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Exhaust Aftertreatment for Diesel Engines

EPA Grant Number: FP916411
Title: Exhaust Aftertreatment for Diesel Engines
Investigators: Pihl, Josh A.
Institution: University of Wisconsin - Madison
EPA Project Officer: Thompson, Delores
Project Period: January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2006
Project Amount: $111,172
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2004)
Research Category: Academic Fellowships , Engineering and Environmental Chemistry , Fellowship - Environmental Engineering

Description:

Objective:

The objective of this research is to develop a better understanding of the fundamental chemical processes occurring inside a diesel particulate filter coated with a lean NOx trapping catalyst under real exhaust gas conditions. This knowledge should aid in developing more effective and robust exhaust aftertreatment systems for diesel engines.

Approach:

A computational model of the chemical reactions, filtration mechanisms, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer occurring inside the NOx trapping filter under both lean and rich exhaust operating conditions is being developed. I also am working with filter and catalyst manufacturers to design a novel aftertreatment device configuration that will allow for spatially resolved sampling of the exhaust gas inside the filter during operation. This filter will be integrated into the exhaust system of a diesel engine and tested by collaborators at the University of Wisconsin Engine Research Center. The engine is heavily instrumented for exhaust gas analysis, including FT-IR for determination of chemical composition, SPMS and TEOM for particulate matter (PM) size and concentration analysis, and a battery of filters used for chemical characterization of the PM. The data from the engine laboratory tests will be used to validate the computational model. Additional offline testing of the coated filter material also will be performed to quantify the chemical reaction kinetics and evaluate some of the parameters needed in the computational model. After validation is complete, the model will be run through a series of simulations to probe the effects of different exhaust gas variables on operation of the aftertreatment device.

Supplemental Keywords:

fellowship, aftertreatment, diesel engines, exhaust systems, exhaust aftertreatment, NOx trapping filter, exhaust gas analysis, computational model , Air, Scientific Discipline, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, mobile sources, automotive exhaust, engine exhaust, diesel exhaust, NOx trapping catalyst, exhaust aftertreatment, vehicular exhaust, diesel engines, automotive emissions, particle trap, vehicle emissions, motor vehicle emissions, ambient particle pollution
Relevant Websites:

2004 STAR Graduate Fellowship Conference Poster (PDF, 1p., 141KB, about PDF)

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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