Due to mounting concerns over fuel economy and global warming, the demand for diesel-powered passenger cars is rising rapidly in Europe and may also increase in other markets, including the United States.
Although diesel engines are significantly more fuel-efficient than gasoline engines, to become more widespread, diesel-powered vehicles must meet emissions standards for nitrogen and particulate matter.
A Smart Solution
To enable diesel vehicles to meet these standards and be introduced into the United States, we developed the Ford ORD system. This system can be retrofitted onto existing diesel vehicles to help for approximately one-tenth of the cost of existing retrofit systems.
Ford ORD enables exhaust treatment systems to meet stringent future diesel emissions standards worldwide, including the U.S. Tier 2 and European Stage IV and V limits for smog-forming emissions.
Unlike existing reductant-delivery systems, Ford's ORD system has only three components—an air supply, reductant injector and a reductant reservoir. It provides a more than 75 percent reduction in components, cost, size, weight, noise and energy consumption when compared to other products currently on the market.
How It Works
The Ford ORD system is an air-assisted reductant injection system. Reductants, or reducing agents, are required by almost all diesel after-treatment devices dealing with oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter to enhance the efficiency and durability of the device. Reductants can include fluids such as diesel fuel or urea water solutions.
To be effective, these reductants must be added quickly, as well as be delivered in precisely measured and finely dispersed quantities. In addition, the delivery system must be able to withstand the high temperatures and harsh environment surrounding the automobile exhaust system. The Ford ORD system can supply any liquid form of reductant at any location needed for these applications.
Awards
Ford Motor Company's patented Onboard Reductant Delivery (ORD) system, developed by Ford's Scientific Research Lab, has earned an R&D 100 Award. Also known as "an Oscar of Invention," the award from R&D Magazine recognizes the top new inventions in the country. Past winners include the ATM, LCD screens, anti-lock braking systems and the fax machine.
