Technology Briefs — April 18 - April 24
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The Latest Headlines:
- Siemens Says Sensor Improves Engine Performance
- Pennsylvania Sets Online Insurance Filing System
- Descartes Acquires Canadian Tech Firm
- Union Pacific Aiding Work New Locomotive Technologies
- Pennsylvania Sets Online Insurance Filing System
Siemens Says Sensor Improves Engine Performance
Transportation component manufacturer Siemens VDO said it has developed a new sensor aimed at improving the environmental performance of diesel-powered vehicles by improving the combustion process.The company said its glow plug integrated pressure sensor provides feedback to a truck’s engine management system to control “the timing and quantity of fuel injected in the cylinder to stabilize temperatures” and that it would be commercially available in 2008.
Siemens said it is important for trucks to have low combustion temperatures in order to reduce the emission of nitrogen oxides “because raw NOx is primarily emitted at the engine’s peak combustion temperature and pressure.”
The Environmental Protection Agency will require truck engines to emit no more than 1.2 grams of NOx per brake horsepower/hour, starting in 2007. The current standard, which includes non-methane hydrocarbons, is 2.5g/bhp-hr. Transport Topics
Pennsylvania Sets Online Insurance Filing System
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has launched a new online service that processes insurance filings for a variety of motor carriers.The online system, available at www.mcinfo.org, serves as a conduit that allows the commission to receive insurance company filings electronically, as well as through traditional hard copy forms.
The state's Public Utility Commission processes all motor carrier insurance filings for the state. When insurance companies establish policies with motor carriers, information about those policies must be provided to the state.
With the online system, insurers have the ability to submit filings in multiple states through a single Web site.
The automated service processes filings immediately and delivers an automated e-mail notification when a state takes action on a filing. Transport Topics
Descartes Acquires Canadian Tech Firm
Canadian software firm Descartes Systems Group said April 10 it acquired ViaSafe Inc., which provides electronic document transfer services to help carriers and logistics companies comply with Customs’ regulations.Descartes said in a statement it acquired ViaSafe, Ottawa, after working with the firm for two years. Descartes, which is located in Ontario, provides Internet-based logistics services.
Wael Aggan, who had been ViaSafe’s chief executive officer, was named a senior vice president at Descartes, the company said.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Transport Topics
Union Pacific Aiding Work New Locomotive Technologies
Freight railroad Union Pacific Corp. said last week it is testing new technologies to reduce diesel engine emissions in older railroad locomotives.Working with the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich., UP is providing a 3,800-horsepower locomotive built in 1992.
It said it is the first freight locomotive in North America to be equipped with oxidation catalyst devices manufactured by Miratech Corp. The devices serve as flow-through catalytic converters.
In a similar experiment, the railroad will supply a 1,500-hp yard switching locomotive built in November 1982, which will be retrofitted with a diesel particulate filter. Transport Topics
