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Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is widely used in diesel engines to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. However, a lacquer is formed on the EGR valve or EGR cooler due to particulate matter and other components present in diesel exhaust, causing serious problems. In this study, the mechanism of lacquer deposition is investigated using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (ATR-FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Deposition of temperature-dependent lacquers was evaluated by varying the temperature of a diamond prism between 80 and 120 °C in an ATR-FTIR spectrometer integrated into a custom-built sample line, which branched off from the exhaust pipe of a diesel engine. Lacquers were deposited on the diamond prism at 100 °C or less, while no lacquer was deposited at 120 °C. Time-dependent ATR-FTIR spectra were obtained for approximately 2 h from the beginning of the experiment.

Diesel engines have better fuel economy over comparable gasoline engines and are useful for the reduction of CO2 emissions. However, to meet stringent emission standards, the technology for reducing NOx and particulate matter (PM) in diesel engine exhaust needs to be improved. A conventional selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system consists of a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), diesel particulate filter (DPF), and urea-SCR catalyst. Recently, more stringent regulations have led to the development of SCR systems with a larger volume and increased the cost of such systems. In order to solve these problems, an SCR catalyst-coated DPF (SCR/DPF) is proposed. An SCR/DPF system has lower volume and cost compared to the conventional SCR system. The SCR/DPF catalyst has two functions: combustion of PM and reduction of NOx emissions.

In this study, engine performances and exhaust emissions characteristics of compression ignition engine fueled with GTL were investigated by comparison with diesel fuel. Diesel engine could be operated fueled with GTL without any special modify for the test engine. With the high cetane number of GTL, the ignition lag was shorter, and the combustion started earlier than that of diesel fuel. Brake thermal efficiency operated with GTL increased at middle load conditions due to incomplete combustion emission such as CO and THC were lower than that of diesel fuel operation. NOx emission with GTL was comparable to diesel fuel, and there was a little decrease at high load. With GTL, soot emission was lower than with diesel fuel at above middle load condition. It seemed to be a reason of soot reduction that there was little sulphur contained in GTL.

Recently, dimethyl ether (DME) has been attracting much attention as a clean alternative fuel, since the thermal efficiency of DME powered diesel engine is comparable to diesel fuel operation and soot free combustion can be achieved. In this experiment, the effect of ambient pressure on DME spray was investigated with observation of droplet size such as Sauter mean diameter (SMD) by the shadowgraph and image processing method. The higher ambient pressure obstructs the growth of DME spray, therefore faster breakup was occurred, and liquid column was thicker with increasing the ambient pressure. Then engine performances and exhaust emissions characteristics of DME diesel engine were investigated with various compression ratios. The minimum compression ratio for the easy start and stable operation was obtained at compression ratio of about 12.

A feasibility study of an LPG DI diesel engine has been carried out to study the effectiveness of two selected cetane enhancing additives: Di-tertiary-butyl peroxide (DTBP) and 2-Ethylhexyl nitrate (EHN). When more than either 5 wt% DTBP or 3.5 wt% 2EHN was added to the base fuel (100 % butane), stable engine operation over a wide range of engine loads was possible (BMEPs of 0.03 to 0.60 MPa). The thermal efficiency of LPG fueled operation was found to be comparable to diesel fuel operation at DTBP levels over 5 wt%. Exhaust emissions measurements showed that NOx and smoke levels can be significantly reduced using the LPG+DTBP fuel blend compared to a light diesel fuel at the same experimental conditions. Correlations were derived for the measured ignition delay, BMEP, and either DTBP concentration or cetane number. When propane was added to a butane base fuel, the ignition delay became longer.

Band spectrum images for CH, OH and CHO were taken in a heavy duty type LPG lean-burn SI engine, to investigate the combustion process as it pertains to the pollutant formation process in the post flame region. Full spectra and band spectrum flame images were observed with a bottom view single cylinder research engine and two high speed cameras. NOx emissions were also measured for excess air ratios ranging from 1.0 to 1.6. A thermodynamic model, including the detailed chemical kinetic mechanism for LPG and NOx formation reactions, was developed to predict the major reaction species in the post flame region, and NOx emissions during the combustion process. The model qualitatively described the flame images for each band spectrum and could predict the measured NOx emissions very well.

