Assessment of the Internal Catalyst Efficiency in a Diesel Engine of a Vehicle under the Conditions Simulating Real Driving

Monika Andrych-Zalewska,Zdzisław Chłopek,Jerzy Merkisz,Jacek Pielecha

doi:10.3390/en13246569

Abstract

The application of a catalyst on a surface inside a combustion chamber is known as a supplementary method of exhaust gas aftertreatment. The efficiency of this method in the reduction in exhaust emissions as well as its influence on other engine properties has been analyzed in multiple scientific works. Most often, these works present the results of investigations carried out on dynamometers under engine stationary conditions. There are no results of the catalyst investigations performed under dynamic states, particularly on-going real time analyses during engine operation. Therefore, the authors set out to explore the efficiency of the in-cylinder catalyst of a diesel engine under dynamic conditions simulating actual vehicle operation. A unique methodology was applied. The investigations were carried out in road conditions in a test simulating the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) homologation test in compliance with the similarity criteria of the zero-dimensional characteristics of vehicle speed during the investigations and in the homologation test. For the research, the authors used portable exhaust emissions measurement equipment. A unique method of test results analysis was also applied (a continuous method in the time domain). As a result of the tests being repeated several times, it was observed that the application of an internal catalyst under different operating engine conditions repeatedly results in: an approx. 2% reduction in the emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and carbon dioxide; a similar increase in the emission of nitrogen oxides; and a significant (over 10%) reduction in the particle number. The obtained results substantiate the purpose of actions aiming at improving the efficiency of the internal catalyst.

Highlights

Environmental protection to mitigate the effects of civilization applies to a large extent to the automotive industry and the use of internal combustion engines in general
On the obtained of the efficiency of an internal catalyst in and the reduction in exhaust emissions
Based the tests carried on average an internal combustion engine in itsthan dynamic as determined leading to a relative decrease in the measured average particle number than 10%

Summary

Introduction

Environmental protection to mitigate the effects of civilization applies to a large extent to the automotive industry and the use of internal combustion engines in general. The requirements set out for the properties of internal combustion engines due to environmental protection have led to the search for increasingly advanced technical solutions. These activities mainly include phenomena such as fuel dosage, air-fuel mixture formation, combustion, exhaust gas aftertreatment, and, above all, the control of the combustion processes occurring in the engine [3,4]. The possibilities of affecting the fuel combustion processes in the engine cylinder are relatively small. This is due in part to the physical limitations. The problem of the impact of the catalyst coating on the combustion process in the engine cylinder is investigated

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