US EPA Finalizes Low Sulfur Gasoline

[Hyde244]

A preview of things to come.

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199706-epa-finalizes-stricter-sulfur-emissions-rule

The EPA has announced finalized rulings that will require a "low sulfur" gasoline throughout the U.S. by 2017, known as Tier 3. Similar to the California blend of gasoline (known as LEV 3), this gasoline will reduce sulfur content from 30 ppm to 10 ppm. This will help reduce particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and other GHG emissions. The reduction in emissions is estimated to offset 33 million cars by 2030. The API projects that it will add an approximate 6 - 9 cents per gallon to the cost of fuel. (and with a larger market, the cost of Californian gasoline could very well decrease compared to the rest of the nation)

Ultimately, this will mean a cleaner fuel for use in our engines, which will be a nice perk to engine/fuel system life spans.

Here is the official Tier 3 gasoline EPA webpage: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/tier3.htm

 

[JHZR2]

The important thing is that it allows lean stratified charge with better NOx control in DI engines, which has been doable in Europe but supposedly impossible here due to fuel sulfur.

Upgrading the inherently non-selective hydrodesulfurization processes is pricey though... Perhaps Adsorption will be used as an alternative.

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: Hyde244
A preview of things to come.

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199706-epa-finalizes-stricter-sulfur-emissions-rule

The EPA has announced finalized rulings that will require a "low sulfur" gasoline throughout the U.S. by 2017, known as Tier 3. Similar to the California blend of gasoline (known as LEV 3), this gasoline will reduce sulfur content from 30 ppm to 10 ppm. This will help reduce particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and other GHG emissions. The reduction in emissions is estimated to offset 33 million cars by 2030. The API projects that it will add an approximate 6 - 9 cents per gallon to the cost of fuel. (and with a larger market, the cost of Californian gasoline could very well decrease compared to the rest of the nation)

Ultimately, this will mean a cleaner fuel for use in our engines, which will be a nice perk to engine/fuel system life spans.

Here is the official Tier 3 gasoline EPA webpage: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/tier3.htm


6-9 cents? Not in Ohio. Ohio is one of 4 states that have no state fuel regulations. It will add 10% to the retail cost here.

 

[jmsjags]

I'm sure people will be up in arms over the 6c increase in the cost of gas, even though this will be very beneficial in the long run.

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: jmsjags
I'm sure people will be up in arms over the 6c increase in the cost of gas, even though this will be very beneficial in the long run.


Your kidding your self on the 6 cents. 30-40 cents is the real world prediction. Then factor that cost into EVERYTHING that ius related to gasoline fuel and you will notice it. Please remember that they sold California on a similar 3-5 cent increase with all of the different blends. Lots of really gullible people out there. sheesh. It will not be beneficial to your state. You have cheap fuel now. Get ready for $4- 4.50/gal.

 

[A_Harman]

Diesel got much more expensive when ULSD was introduced in 2007. Not saying that things will go the same with gasoline because, as JHZR2 was saying, there will be an opportunity to tune gasoline engines to run lean stratified charge, which would improve fuel economy. In the case of diesel, ULSD was necessary to protect particulate traps, which hurt fuel economy.

 

[dave1251]

My question is simple can this regulation be stopped?

 

[Coprolite]

This will even out the gasoline/diesel playground. The price increase varies depending on who calculates it. We have seen much bigger swings in price and the sky didn't fall.

In the end, we need globalized standards.

 

[rslifkin]

Keep in mind, lower sulfur also means less acids formed in the crank case most likely. This means many engines will be able to run longer OCIs.

 

[dishdude]

Just think how we're paying to remove lead from gasoline! When will this madness stop?

 

[turtlevette]

Originally Posted By: Doog
Get ready for $4- 4.50/gal.


This is going to make ethanol blends more attractive.

You know how much sulfur ethanol contains. zilch.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: Doog
Originally Posted By: jmsjags
I'm sure people will be up in arms over the 6c increase in the cost of gas, even though this will be very beneficial in the long run.


Your kidding your self on the 6 cents. 30-40 cents is the real world prediction. Then factor that cost into EVERYTHING that ius related to gasoline fuel and you will notice it. Please remember that they sold California on a similar 3-5 cent increase with all of the different blends. Lots of really gullible people out there. sheesh. It will not be beneficial to your state. You have cheap fuel now. Get ready for $4- 4.50/gal.

