Stage IIIA regulation

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The European Union has established categories of allowable emissions in non-road diesel engines called Stages I, II,IIIA,IIIB and IV. Each increasing stage specifies lesser amounts of the 4 following pollutants that are permitted based on the number of grams per kilowatt-hour of the compounds present in diesel exhaust. Generator sets were initially not included in Stage I and Stage II.

  1. NOx Nitrogen Oxides: NOx is a combustion by-product that combines in the atmosphere to create ozone, acid rain and smog.  It is controlled by reducing the combustion temperature inside the cylinder.
  2. HC Hydrocarbons: Essentially unburned fuel, HC contributes to ozone and smog production. HC is a minor constituent in diesel exhaust. Control is possible by improving combustion efficiency.
  3. CO Carbon Monoxide: CO is also a minor constituent of diesel exhaust. It is controlled by improving combustion efficiency.
  4. Particulates: Particulates are made up of soot particles in diesel exhaust from unburned carbon. Particulate matter is controlled by optimizing the combustion temperature and improving combustion efficiency.

At present all EU portable generators in the power range from 18 to 560 kVA are required to meet Stage IIIA requirements.

A portable generator is considered to be either a rental set or a unit that is moved more than twice a year from a defined location.

The EU does not, however, regulate emissions from stationary diesel generators such as those used for prime power, for peak shaving, load shedding or emergency standby power.

In many cases we will see that the engines, in order to comply with the IIIA regulation, will consume more fuel. After all, more energy (or more fuel) is needed to ameliorate the emission.

Feel free to ask any questions, should doubts arise.

If you click on the image or on the link underneath, you can print an A3 poster to display in your shop.

If you cannot see the image, click here.

06/03/2014