ENVIRONMENTAL RISK OF PARTICULATE AND SOLUBLE

PLATINUM GROUP ELEMENTS RELEASED FROM GASOLINE AND

DIESEL ENGINE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS
C. McLeod, et al. University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
Review:
In this research paper, a comparison of platinum group elements (PGE) between gasoline and
diesel engine catalytic converters is given. This research has been done to investigate the
serious threats caused by the platinum group elements to the environment. Platinum group
elements are six elements clustered together in the periodic table namely ruthenium, rhodium,
palladium, osmium, rhodium, and platinum. They have similar chemical as well as physical
properties. They are widely used in catalysts. In this research, the exhaust fumes from four
catalysts of three different types were examined. Two were gasoline engine catalysts (Pt, Rh,
Pd) and the other two were diesel engine catalysts (Pt). These samples were collected for
engines having lifetime ranging from 0 to 80,000 km. The samples were analyzed for
particulate and soluble fractions. Particulates are tiny particles which are suspended in
Earth’s atmosphere. So these samples were analyzed that what amount of these particulates
and other soluble fractions are present in the exhaust fumes of these catalytic converters and
what type of harmful effects they can cause.
The technique used was inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The
results showed that for fresh catalysts, the amount of particulate platinum group elements
does not follow any particular trend. The samples from 30,000 to 80,000 km showed a more
homogeneous platinum group elements (PGE) quantity. A decrease of approximately one
order of magnitude with respect to the fresh catalysts is observed except for the diesel engine
catalyst for which the amount of platinum group elements (PGE) remains higher than
gasoline engine catalyst. The fraction of soluble platinum group elements (PGE) represented
less than 10% of the total amount released from fresh catalysts. For aged catalysts, these
figures were higher especially for rhodium and palladium.
Particulate platinum group elements (PGE) are found to be biologically inert which means
that they do not cause much harmful effects. While soluble platinum group elements (PGE)
are found to biologically reactive. It implies that they are a serious threat for the environment
because they can accumulate in the environment and cause atmospheric pollution.

A CASE STUDY ON COMPATIBILITY OF AUTOMOTIVE EXHAUST

THERMOELECTRIC GENERATION SYSTEM, CATALYTIC
CONVERTER AND MUFFLER
 X. Liu, Y.D. Deng, S. Chen, W.S. Wang, Y. Xu, C.Q. Su
Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components,
Automobile Engineering Institute, Wuhan University of Technology, 205 Luo shi Road,
Hongshan District, Wuhan, 430 070, China, 2014

Review:
In addition to the harmful gases the engine leaves, heat energy being wasted is another
concerning issue on which it is important to other on, it would be very beneficial to us that
along with the conversion of harmful gases to less harmful one if we are able to convert the
heat energy being wasted, into some useful one, especially for diesel engines, whose exhaust
gases are at temperatures from 200 ℃ to 300 ℃ at the outlet of the catalyst. For that purpose
a device named as thermoelectric converter is used along with catalytic converter. Then it
also important to find out the conditions on which this conversion is maximum, increasing
the efficiency of the thermoelectric converter while the working of catalytic converter is not
affected. This was the challenge to find out the compatible conditions for the purpose
described above, same was done by the author of this paper.
In this paper a case study of thermoelectric generator (TEG) catalytic converter (CC) and
muffler (muff) is brought out to study the effect of positioning of TEG, CC and MUFF to get
the best compatibility of the system and best efficiency of the CC and the engine.
According to this paper, the power generation of an exhaust TEG (thermoelectric generator)
was dependent on heat energy and thermoelectric conversion efficiency. However, there were
compatibility problems among TEG, CC (catalytic converter) and muff (muffler). Their work
tried to vary the installation position of TEG and propose three different cases.
Case 1: TEG was fitted at the end of the exhaust system.
Case 2: TEG was fitted between CC and muff.
Case 3: TEG was fitted upstream of CC and muff.
Simulation and experiment were developed by the author to compare thermal uniformity and
pressure drop characteristics over the three operating conditions showed that, heat exchanger
in case 2 obtained more uniform flow distribution, higher surface temperature and lower back
pressure as compared with other cases.
Experiments and inferences were supported by the author based on the following
experimental data:

Table 1: Table showing experimental observations

Parameter Value Parameter Value

Cylinder number 4 Governed power 108
(kW)
Valves per cylinder 4 Governed speed 6000
(rpm)
Displacement 1997 ml Peak torque/speed 200 N m/4000 rpm
 Bore/stroke (mm 85/88 mm Power of pump 0.18 kW
Firing order 1-3-4-2 Cooling mode Water cooling
Radiator size 547 * 415 * 50 mm 3 Number of fan shift 1

At the same time, the CC and muff in case 2 can keep normal working. So case 2 was
considered as the best.
At last the author gave the idea about the future work on the catalytic converter and TEG
based upon the study in the paper as; the method of simulation modeling with infrared
experimental verification introduced in the paper needs to be combined with heat transfer
theory and metallurgy to serve for further structural design and optimization of thermoelectric
modules and catalytic converter, so as to improve the overall exhaust heat utilization and
enhance the power generation along with the reduction of harmful gases.

