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Stricter emission limitations for NOx and particulates in mobile diesel applications will require the combinations of active aftertreatment methods like Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF), Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) with urea and Lean NOx Trap (LNT) in the 2010's. A new concept is the combination of LNT+SCR, which enables on-board synthesis of ammonia (LNT), which is then removed on the SCR catalyst. The main application for this kind system will be light-duty vehicles, where LNTs are already used and the low temperature deNOx is a main target. That combinatory system was investigated by developing and selecting PtRh/LNT and SCR catalysts for that particulate application, where the maximum temperature may reach 800°C and SCR should proceed without NO2 assistance. Pt-rich, PtRh/LNT with reasonable high loadings above 80g/cft resulted in a high NOx efficiency in the experimental laboratory conditions which created also on LNTs a higher NH3 concentration for the SCR unit.

Catalyst coated silicon carbide filters were developed and applied for light-duty and heavy-duty diesel applications. This catalyst coating is suitable also for industrial applications and to be used on cordierite or sintered metal filters. Development activities yield solgel type coating for particulate filters with properties allowing very thin coating, containing metal oxides interacting with active sites, e.g. precious metals (Pt, Pd). A tailored catalyst composition was developed for the catalytic activity and durability in oxidation and soot regeneration reactions. The combination of thermal and catalytic particulate oxidation by oxygen and NO2 was investigated using different regeneration strategies in engine exhaust and laboratory conditions. The passive regeneration by NO2 initiated around 310°C with CPF only. One of the main targets was to lengthen the intervals between active regeneration phases by catalyzed particulate filters which enhance passive regeneration properties.

As the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) technology is nowadays established, research is currently focusing on meeting the emission and durability requirements by proper system design. This paper focuses on the optimum combination between the catalytic coating and substrate structural properties using experimental and simulation methodologies. The application of these methodologies will be illustrated for the case of SiC substrates coated with innovative sol-gel coatings. Coated samples are characterized versus their uncoated counterparts. Multi-dimensional DOC and DPF simulation models are used to study several effects parametrically and increase our understanding on the governing phenomena. The comparative analysis of DOC/DPF systems covers filtration – pressure drop characteristics, CO/HC/NO oxidation performance, effect of washcoat amount and catalyst dispersion on oxidation activity and finally passive regeneration performance.

The latest emission regulations for mobile and stationary applications require the use of aftertreatment methods for NOx and diesel particulate filters (DPF) for particulate matter (PM). SCR catalysts were evaluated by laboratory experiments and the most promising SCR catalysts were also scaled up to full-size. Development with copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) on zeolitic materials (Beta, ZSM-5, SAPO, chabazite) has resulted in the new generation of thermally durable SCR (selective catalytic reduction) catalysts, which have also an improved sulfur tolerance and a low N2O formation tendency. Opposite to Cu on Beta and ZSM-5, Cu on chabazite and SAPO showed clearly lower N2O formation. Cu-SCR catalysts had a low dependency on NO2/NOx but Fe-SCR catalysts required a higher NO2/NOx ratio (>0.3) to keep a high NOx efficiency.

The tightening pollutant emission limits require the use of active aftertreatment methods for NOx and particulate matter (PM). Diesel particulate filter (DPF) is a part of commercial aftertreatment system (ATS). PM accumulated in DPF is continuously passively or periodically actively regenerated with the assistance of efficient diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC) having a high efficiency and durability in hydrocarbon (HC), NO and CO oxidation reactions. A high HC concentration during fuel feeding in active regeneration is demanding for DOC. The deactivation in air, hydrothermal, sulfation and active regeneration conditions were evaluated with platinum (Pt-) and platinum-palladium (PtPd)-DOCs by laboratory simulations using the ageing temperature and time as primary variables. The oxidizing conditions with a high oxygen concentration without HCs were deactivating DOCs clearly more than active regeneration conditions with a low oxygen and high HC concentration at 700-800°C.

The emission regulations for mobile off-road applications are following on-road trends by a short delay. The latest Stage 3B and 4 emission limits mean a gradual implementation of oxidation and SCR catalysts as well as particulate filters with off-road machines/vehicles in the 2010s. The driving conditions and test cycles differ from on-road truck applications which have been the first design base for off-road aftertreatment technologies. Aftertreatment systems for Stage 4 were first analyzed and they will include oxidation catalysts, a NOx reduction catalyst (SCR or LNT), a particulate filter and possibly units for urea hydrolysis and ammonia slip removal. The design and durability of V₂O₅/TiO₂-WO₃ catalysts based on metallic substrates were investigated by engine bench and field experiments. NOx emissions were measured with 6.6 and 8.4 liters engines designed for agricultural and industrial machinery.

Stricter emission limitations for NOx and particulates in mobile applications will require the use of active aftertreatment methods like Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF), Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) with urea and Lean NOx Trap (LNT) as combinations in the 2010's. Due to the significant total space and required investments, a lot of efforts have been focused recently on the optimization of the combinatory aftertreatment systems (ATS). In this study the possibilities to intensify the catalytic ATS were analyzed and reviewed by the examples and studies with engines, laboratory reactors and simulations. The focus was on diesel applications, where the number of needed ATS units is the widest. The diesel engine modifications on SCR or EGR engines have to be also designed together with ATS. The intensification includes the principles of down-sizing and the integration of ATS units with control systems.

To reach close to zero tailpipe NOx emissions, a double-SCR (selective catalytic reduction) system is proposed. In that, the first SCR unit would be placed upstream of the diesel particulate filter (DPF) and the second SCR unit downstream of DPF. This study focused on the experiments of the first SCR unit. The experiments were conducted utilizing a new, 4.4-liter heavy duty diesel engine that was connected to a research facility for studying after-treatment systems in controlled environment. Three different SCR’s: a vanadium-based SCR (V-SCR), a copper-based SCR (Cu-SCR) and a vanadium-based SCR including an ammonia slip catalyst (V-SCR+ASC) were studied. Studies were done at different exhaust temperatures from 215°C to 350°C. Emissions of NO, NO2, NH3, N2O, CO, CO2 and hydrocarbons were measured by FTIR. Particulate emissions (PM, PN) were studied as a part of the experiments. The results showed that the three SCR units performed differently.