This thesis describes an investigation into the spatial species conversion profiles of a Cu-zeolite SCR under engine conditions at low exhaust gas temperatures; this was then compared with a CFD model that models the catalyst via a porous medium measuring 5 x 5 x 91 cells assuming a uniform cross-sectional flow distribution. Species conversion rates were sampled at fixed points in the axial direction. The analysis of the spatial conversion profiles is a more rigorous method in assessing the ability of a mathematical model to predict the experimental data. It can also assist in the optimisation of the catalyst size, minimising packaging requirements and manufacturing costs. The experiments were undertaken on a light-duty diesel engine at a speed of 1500rpm, and at a load of 6bar BMEP; this provided exhaust gas temeraqtures between 200 and 220°C. NO2:NOx ratios were controlled by changing the size and position of the diesel oxidation catalyst, the inlet NH3: NOx ratio was also also varied, ammonia gas was used instead of urea for the purposes of simlicity. The advantage of testing on an actual engine over lab-babed studies is that the conditions such as exhaust gas composition are more realistic. A 1D CFD model was constructed using the ‘porous medium approach’ with kinetics obtained from open literature. Results from the simulations were then compared with the experimental data for the same engine conditions. It was observed that the majority of the NOx conversion took place in the first half of the brick for all NH3: NOx ratios investigated, and that the formation of N2O via NO2 and ammonia had the same influence as the ‘fast’ SCR reaction just after the inlet, which the CFD model failed to predict for the base case analyses. The influence of the inlet ammonia on the model was also noticed to be greater than in the experiments. Simple transient analyses were also undertaken on the short SCR bricks for NO2: NOx ratios of 0.6 and 0.07, and it was observed that the response time to steady-state was noticeably higher in the experiments than in the model. Modifications made to the model, including decreasing the influence of the ‘fast’ SCR reaction, and the addition of an empirical term onto the ammonia adsorption provided a noticeably better agreement for different NH3: NOx injection ratios. The desorption kinetics in the model were also altered by increasing the strength of the bonding of the ammonia onto the adsorption sites. This improved the transient agreement between the model and the experiments, but reduced the steady-state concentrations at the exit of the brick for all NH3:NOx ratios investigated.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 1999. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 120 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 102-107).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2000. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xvi, 129 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-82).

Le nouveau mode de combustion HCCI est adapté pour réduire les émissions d’oxydes d’azote et de particules fines issues de moteurs Diesel afin de respecter les futures normes d’émission Euro de plus en plus drastiques. Ce type de combustion se traduit par l’augmentation des émissions de monoxyde de carbone et des hydrocarbures et par une faible température des gaz d’échappement retardant ainsi leur conversion par le catalyseur d’oxydation Diesel (DOC). C’est dans ce contexte environnemental et économique que le couplage plasma-catalyseur apparait comme une solution intéressante afin d’améliorer l’efficacité du traitement des gaz d’échappement Diesel. Cette thèse est dédiée à l’étude du couplage d’un plasma non-thermique de type décharge à barrière diélectrique (DBD) et d’un catalyseur d’oxydation Diesel (Pt-Pd/Al2O3) pour le traitement de mélanges gazeux représentatifs d’un échappement de moteur Diesel HCCI (O2-NO-H2O-CO-CO2-CH4-C3H6- C7H8-C10H22-N2). Les expériences avec un réacteur plasma pilote ont été menées sur deux bancs expérimentaux : le premier à l’échelle laboratoire en vue de comprendre la physico-chimie impliquant le plasma et le catalyseur avec une attention particulière pour les sous-produits de réaction, et le second à l’échelle industriel afin de déterminer l’efficacité et la faisabilité d’un tel couplage dans les conditions de débit et de température les plus proches possibles de celles rencontrées en sortie moteur véhicule. L’étude menée en fonction de la puissance injectée dans le milieu, la VVH, la température des gaz, ainsi que la nature du cycle de roulage a permis de montrer l’efficacité du plasma pour abaisser de façon significative la température d’activation du DOC pour l’oxydation de CO et des hydrocarbures. Aussi, la présence du plasma en amont du DOC a permis, sur un cycle NEDC simulé, une réduction de 68% et 42% des masses de CO et des hydrocarbures émis en accord avec la norme Euro6 (2014). L’efficacité du plasma pour l’oxydation des hydrocarbures et de NO à basse température dans ces conditions de débits élevés (jusqu’à 900 Lmin−1 sur le cycle NEDC) a été confirmée et les principaux produits de réaction identifiés et quantifiés. / The new HCCI combustion mode is well adapted to improve nitrogen oxide and particulate matter reduction from Diesel engine in order to meet future emission regulations adopted in the Euro zone. However, HCCI engines emit relatively high amounts of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide due to lower engine exhaust temperature increasing the catalyst light-off time and decreasing the average efficiency of the Diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC). In this environmental and economic context, the combination of plasma with DOC has been considered especially for intermittent use during the cold start. The thesis presents the combination of nonthermal plasma upstream Diesel oxidation catalyst (Pt-Pd/Al2O3) applied to the treatment of simulating Diesel HCCI exhaust gas (O2-NO-H2O-CO-CO2-CH4-C3H6-C7H8-C10H22-N2). The studies were conducted at atmospheric pressure with a pilot-scale dielectric barrier discharge reactor (DBD) on two experimental devices. The first is a laboratory scale set-up (low flow rate : 20 Lmin−1) used to understand the physico-chemical involving the plasma and the catalyst by focusing on the by-products reactions. The second is an industrial scale (gas flow rate up to 260 Lmin−1) used to study the feasibility and the efficiency of the plasma-DOC system under conditions similar to those encountered in Diesel exhaust engine. The effects of the plasma, the DOC and the plasma-DOC systems on the exhaust gas have been investigated under various conditions. The main contribution of the plasma was to give a « thermal » and a chemical « push » to the DOC resulting in the decrease of light-off temperature for CO and HC oxidation. These improvements were shown to depend on the treatment conditions (injected energy i.e. energy density, space velocity, gas temperature and nature of the driving cycle). It is shown that for a simulated European Driving Cycle (NEDC), the combination of plasma upstream DOC reduces the cumulative mass of CO and hydrocarbons by about 68% and 42%, respectively, in accordance with the Euro 6 standard (2014). The efficiency of plasma for hydrocarbons and NO oxidation at low temperature in high flow conditions (up to 900 Lmin−1 on the NEDC) has been confirmed and the main reaction products identified and quantified.