Directive 2005/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (repealed)Show full title

4. EC TYPE-APPROVAL

4.1. Granting of a universal fuel EC type-approval

A universal fuel EC type-approval is granted subject to the following requirements.

4.1.1. In the case of diesel fuel the parent engine meets the requirements of this Directive on the reference fuel specified in Annex IV.

4.1.2. In the case of natural gas the parent engine should demonstrate its capability to adapt to any fuel composition that may occur across the market. In the case of natural gas there are generally two types of fuel, high calorific fuel (H-gas) and low calorific fuel (L-gas), but with a significant spread within both ranges; they differ significantly in their energy content expressed by the Wobbe Index and in their λ-shift factor (S_λ). The formulae for the calculation of the Wobbe index and S_λ are given in Sections 2.27 and 2.28. Natural gases with a λ-shift factor between 0,89 and 1,08 (0,89 ≤ S_λ ≤ 1,08) are considered to belong to H-range, while natural gases with a λ-shift factor between 1,08 and 1,19 (1,08 ≤ S_λ ≤ 1,19) are considered to belong to L-range. The composition of the reference fuels reflects the extreme variations of S_λ.

The parent engine shall meet the requirements of this Directive on the reference fuels G_R (fuel 1) and G₂₅ (fuel 2), as specified in Annex IV, without any readjustment to the fuelling between the two tests. However, one adaptation run over one ETC cycle without measurement is permitted after the change of the fuel. Before testing, the parent engine shall be run-in using the procedure given in paragraph 3 of Appendix 2 to Annex III.

4.1.2.1. On the manufacturer's request the engine may be tested on a third fuel (fuel 3) if the λ-shift factor (S_λ) lies between 0,89 (i.e. the lower range of G_R) and 1,19 (i.e. the upper range of G₂₅) for example when fuel 3 is a market fuel. The results of this test may be used as a basis for the evaluation of the conformity of the production.

4.1.3. In the case of an engine fuelled with natural gas which is self-adaptive for the range of H-gases on the one hand and the range of L-gases on the other hand, and which switches between the H-range and the L-range by means of a switch, the parent engine shall be tested on the relevant reference fuel as specified in Annex IV for each range, at each position of the switch. The fuels are G_R (fuel 1) and G₂₃ (fuel 3) for the H-range of gases and G₂₅ (fuel 2) and G₂₃ (fuel 3) for the L-range of gases. The parent engine shall meet the requirements of this Directive at both positions of the switch without any readjustment to the fuelling between the two tests at each position of the switch. However, one adaptation run over one ETC cycle without measurement is permitted after the change of the fuel. Before testing the parent engine shall be run-in using the procedure given in paragraph 3 of Appendix 2 to Annex III.

4.1.3.1. At the manufacturer's request the engine may be tested on a third fuel instead of G₂₃ (fuel 3) if the λ-shift factor (S_λ) lies between 0,89 (i.e. the lower range of G_R) and 1,19 (i.e. the upper range of G₂₅), for example when fuel 3 is a market fuel. The results of this test may be used as a basis for the evaluation of the conformity of the production.

4.1.4. In the case of natural gas engines, the ratio of the emission results ‘r’ shall be determined for each pollutant as follows:

or,

and,

4.1.5. In the case of LPG the parent engine should demonstrate its capability to adapt to any fuel composition that may occur across the market. In the case of LPG there are variations in C₃/C₄ composition. These variations are reflected in the reference fuels. The parent engine should meet the emission requirements on the reference fuels A and B as specified in Annex IV without any readjustment to the fuelling between the two tests. However, one adaptation run over one ETC cycle without measurement is permitted after the change of the fuel. Before testing, the parent engine shall be run-in using the procedure defined in paragraph 3 of Appendix 2 to Annex III.

4.1.5.1. The ratio of emission results ‘r’ shall be determined for each pollutant as follows:

4.2. Granting of a fuel range restricted EC type-approval

Fuel range restricted EC type-approval is granted subject to the following requirements:

4.2.1. Exhaust emissions approval of an engine running on natural gas and laid out for operation on either the range of H-gases or on the range of L-gases

The parent engine shall be tested on the relevant reference fuel, as specified in Annex IV, for the relevant range. The fuels are G_R (fuel 1) and G₂₃ (fuel 3) for the H-range of gases and G₂₅ (fuel 2) and G₂₃ (fuel 3) for the L-range of gases. The parent engine shall meet the requirements of this Directive without any readjustment to the fuelling between the two tests. However, one adaptation run over one ETC cycle without measurement is permitted after the change of the fuel. Before testing the parent engine shall be run-in using the procedure defined in paragraph 3 of Appendix 2 to Annex III.

4.2.1.1. At the manufacturer's request the engine may be tested on a third fuel instead of G₂₃ (fuel 3) if the λ-shift factor (S_λ) lies between 0,89 (i.e. the lower range of G_R) and 1,19 (i.e. the upper range of G₂₅), for example when fuel 3 is a market fuel. The results of this test may be used as a basis for the evaluation of the conformity of the production.

4.2.1.2. The ratio of emission results ‘r’ shall be determined for each pollutant as follows:

or,

and,

4.2.1.3. On delivery to the customer the engine shall bear a label (see paragraph 5.1.5) stating for which range of gases the engine is approved.

4.2.2. Exhaust emissions approval of an engine running on natural gas or LPG and laid out for operation on one specific fuel composition

4.2.2.1. The parent engine shall meet the emission requirements on the reference fuels G_R and G₂₅ in the case of natural gas, or the reference fuels A and B in the case of LPG, as specified in Annex IV. Between the tests fine-tuning of the fuelling system is allowed. This fine-tuning will consist of a recalibration of the fuelling database, without any alteration to either the basic control strategy or the basic structure of the database. If necessary the exchange of parts that are directly related to the amount of fuel flow (such as injector nozzles) is allowed.

4.2.2.2. At the manufacturer's request the engine may be tested on the reference fuels G_R and G₂₃, or on the reference fuels G₂₅ and G₂₃, in which case the type-approval is only valid for the H-range or the L-range of gases respectively.

4.2.2.3. On delivery to the customer the engine shall bear a label (see paragraph 5.1.5) stating for which fuel composition the engine has been calibrated.

4.3. Exhaust emissions approval of a member of a family

4.3.1. With the exception of the case mentioned in paragraph 4.3.2, the approval of a parent engine shall be extended to all family members without further testing, for any fuel composition within the range for which the parent engine has been approved (in the case of engines described in paragraph 4.2.2) or the same range of fuels (in the case of engines described in either paragraphs 4.1 or 4.2) for which the parent engine has been approved.

4.3.2. Secondary test engine

In case of an application for type-approval of an engine, or a vehicle in respect of its engine, that engine belonging to an engine family, if the technical service determines that, with regard to the selected parent engine the submitted application does not fully represent the engine family defined in Annex I, Appendix 1, an alternative and if necessary an additional reference test engine may be selected by the technical service and tested.

4.4. Type-approval certificate

A certificate conforming to the model specified in Annex VI shall be issued for approval referred to under Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3.