Benefits of the ECI Low Emissions Idle System

• Reduces Visible Emissions
  (unburned hydrocarbons and particulate material) during idle and other low load conditions.
  
• Economical
  
• Durable, low maintenance.
  
• Automated operation requires no user input.
  
• Simple installation fits to existing engine without alteration.

What is LEI?

Energy Conversions' patented Low Emissions Idle (LEI) system is supplementary hardware designed to fit EMD engines to reduce smoke under low load conditions. LEI is an electronically controlled linkage that powers left and right cylinder banks alternately while the engine runs at lowest speeds. The system improves fuel burning efficiency and significantly reduces unburned hydrocarbons and exhaust opacity.

Low Emission Idle (LEI) is an alternating bank idle system. LEI runs the engine on half of its cylinders when the engine is operating in modes of low engine specific power output (at idle or low RPM). The additional load the non firing cylinders place on the engine cause the firing cylinders to burn diesel fuel more efficiently. This results in fuel savings, and a significant reduction in the level of unburned hydrocarbons and the emission opacity in the exhaust. Cleaner exhaust is also apparent when throttling up after extended periods of idling, a result of cleaner and more complete combustion at idle. An electronic timer controls the switching tasks and alternates between engine banks. In operation the diesel fuel is cut off to one side of the engine by the use of electronically controlled pneumatic rams. When the LEI system is active, a slight momentary droop in engine speed is detectable when the engine changes operational banks, about every two minutes.
LEI operation begins by the timer electrically energizing one magnet valve which supplies regulated air to the LEI control link. The timer is electrically wired to monitor the engine governors electrical solenoids A and C (train line 7 and train line 15). The LEI control link disables the engine governors control of that bank and pushes the diesel fuel injectors on that bank to the no fuel position.
The engine governor maintains the speed of the engine using the power developed by the opposite operating bank. The LEI control timer switches banks at a predetermined timing interval. Standard timing interval is currently 2 minutes per bank, however the timer is adjustable ranging from a minimum of 15 seconds to a 4 minute maximum cycle time. The cyclic operation will continue for as long as signals from either trainline 7 or trainline 15 are absent. The LEI system disables instantly when the control inputs change to another operation mode and returns the engine to normal operation.

ECI- Clean Systems
ECI is committed to bringing leading edge technology to the rail, marine, and power products industries. The Low Emission Idle system is just one of the products ECI offers. A range of complete system designs are available to bring current EMD diesels up to new EPA locomotive standards on either diesel only or economical natural gas operation. For more information see our Product page.

LEI electronic/ pneumatic control linkage shown installed on an ECI converted dual fuel EMD645 E3B