CONTROL OF SCR (SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTION)

CATALYTIC CONVERTER SYSTEM FOR MOBILE HEAVY-DUTY
APPLICATION
Christoph M. Schär, Christopher H. Onder, and Hans P. Geering
Meas. & Control Lab., Zurich, Switzerland, June 26, 2006
Review:
Most of the automobiles contains the diesel engine because of their better fuel efficiency but
vehicles emit exhaust gases including NOx, hydrocarbon and particulate matter. Indications
show that future goal to achieve emission legislation are hard to meet by engine tuning only.
For this, Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR), Diesel Particle Filters (DPF), Selective Catalytic
Reduction (SCR) assessments were made. SCR got some advantage over them. SCR
produces low particulate and NOx emissions because it provides fuel to operate again. The
mobile technology of SCR is also very advanced.
SCR in powerplants can be controlled by using slowly responding actuators and sensors with
controllers composed of proportional-integral-differential (PID) elements. Other
specifications are also needs to be fulfilled such as weight, space accommodation, stop and
go phases issues. In addition to this, the control system calls for improvements in hardware,
design of SCR etc. The main problem is the effective control dosing of urea solution.
Stringent specifications and the dynamic operation mode of such applications demands
advanced control strategies. Such a control strategy is presented here. It incorporates a
model-based feedforward controller (FFC) which handles the known dynamics of the plant. It
further contains a feedback controller (FBC) to compensate for disturbances and slowly
varying parameters. The realization of the feedback control loop is possible only due to the
use of a nitrogen oxide (NOx) sensor which is cross-sensitive against ammonia (NH 3), and
the implementation of a procedure separating the detection of NOx and NH3.
To solve the dosing problem an experiment was performed. Measurements were conducted
on a test bench consisting of a Liebherr D926TI-EA4 engine, a hydraulic brake and the
exhaust gas after treatment system. The control technique for the dosing of urea arrangement
as proposed in this paper, was effectively actualized on a dynamometer. With a converter-to-
uprooting volume proportion of just 2.0 at a focused on restricted mean NH 3 slip of under 10
ppm, a NOx expulsion potential as high as 85% was demonstrated in ESC (European Steady
Cycle) and also in ETC (European transient cycle) test cycles. These outcomes, thus,
demonstrate how versatile substantial obligation motors can be retuned keeping in mind the
end goal to spare diesel fuel, diminish CO 2 and PM emanations, and still have the capacity to
meet the NOx top of future outflow enactment.

LOADING AND AGING EFFECTS IN EXHAUST GAS AFTER-

TREATMENT CATALYSTS WITH PT AS ACTIVE COMPONENT
Willi Boll, Steffen Tischer, and Olaf Deutschmann
Institute for Chemical Technology and Polymer Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of
Technology (KIT), Engesserstr. 20, 76128 Karlsruhe, Germany, 2010
Review:
The problem was the emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and the challenge was to reduce it.
Since improvements of the combustion process itself were not sufficient to meet future
legislative limits, the development of a technique for the after-treatment of NOx was urgently
needed, so did the author of this paper.
Main concern of this paper is the reduction of poison discharges over platinum-containing
exhaust systems of lean worked motors. A few near generation display impetuses with
changing platinum stacking and aqueous maturing systems were portrayed by BET, HR-SEM
(High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy), HR-TEM (High Resolution Transmission
Electron Microscopy), and CO-TPD (Tech Panel Display). Toxin change was numerically
explored in an isothermal level bed reactor utilizing differing lean fumes gas blends and
temperatures. The execution of the solid impetuses was demonstrated by a two-dimensional
stream field depiction of a solitary channel combined with models for washcoat dispersion
and multistep response instruments. Moreover, author discussed an advancing methodology
exhibited which permits adaption of dynamic parameters for marginally unique impetuses.
The synergist dynamic surface region of the impetus dictated by CO-TPD can fill in as
parameter to display the differing respectable metal stacking and outcomes of aqueous
maturing with no adaption of the active information incorporated into the response
instrument.
A few near creation platinum-based model DOCs with shifting honorable metal loadings and
aqueous maturing methodology were described as far as particular platinum surface territory
and molecule estimate and additionally CO, C 3H6, and NO oxidation conduct. Expecting no
structure touchy responses, it was demonstrated that, on a fundamental level, the synergist
dynamic surface zone controlled by CO-TPD was used to fill in as parameter to show the
fluctuating respectable metal stacking. It wasn't important to adjust any motor parameters in
the first response component. Concerning the impact of aqueous maturing on transformation,
the model approach predicts the impacts subjectively just regarding expanding maturing
temperatures. The arrangement of platinum oxide by NO2 was accepted to cause impetus
deactivation amid NO oxidation, which wasn't considered in the system yet. By building up a
solid model for a platinum impetus, an initial move toward reenactment of NSCs was
accomplished including impacts of impetus stacking varieties and aqueous maturing.
Thinking about the diminishing of honorable metal scattering of hydrothermally matured
impetuses, this model empowers a forecast of change of fumes gases in impetuses with
lessened action, once the general system was built up. The reenactments would now be able
to help enhancement of impetus loadings, e.g., by considering a more prudent non-uniform
appropriation along the channel hub. Impetus solidness could be improved by distinguishing
the most delicate segments or response steps most influenced by aqueous maturing.