Back when CARB forced new formula to Californian drivers they said the additional cost was 10-12 cents, but the oil companies said it was 20-25 cents.

Don't expect only 6-9 cents increases over current formula, expect more than 10-15 cents increase ! Their estimate is always with rosy glass, actual cost is almost always higher.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: dave1251
My question is simple can this regulation be stopped?


Write your congressman? Write your senator?

I sure hope it can be stopped. It's insane - we already have cars that have emissions that are cleaner than the air that goes in. And we're primarily a rural country and will still need gas to get to/from work and for products to get to market. A European style "carbon tax" [censored] won't work here.

 

[Shaman]

Still waiting on the constitutional explanation of why we have to listen to the EPICAC.

 

[Hyde244]

Originally Posted By: Doog
Originally Posted By: Hyde244
A preview of things to come.

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199706-epa-finalizes-stricter-sulfur-emissions-rule

The EPA has announced finalized rulings that will require a "low sulfur" gasoline throughout the U.S. by 2017, known as Tier 3. Similar to the California blend of gasoline (known as LEV 3), this gasoline will reduce sulfur content from 30 ppm to 10 ppm. This will help reduce particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and other GHG emissions. The reduction in emissions is estimated to offset 33 million cars by 2030. The API projects that it will add an approximate 6 - 9 cents per gallon to the cost of fuel. (and with a larger market, the cost of Californian gasoline could very well decrease compared to the rest of the nation)

Ultimately, this will mean a cleaner fuel for use in our engines, which will be a nice perk to engine/fuel system life spans.

Here is the official Tier 3 gasoline EPA webpage: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/tier3.htm


6-9 cents? Not in Ohio. Ohio is one of 4 states that have no state fuel regulations. It will add 10% to the retail cost here.
The 6-9 cent price increase estimation actually comes from the API, which is a known opponent of Tier 3 gasoline.

Quoted from the article: "The API, for example, said it would hike gas prices by 6-9 cents per gallon, while EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said it would add only a penny per gallon of gas."

So yes, the harshest projection is actually around 9 cents more a gallon.

It's important to bear in mind market size. Yes California gasoline costs more, but that is in part because its market is one state. ULSD is also costly, but is not the most consumed motor fuel on the U.S. market. There will be a certain market power, that provides a critical mass of consumers to help share the increased costs of producing lower-sulfur gasoline.

 

[surfstar]

Yes, all together, everyone now:
"WE WANT DIRTY AIR.
WE *coughcough* WANT DIRTY AIR!"

 

[sciphi]

Cleaner air that results in lower healthcare costs while adding a buck more per 10 gallons? I'll gladly pay a buck more to fill up each car to have cleaner air.

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
The important thing is that it allows lean stratified charge with better NOx control in DI engines, which has been doable in Europe but supposedly impossible here due to fuel sulfur.


So do you think they'd allow this lean programming if they aren't sure the fuel infrastructure is totally there? Or if it might not be there in the future?

Would these cars require a yet smaller fuel filler, to keep "high sulfur unleaded" out?

Honest questions.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Hyde244
There will be a certain market power, that provides a critical mass of consumers to help share the increased costs of producing lower-sulfur gasoline.


This isnt about market power. Hydrodesulfurization requires high pressure hydrogen, forced to react with vaporized fuel at high temperatures over catalysts.

That hydrogen comes from steam reforming cat cracker offgas and/or natural gas.

So more process streams get consumed. They have to be consumed because HDS is not selective, and thus they open every aromatic ring and double bond before they actually access the sulfur in the benzothiophene type groups.

So you need multiple extra unit operations, working in more harsh regimes, which drive capital and operational cost.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
The important thing is that it allows lean stratified charge with better NOx control in DI engines, which has been doable in Europe but supposedly impossible here due to fuel sulfur.


So do you think they'd allow this lean programming if they aren't sure the fuel infrastructure is totally there? Or if it might not be there in the future?

Would these cars require a yet smaller fuel filler, to keep "high sulfur unleaded" out?

Honest questions.


When they rolled out ULSD, it came in pretty fast, and with time before the roll out date. So refineries will start making the stuff in advance, get it out logistically, and then have a date set.