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A production calibrated GTDI 1.6L Ford Fusion was used to demonstrate low HC, CO, NOx, PM (particulate mass), and PN (particulate number) emissions using advanced catalyst technologies with newly developed high porosity substrates and coated GPFs (gasoline particulate filters). The exhaust system consisted of 1.2 liters of TWC (three way catalyst) in the close-coupled position, and 1.6L of coated GPF in the underfloor position. The catalysts were engine-aged on a dynamometer to simulate 150K miles of road aging. Results indicate that ULEV70 emissions can be achieved at ∼$40 of PGM, while also demonstrating PM tailpipe performance far below the proposed California Air Resources Board (CARB) LEV III limit of 1 mg/mi. Along with PM and PN analysis, exhaust system backpressure is also presented with various GPF designs.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have finalized regulation that will reduce greenhouse gases and increase fuel economy for model year (MY) 2012-2016 light-duty vehicles. This ruling not only includes a CO₂ standard that will require vehicles to achieve fleet average 35 mpg by MY 2016, but will apply a cap on nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane emissions to 10 and 30 mg/mile, respectively, however CO₂ emission reductions can be exchanged for either N₂O or methane credit. The work outlined investigates the N₂O emissions of a variety of low emission vehicles per the Federal Test Procedure (FTP). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to measure both bag and modal N₂O emissions. N₂O emissions were less than 1 mg/mile for three SULEV vehicles with 6,400 km-aged catalysts.

Higher fuel costs and lower greenhouse gas standards, especially CO2, have compelled vehicle manufacturers to downsize engines while simultaneously using turbochargers on more of their applications. The application of turbochargers improves fuel economy as well as torque and power. However, this also results in lower exhaust temperatures which can challenge the ability of three-way catalysts to achieve low emission levels. This work investigates and compares the catalyst heat-up strategies, hardware, and catalyst architecture of four turbocharged 4-cylinder vehicles: a 2010 VW 2.0L DI, a 2013 Chevy Malibu 2.0L DI, a 2013 Ford Fusion 1.6L DI, and a 2013 Dodge Dart 1.4L Multi-Air. In addition, three emission studies are presented. One study will show a strategy to reduce PGM concentrations in a close-coupled (CC) catalyst.

FTP emissions were measured on a 2009MY, 4 cylinder 2.4L Malibu PZEV vehicle with 3 and 33 ppm sulfur fuel. The exhaust system employed one close-coupled and one under floor converter. FTP evaluations with Phase-II certification fuel with 33 ppm sulfur exhibited increasing NOx emissions with subsequent FTP evaluations (NOx creep). In an effort to minimize NOx creep, FTP preparation cycles and low sulfur fuels were investigated. Results indicate that utilizing the US06 cycle in between subsequent FTP's can mitigate NOx creep. FTP evaluations with 3 ppm sulfur fuel exhibited no NOx creep regardless of FTP preparation cycle and yielded overall lower NOx emissions.

Federal Test Procedure (FTP) emissions were measured on a 2009 4 cylinder 2.4L Malibu PZEV vehicle with 10 and 30ppm sulfur fuel while varying the PGM (Platinum Group Metals) of the close-coupled and underfloor converters. Base CARB PH-III certification fuel was used. Three consecutive FTPs were used to measure the impact of fuel sulfur and catalyst PGM loading combinations. In general, reducing fuel sulfur and increasing catalyst PGM loadings, decrease FTP emissions. Increasing Pd concentrations can mitigate the impact of higher fuel sulfur concentrations. The results also suggest that a 50% reduction in PGM can be achieved with a reduction in fuel sulfur from 30 to 10 ppm. On average, NMHC, CO and NOx emissions were reduced by 12, 49 and 64%, respectively with the 10 ppm sulfur fuel. In addition, HC and NOx vehicle emission variability were reduced by 74 and 57% with the 10 ppm sulfur fuel.

The cold start calibration of five different four cylinder Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) vehicles are examined. This subset of PZEV vehicles with engine displacements between 2.0 and 2.4L, include direct injection and port fuel injection applications with and without secondary air injection. Calibration parameters such as ignition timing, engine speed, and air-to-fuel ratio of each vehicle are compared. Converter light-off strategies differ drastically during Federal Test Procedure (FTP) cold start with various combinations of high engine idle speeds, aggressive ignition retard, secondary exhaust air injection, and in the case of direct injected (DI) engines, split fuel injections. Emission studies were performed on two of the PZEV vehicles to determine the required platinum group metals (PGM) needed to achieve Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) SULEV20 and SULEV30 Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) LEV-III emissions requirements.