Automotive & Diesel Emissions Control Technologies

Automotive & Diesel Emissions Control Technologies

 

Steven B. Ogunwumi

Corning Incorporated, Crystalline Materials Research, Corning NY 14831, USA

Abstract

Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Carbon monoxide, (CO) Hydrocarbons (HC) and Particulate matter (PM) from gasoline and diesel emissions pose serious health hazards and environmental issues. These emissions have been implicated in acid rain, ozone and urban smog formation.  NOx and CO gases are considered to be highly toxic, and PM and some HC may be carcinogenic.

As a result, legislation continues to enforce stringent regulation of these emissions. The development of the three way catalyst (TWC) has helped to mitigate this problem with gasoline vehicles. The standard gasoline combustion engine operates in a stoichiometric fuel/air regime. Thus, a conversion efficiency of more than 95% NOx to nitrogen can be attained by operating near or close to stoichiometry. However, due to the  lean-burn (oxygen-rich) conditions of diesel exhausts, a conventional TWC technology solution cannot be applied in a diesel exhaust.

This presentation provides an overview of the after-treatment technology available for automotive  and diesel exhaust emission remediation.  Information is provided on the development of the catalyst substrate, diesel filter, catalyst technology, and emissions chemistry.