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Mankind developed and enjoyed the automobile civilization, and has lauded the prosperity that it brought about. Commercial vehicle launched the heavy duty diesel engine have been contributing by main transportation system for development of society in the world. However both the local and global environment issues appear depend on the life of mankind, in the world. Especially, global warming is the most stringent issue for our life on the earth. We human beings must lay our existence on the line, and call upon expertise to create solutions for this situation. Diesel engine has great potential for the global warming compatibility by it's high thermal efficiency and diesel vehicle is expected to conserve the environment and to improve the fuel saving for keeping resources in the world. This paper introduces the surrounding of the automobile, such as exhaust emission regulation for heavy duty diesel vehicle, amount and contribution of CO2 emission and noise.

Since a NOx trap catalyst cyclically releases and reduces NOx with rich exhaust gas, generating of a rich spike becomes important for application to diesel engines, which always operate with overall lean combustion. In addition, a NOx trap catalyst is poisoned and degraded in performance by the presence of SO2 in the exhaust gas. When the NOx absorbing efficiency thus decreases, it is necessary to regenerate the catalyst by a sulfur purge (desulfation) process in order to remove SO2. It is apparent that there are many factors and effects to understand before one can apply this catalyst system to a diesel engine, therefore we have carried out an inquiry into a performance of the NOx catalyst used the model gas equipment with known gas mixtures. The rich spike was generated with diesel fuel (light oil), resulting in a transient equivalence ratio spike > 1, to simulate diesel exhaust gas.

Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) having an effectiveness of around 90% reduction of particulate matter (PM) are an essential after-treatment technique in order to meet upcoming PM regulations (Japan2005, Euro4, US07), which are all increasingly stringent. The continuous-regenerating DPF system [1] has been drawing particular attention, because it is possible to significantly simplify the system and reduce costs. The study presented herein investigated the application of a continuous-regenerating DPF system to commercial vehicles. Since exhaust temperatures that are encountered during a significant portion of engine operation are too low to initiate oxidation of PM, a continuously regenerating DPF must employ an oxidation catalyst. However, when the basic characteristics were investigated, an adequate PM oxidation rate was not obtained during city mode operation, during which the exhaust temperature was notably low.

Although diesel engines have high thermal efficiency and excellent reliability, legislation in locations worldwide are calling for further reductions in nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). One possible method of compliance is a urea-SCR catalyst system to reduce NOx. It is widely known, and has been demonstrated in stationary engines, that there is a significant NOx reduction effect when a sufficient catalyst activation temperature is obtained. Recently several commercial vehicles have been outfitted a urea-SCR system to and characterized their NOx reduction effects. This report outlines the basic characteristics of the urea-SCR system, and evaluation of the effectiveness when used for heavy-duty diesel powered commercial vehicles. First, in order to investigate the basic characteristics of the urea-SCR catalyst, NOx reduction characteristics were measured using model gas equipment.

The active regeneration method of a DPF system wherein fuel is supplied to a pre-catalyst with post-injection to cause filter heat-up, was described in previous reports. To succeed in the active regeneration, a pre-catalyst must have high fuel combustion performance at low temperature. Platinum (Pt) had been used as active species of the pre-catalyst. This conventional catalyst was improved by the addition of Palladium (Pd). Fundamental experiments for the catalyst have shown that Pd is very effective for fuel combustion and optimization of the ratio of Pd to Pt causes enhanced NO2 formation to contribute to lengthen the interval between active regenerations. The high performance and enough heat resistance of the newly developed pre-catalyst have been confirmed by engine test.

In order to meet increasingly strict PM legislation, diesel particulate filter systems (DPF) with a conversion rate of about 90% particulate matter (PM) are an essential after-treatment technology. Recently a filtering method using a catalyst has been proposed, which is called the “Continuously Regenerating DPF System[1],” and one can expect a significant degree of system simplification and cost reduction. In the previous report [2] basic characteristics about this continuously regenerating DPF were investigated. Results showed that in city mode driving, where exhaust temperatures are relatively low, continuous regeneration did not occur. Therefore, to “Continuously Regenerating DPF System,” active regeneration control system to oxidize and remove PM is necessary[3]. Then DPF system with higher reliability and active regeneration control method was proposed.

An after-treatment system consisting of a lean NOx trap, diesel particulate filter (DPF), and diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) was applied to a light-duty commercial vehicle engine. Extensive exhaust gas testing under the transient JE05 test cycle was carried out. Lean NOx trap characteristics and issues related to transient operation were clarified and areas for system improvement were suggested. When exhaust gas temperatures were low, the NOx conversion efficiency was low, then stored NOx remained in the catalyst during rich operation, without desorption and reduction. The first half of the JE05 test cycle has relatively low exhaust gas temperatures, while the latter half has more high speed operation with rapidly increasing and higher catalyst temperature. Because of this, NOx trapped in the catalyst during the first half was desorbed and expelled during the high temperature second half, resulting in a lower NOx conversion rate for the entire test cycle.