Plasma-Assisted Catalyst for Diesel Exhaust Treatment

56 Plasma-Assisted Catalyst for Diesel Exhaust Treatment--ADA Technologies, Inc., 304 Inverness Way South, Suite 365, Englewood, CO 80112-5828; (303) 792-5615 Ms. Sheila Haythornwaite, Principal Investigator Dr. Daryl L. Roberts, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-97ER82311 Amount: $74,991 Diesel engines are an integral and essential component of the transportation industry; they also contribute significant amounts of pollution in the form of oxides of nitrogen (Nox) and particulates to urban atmospheres. Diesel engine manufacturers have met the challenge of lowering emissions to the current levels of 5 grams per brake horsepower-hour for NOx and 0.1 gram per brake horsepower-hour for particulates by such modifications to the combustion process as changing the timing of the engine. However, these combustion or ¿in-cylinder¿ modifications are not capable of meeting emission standards as low as 2 grams per brake horsepower-hour for NOx and 0.05 gram per brake horsepower for particulates targeted for 2004. These lower limits present a significant challenge to diesel engine manufacturers since methods of attaining the lower emission rates are still under development and have high costs associated with them. Approaches under investigation include fuel modifications, in-cylinder controls, and exhaust gas treatment. These methods have not been demonstrated to meet the stringent NOx and particulate limits simultaneously without significant fuel penalties, and thus this is an area of intense research. For this reason, Phase I will investigate a novel approach to exhaust gas treatment that does not require injection of reducing agents. This approach will use a nonthermal plasma-assisted catalytic converter in which the catalyst and plasma work synergistically to selectively reduce NOx and oxidize particulate matter without injection of reducing agents. This technology has the potential to improve the state of the art in diesel emissions control by allowing improved fuel efficiency while meeting current-day emissions standards. If successful, this technology will reduce emissions without the significant fuel-efficiency penalties associated with other approaches. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: By 2004 the Environmental Protection Agency has targeted emission limits for NOx and particulates from heavy-duty diesel to be reduced by 50 percent from 1998 emission limits. Total highway transportation energy consumption by trucks is projected to nearly match that of cars by 2010. This plasma-assisted catalytic reactor has the potential to fill this market need by simultaneously allowing engines to operate in a more efficient mode, utilizing optimized timing, and meeting NOx and particulate emissions limits.