Railroad emissions equipment passes test, heads for Long Beach port

Railroad emissions equipment passes test, heads for Long Beach port Rancho Dominguez-based Advanced Cleanup Technologies Inc. Tuesday announced a successful test of new emissions control technology on locomotive emissions at the Union Pacific rail yard in Roseville, California.
   An independent organization documented the results, which were released in early April by the Placer County Air Pollution Control District. PCAPCD said the results were impressive, with emissions of sulfur dioxides reduced by 97.3 percent, particulate matter by 92.1 percent, and nitrogen oxides by 97.8 percent.
   A version of the technology for maritime equipment, referred to as the Advanced Maritime Emissions Control System, will begin testing in the Port of Long Beach by July, according to ACTI.
   The emissions treatment system comprises control equipment connected by ducting to a bonnet that is placed over the locomotive or ship’s exhaust stack. A sodium hydroxide scrubber removes sulfur dioxide, a cloud chamber scrubber removes particulate matter and hydrocarbons, and a selective catalytic reduction reactor removes nitrogen oxides.
   Development and testing of the railroad applications was in part a result of the private and public partnership that included ACTI, Union Pacific Railroad, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board, the Placer County Air Pollution Control District, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and the City of Roseville. ACTI anticipates a similar public-private partnership for its maritime emissions control application.