Diesel emissions awareness on the agenda
29 August 2005
Kangan Batman TAFE has signed an $810 000 contract with EPA Victoria in a bid to educate its automotive apprentices about the environmental effects of diesel fuel exhaust emissions.
The agreement supports EPA’s implementation of the Commonwealth 2001 National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) on diesel emissions in Victoria.
Most of the funding is to be used to enable the Coburg campus’ truck chassis dynamometer to perform the DT80 diagnostic test. This test serves as the basis for the national test infrastructure for assessment of in-service diesel vehicle maintenance condition and exhaust emission performance.
The test only takes a few minutes to identify Particulate Matter (PM) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), both of which are considered health risks.
The dynamometer will also be capable of testing carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and unburnt hydrocarbon levels, and in doing so provide students with a more general understanding of vehicle emissions performance.
The dynamometer will predominantly be used for training purposes, giving heavy vehicle apprentices the chance to observe real life testing of in-service vehicles using the most up-to-date facilities.
Emile Farag, Heavy Vehicle and Engine Technology Manager, was one of the driving forces behind the agreement with EPA.
‘We will be able to educate our apprentices and even our industry clients about why it is important to keep trucks maintained,’ said Mr Farag.
‘Doing so produces fewer emissions and helps to keep fuel costs low - a factor which is extremely relevant to the ever increasing fuel prices.’
Technological changes in the automotive industry, such as cleaner fuel grades and more efficient engine design mandates, mean heavy vehicle mechanics need to have a good knowledge of the diesel fleet and how it responds to change.
Since most automotive apprentices have limited exposure to the large variety of vehicles available, they will benefit from the ability to observe real-life testing of a range of in-service vehicles.
‘Our students will learn effects of diesel fuel emissions on the environment, so they can go back to their workplace and pass on what they have learnt to their fellow workmates,’ said Mr Farag.
The testing facilities will also be used for project or research activities by external organisations.
The Heavy Vehicles department has already incorporated environmental aspects into competencies from the Certificate III Heavy Vehicle stream.In conjunction with Mansfield Learning and Design, the department has developed a CD ROM training manual to complement the vehicle emission testing facility.
Dr Damon Honnery of Monash University’s Laboratory for Turbulence Research in Aerospace and Combustion will provide Kangan Batman TAFE with technical support. He has recently been involved with DT80 test analysis for EPA.
According to Colin Soh, Kangan Batman TAFE Project Manager - Capital Development and Facilities, the main infrastructure works to upgrade the dynamometer is scheduled for completion in January 2006.
Part of the funding has been earmarked for the relocation of the testing facility to the Automotive Centre of Excellence, currently being built in the Docklands precinct.
