Posted on 04/30/2007 7:19:28 AM PDT by Freeport
ARGONNE, Ill. (April 27, 2007) A catalyst developed by Argonne researchers could help diesel truck manufacturers eliminate harmful nitrogen-oxide emissions from diesel exhausts.
The technology which has a patent pending appears so promising that multiple large and small companies have expressed interest in licensing it and working with Argonne researchers to scale up the technology and bring it to market. Argonne researcher Christopher Marshall, one of the technology's developers, believes there could be a commercially available product within two to three years.
Nitrogen oxides collectively called NOx contribute to smog, acid rain and global warming. Yet they are among the most difficult pollutants to eliminate from diesel exhaust. For example, many technologies that reduce NOx result in increases in undesirable particulate emissions.
"For diesel engines, we envision manufacturers placing ceramic catalytic reactors in the exhaust pipes, where they will convert NOx emissions into nitrogen," said Marshall, who works in Argonne's Chemical Engineering Division. Nitrogen, or N2, is a harmless gas that makes up more than 80 percent of the Earth's atmosphere.
"Our most promising catalyst for diesel engines," Marshall said, "is Cu-ZSM-5 with an external coating of cerium oxide." Cu-ZSM-5 is a zeolite with copper ions attached within its micropore structure. Zeolites are common catalysts in the petroleum industry.
Those working previously with Cu-ZSM-5 and similar catalysts, he said, found that they performed poorly at removing NOx from diesel exhaust. They require temperatures higher than normal diesel exhaust temperatures and don't work well in the presence of water vapor, which is almost always found in engine exhausts.
With the help of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne to analyze the structure and performance of various catalysts, Marshall's group at Argonne developed an additive that allows Cu-ZSM-5 and similar catalysts to overcome these difficulties.
(Excerpt) Read more at anl.gov ...
This is really good news. NOx emmissions are nasty and having a way to catalytically convert them is a very, very good thing. It will have a dramatic effect on smog. It certainly isn’t junk.
Nothing in the exhaust pipe on my diesel but a 4" hole about 8' long. :) While the aging teenager in me loves to hear that turbo whine, the middle age pragmatist that likes to breathe clean air appreciates these technology advances that will help increase the availability and practicality of turbo diesels burning renewable fuels.
I’m a gas engine guy - don’t know much about diesels.
The article mentions that the diesel needs to run lean to optimize the catalyst.
Anyone know what that means in terms of performance for diesels?
If you keep them tuned they do not pollute.
Same goes with diesels. Change your air filter, clean your injectors, and adjust your mix. No Problem. Easier now with computers.
All this add-on junk is to account for lazy idiots who will not learn to maintain their machines.
ping
Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.......
If you want on or off the DIESEL "KnOcK" LIST just FReepmail me........
This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days...... A Hat Tip to Thackney!..........
NOx ping...
Less power. There’s no throttle plate in a diesel. Stepping on the throttle supplies more fuel. Diesel engine power is controlled by varying the air/fuel mixture rather than the volumetric efficiency as in a gas engine.
Interesting, this catalyst doesn’t require an ammonia source like Adblue.
You just know the envio-nuts will find something wrong with nitrogen now.
If it ain't their solution they want no part of it.
NOx pollutants is directly related to the heat of combusion. The adjustments you mention would definatley help with particulates but would not decrease the production of NOx much.
If you live in God’s country like I do, NOx pollution is not much of an issue but in congested urban areas, it is the NOx that makes your eyes burn when you walk out the door. NOx will also exacerbate asthma, this is actually an important invention if it works.
Thank you.
Highly patented technologies are the kiss of death in terms of getting in the door with the big three. They do not want to pay the royalties and be stuck with a single source specialized item. It has to be commoditized to adopt it.
cool.
Has the SC declared N2 a pollutant yet?
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