The nationwide phased rollout of BS IV regulations with On Board Diagnostics II (OBD II), scheduled to be completed by 2017, will see heavy commercial vehicle manufacturers introduce Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology to meet the stricter norms. The international automotive supplier Continental announced the availability of its award winning Smart NOx sensor in India for heavy commercial vehicle manufacturers adopting SCR technology to reduce emissions.
SCR technology enables engine optimization in heavy commercial vehicles for improved fuel efficiency, by controlling the NOx emissions in the tail pipe. In this regard it demonstrates a clear advantage over Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) technology. SCR uses a reducing agent (commercially known as Ad Blue), which is injected into the exhaust gases before it traverses an SCR catalytic converter wherein the nitrous oxides are converted into non-toxic nitrogen gas and water vapour. The OBD II system detects problems, warns the driver and assists the diagnosis and restoration of electronic components to regulate emissions.
The role of the NOx sensor in this SCR system is twofold, to measure NOx emissions and provide feedback to the SCR Control Unit to inject urea in proportion to the required reduction of NOx and to help monitor emissions in the field, being a key component of the OBD closed loop control system.
Continental’s Smart NOx sensor allows measurement of NOx emissions at upstream and downstream SCR. Composed of a multilayer sensor with an integrated heater and oxygen pumps, it has a standardized electronic interface that communicates with the ECU via CAN-Bus and is calibrated for real time high accuracy measurement. The sensor’s performance is independent of the catalyst or ECU supplier and engine management system.
Mr. Viswanath Nagaraja, Head of Business Unit Sensors & Actuators, Powertrain Division, Continental Automotive Components India said, “With the phased implementation of stricter BS IV & OBD II norms, we anticipate that nearly 50 percent of the heavy commercial Vehicle (HCV) market will adopt SCR technology after 2017. Almost all leading HCV manufacturers are currently developing their SCR systems with Continental NOx sensors. We will continue to serve our customers in India with our energy-saving and emission reduction technologies to help them meet regulatory requirements and support their environmental protection objectives.”