Corporation is a grading, excavating and asphalt paving company. The majority of their work is on public works projects, but they also complete commercial projects. The company does $35-40 million in work each year. They complete projects in the Inland Empire, and high and low desert regions.

Recat is a Perris, California-based company founded in 1991 that specializes in providing contractors with used Caterpillar parts and rebuilt Caterpillar components. The company has begun focusing on refining its strategy to help rescue older engines, stave off fines and help keep the many diesel-dependent industries moving.

HUSS is known in Europe as a specialist in the exhaust after-treatment business. The company was founded in 1920 in Bremen, Germany as HUSS Maschinenfabrik. They originally manufactured silencers for ships. In the 1980s HUSS began applying its experience to designing a diesel particulate filter for forklift trucks.

For more information on Vance Corporation, call (909) 355-4333. Cc