Solberg partnered with Fairbanks Morse to reduce and eliminate crankcase emissions from its marine and stationary engines. Read about the challenge and solution in this Case Study.

1. With the rapidly approaching 2013
deadline, RICE NESHAP is driving en-
gine operators to find viable business
partners to manage compliance proj-
ects from beginning to end. One such
project is the Two Harbors Municipal
Power Plant in Two Harbors, Min-
nesota, U.S.A. This plant is equipped
with a Fairbanks Morse 38TDD8 1/8
opposed piston engine rated 2 MW at
720 r/min. The plant provides backup
power to the town in case of an emer-
gency and is on call for peak shaving
from the utility. The 2 MW engine is
equipped with a keep-warm system,
which enables an operator to imme-
diately start and load when required.
Two Harbors proactively partnered
with Fairbanks Morse Engine and Sol-
berg’s Filtration and Separation Divi-
sion to achieve RICE NESHAP compli-
ance ahead of May 2013.
alliance continues today with joint
RICE NESHAP compliance projects.
Fairbanks Morse recently installed
its Enviro Design exhaust treat-
ment system at the Two Harbors
facility. The system consists of a die-
sel oxidation catalyst (DOC), a si-
lencer with temperature and pressure
monitor, and a Solberg crankcase
ventilation (CCV) system. These ele-
ments work in combination to reduce
CO emissions from the Fairbanks
Morse engine by 93% during diesel
fuel operation and by 95% when run-
ning on a dual-fuel mix of natural gas
and 5% diesel pilot. This case study
focuses primarily on the section of the
ruling that addresses crankcase emis-
sions control and Fairbanks Morse’s
selection of the Solberg CCV system
as part of the Enviro Design system
installed at Two Harbors.
Although the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s RICE NESHAP
standard is broad regarding require-
ments for compliance, it is very specific
when addressing crankcase emissions
for most non-emergency, stationary,
compression ignition (diesel) recipro-
cating engines over 300 hp (224 kW
based on conversion. 300 hp is speci-
fied in the RICE NESHAP standard).
Owners and operators of engines op-
erating without a CCV system must do
one of the following prior to May 2013:
(1) Install a closed crankcase ventila-
tion system that prevents crankcase
emissions from being emitted to the
atmosphere, or (2) Install an open
December 2011 Diesel & Gas Turbine Worldwide
Emissions Worldview
Operators increasingly prefer part-
ners that are single sources for all com-
pliance components and installation.
In 2010, Fairbanks Morse Engine es-
tablished its Environmental Upgrades
Group to complete environmental up-
grade and compliance projects for any
engine brand, start to finish.
In 2007, Solberg partnered with
Fairbanks Morse to reduce and elimi-
nate crankcase emissions from its
marine and stationary engines. The
relationship began based on a shared
philosophy: Protect the equipment
and protect the environment. The
Case Study: Two Harbors
Municipal Power Plant
Crankcase ventilation and RICE NESHAP compliance
The Two Harbors Municipal Power Plant in Two Harbors, Minnesota, U.S.A. The 2 MW capac-
ity provides backup power to the town in case of emergency.
The Two Harbors Mu-
nicipal Power Plant is
equipped with a Fair-
banks Morse 38TDD8 1/8
opposed piston engine
rated 2 MW at 720 r/min.
Article Contributors: Keith Haasl, director –
environmental upgrades, Fairbanks Morse
Engine; Ray Kulpa, market manager – power
generation, Solberg Manufacturing Inc.; and
Clint Browning, vice president – sales and
marketing, Solberg Manufacturing Inc.

2. Emissions Worldview
crankcase ventilation system that re-
duces emissions from the crankcase
by filtering the exhaust stream to re-
move oil mist and hazardous particu-
late emissions.
For any CCV application, the two
most critical design criteria are: (1)
required crankcase pressure level
and (2) vented blow-by flow. The
Fairbanks Morse installed its Enviro Design
exhaust treatment system at the Two Har-
bors facility. The system consists of a diesel
oxidation catalyst, a silencer with tempera-
ture and pressure monitor, and a Solberg
crankcase ventilation system (pictured here).
desired operating conditions for the
Fairbanks Morse 38TDD8 engine are
1.25 to -5 mbar vacuum in the crank-
case with blow-by specified as less
than 136 m3
/h.
For the Two Harbors project, Fair-
banks Morse required a customized
open system that would mount on a
wall adjacent to the engine. The Sol-
berg CCV included a high-efficiency
coalescing filter (99.97% at 0.3 µm)
to effectively capture the vented oil
mist emissions and hazardous partic-
ulate. To accommodate site-specific
mounting requirements, the filter was
coupled with a remote-mounted vac-
uum source equipped with a separate
mounting bracket. Since the system
was installed more than 3 m off the
floor, Solberg included an accessible
ground-level regulation valve to al-
low for convenient crankcase vacuum
control. The CCV also included an in-
tegrated drain mechanism to facilitate
oil recovery.
After project completion, the engine
was started and operated at full load
with both diesel and dual-fuel sources.
The Solberg CCV captured the vented
crankcase emissions and was able to
control crankcase vacuum within the
required -1.25 to -5 mbar range.
“Many engine operators, engine
manufacturers and engineering firms
are struggling to understand the RICE
NESHAP requirements and how to
quickly comply by May 2013,” said Ray
Kulpa, market manager – power gen-
eration at Solberg. “With the impending
deadline, it is critical for them to find
partners who understand both the reg-
ulations and their engines. Solberg not
only educates the marketplace regard-
ing crankcase emissions control, but we
also design and deliver compliance so-
lutions. It is important for operators to
understand that a highly efficient crank-
case ventilation system is the best way
to protect the engine’s turbocharger and
intake system while eliminating hazard-
ous atmospheric emissions. The results
are optimized engine performance, a
reduction in costly engine repairs and
RICE NESHAP compliance.” A
REPRINTED FROM DECEMBER 2011 DIESEL & GAS TURBINE WORLDWIDE Copyright Diesel & Gas Turbine Publications
Printed in U.S.A.
Kevin Lidbury
Sales Manager, Environmental Upgrades
kevin.lidbury@fairbanksmorse.com
tel: (608) 364-8005
Nick Radean
Sales Manager, Commercial Parts & Service
nick.radean@fairbanksmorse.com
tel: (608) 364-8036
Keith Haasl
Director, Environmental Upgrades
keith.haasl@fairbanksmorse.com
tel: (608) 364-8150