To meet the strict emission regulations for diesel engines, an advanced processing device such as a Urea-SCR (selective catalytic reduction) system is used to reduce NOx emissions. The Real Driving Emissions (RDE) test, which is implemented in the European Union, will expand the range of conditions under which the engine has to operate [1], which will lead to the construction of a Urea-SCR system capable of reducing NOx emissions at lower and higher temperature conditions, and at higher space velocity conditions than existing systems. Simulations are useful in improving the performance of the urea-SCR system. However, it is necessary to construct a reliable NOx reduction model to use for system design, which covers the expanded engine operation conditions. In the urea-SCR system, the mechanism of ammonia (NH3) formation from injected aqueous urea solution is not clear. Thus, it is important to clarify this mechanism to improve the NOx reduction model.

For developing complicated after-treatment equipment for diesel-engine vehicles, such as urea-selective catalytic reduction (urea-SCR) systems, construction of a reaction model that can accurately predict ammonia (NH3) formation from urea is required. Hydrolysis of isocyanic acid (HNCO) is an important intermediate reaction in NH3 formation from urea. In our previous studies [1], a new rate constant for HNCO hydrolysis over fresh Cu-ZSM5 was derived using the measurements of the reaction rate of HNCO hydrolysis with high-purity HNCO formed from cyanuric acid. In this study, the reaction rates of the HNCO hydrolysis and NH3-SCR reactions were measured over a hydrothermally aged Cu-ZSM5 catalyst. A steady-state flow reactor equipped with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) was employed to obtain the reaction rate of the HNCO hydrolysis and NH3-SCR reactions.

Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is widely used in diesel engines to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. To meet the strict emission regulations, e.g., Real Driving Emissions, the EGR system is required to be used at temperatures lower than the present ones. However, under cool conditions, an adhesive deposit forms on the EGR valve or cooler because of the particulate matter and other components present in the diesel exhaust. This causes sticking of the EGR valve or degradation of the heat-exchange performance, which are serious problems. In this study, the EGR deposit formation mechanism was investigated based on spatially- and time-resolved scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation. The deposit was formed in a custom-made sample line using real exhaust emitted from a diesel engine. The exhaust including soot was introduced into the sample line for 24 h (maximum duration), and the formed deposit was observed using SEM.

The Real Driving Emissions (RDE) test method has been introduced after 2017 to regulate the vehicle emissions in real-world driving situations by means of on-board emissions measurements. This paper aims to estimate the detailed on-board gaseous emissions from a light-duty direct-injection gasoline vehicle simultaneously using both portable emissions measurement system (PEMS) and sensor-based emissions measurement system (SEMS). Test route is typical urban route and tests environment factors followed the RDE regulation. Carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and ammonia (NH3) emissions were analyzed according to cold start once and followed by hot start conditions. The mass emissions of gas components were calculated based on the exhaust flowrate obtained from OBD parameters, NH3 emission was calculated based on NO sensor’s data. Two drivers participated in the tests and their emissions difference has been compared.

A urea-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system is used for the reduction of NOx emitted from diesel engines. Although this SCR catalyst can reduce NOx over a wide temperature range, improvements in NOx conversion at relatively low temperatures, such as under cold-start or low-load engine conditions, are necessary. A close-coupled SCR (cc-SCR), which was set just after the engine exhaust manifold, was developed to address this issue. The temperature of the SCR catalyst increases rapidly owing to the higher exhaust temperatures, and NOx conversion is then enhanced under cold-start conditions. However, since the diesel oxidation catalyst is not installed before the SCR catalyst, hydrocarbon (HC) emissions pass directly through the SCR catalyst and poison it, leading to lower NOx conversion. Therefore, the mechanism of NOx conversion reduction on HC-poisoned SCR catalysts are required to be studied.

Three-way catalysts are used in gasoline vehicles for simultaneous purifying nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbon in recent years. However, the reduction of ammonia emission generated in the three-way catalyst is pressing issue. In EURO 7, ammonia will also be subject to the Real Driving Emissions regulation, and its emissions must be reduced. Previous studies have shown that ammonia emissions are higher under fuel-rich conditions, suggesting that differences in driving behavior have a significant impact on ammonia emissions in real-world driving, which includes various driving environments. In this study, driving tests were conducted on a direct- injection gasoline vehicle equipped with a three-way catalyst and Portable Emission Measurement System and Sensor-based Emission Measurement System to investigate the actual ammonia emissions on actual roads.