ADVANCED CATALYSTS FOR ULTRA-LOW EMISSION CONTROL IN NATURAL GAS FUELED VEHICLES

TWO CATALYST FORMULATIONS ARE PLANNED WHICH SHOULD SIGNIFICANTLY ADVANCE PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY OF EMISSION CONTROL CONVERTESR FOR USE IN LIGHT DUTY VEHICLES CONVERTED FOR USE WITH COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) OR DUAL (GASOLINE AND CNG) FUELS. RESEARCH IN PHASE I WILL FORMULATE AND EXPERIMENTALLY EXAMINE KEY PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS FOR (1) CATALYSTS DESIGNED TO RESIST SINTERING AND MAINTAIN NITROGEN OXIDE REDUCTION ACTIVITY AND THREE-WAY CATALYTIC ACTIVITY AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES, AND (2) CATALYSTS DESIGNED TO CONVERT CARBON MONOXIDE, NON-METHANE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, AND METHANE AT LOW TEMPERATURES. THE FEASIBILITY OF NEW FLEXIBLE CONFIGURATIONS OF EMISSION CONTROL CONVERTERS CAPABLE OF THREE WAY CATALYST (TWC) COUPLING AND SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO EXCEED ULTRA LOW EMMISSION VEHICLE STANDARDS WITH CNG FUEL WILL BE EXAMINED. RESEARCH TASKS WILL INCLUDE: DEVELOPMENT OF A SINTERING-RESISTANT NOX REDUCTION CATALYST DESIGNED TO OPERATE IN (HOTTER) LOCATIONS CLOSER TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THAN CURRENT UNDER-FLOOR CONVERTERS. EVALUATION OF COATINGS DESIGNED TO INHIBIT OXIDATION OF NEW COMMERCIAL FERRITIC STEELS USED IN ELECTRICALLY HEATED CONVERTERS (EHC). DEVELOPMENT OF TWC CATALYST WITH HIGH OXYGEN STORAGE CAPABILITY AND HIGH ACTIVITY FOR CO AND HYDROCARBON OXIDATION AT LOW TEMPERATURE.