STTR Phase I: Novel Urea Mixer to Enable Low Temperature Reduction of Diesel Exhaust Nitrogen Compounds Emissions.

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将开启目前无法获得的柴油排放控制的新的低温范围，同时为柴油车性能提供更大的灵活性，对商用车，特别是那些走走停停的运营(城市类型的占空比)的车辆来说，意义重大。它的环境和社会影响包括显著减少柴油排放和温室气体、缩小排放控制系统规模和节省成本、降低柴油车制造商的保修成本以及减少柴油燃料的使用。进一步的影响包括减少柴油车辆排放的呼吸系统刺激物和提高燃油经济性。这个第一阶段研究项目的技术目标是概念验证、基本复杂热化学机制的计算机模拟和原型制作。这项创新有可能解决在降低超低温柴油废气中氮氧化物方面的一个主要障碍，传统上，由于尿素结晶的风险，柴油废气液体(DEF；尿素水溶液)的喷射是不可行的；结晶本身一直是柴油汽车行业的一大保证挑战，特别是在城市模式驾驶条件下运营的卡车和公交车等重型车辆中。预计拟议的新型混合器将最大限度地减少尿素结晶风险，加快柴油废气中的热分解和水解反应的速度，并使选择性催化还原(SCR)催化剂能够在远低于当前200°C的限制温度下还原氮氧化物(NOx)。通过消除这些障碍，该项目开发的技术将能够低温减少柴油废气中的NOx，众所周知，NOx既危害人类健康，又增加温室气体排放。拟议中的创新还可能提供经济价值，包括车辆零部件成本节省、主要保修成本降低和燃料消耗减少。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is opening a new, low-temperature range of Diesel emission control currently unavailable, while providing further flexibility in Diesel vehicle performance significant for commercial vehicles particularly those in stop-and-go operations (city-type duty cycles). Its environmental and societal impacts consist of markedly-reduced Diesel emissions and greenhouse gases, emission control system downsizing and cost savings, reduced warranty costs to Diesel vehicle manufacturers and reduced Diesel fuel use. Impacts further include reduced emission of respiratory irritants from and increased fuel economy in Diesel vehicles. The technical objectives in this Phase I research project are proof of concept, computer simulation of the underlying complex thermo-chemistry mechanisms and prototyping. The innovation potentially resolves a major obstacle in reducing oxides of nitrogen in very low temperature Diesel exhaust, where traditionally injection of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF; urea water solution) has not been feasible due to risks of urea crystallization; crystallization itself has been a major warranty challenge in the Diesel vehicle industry particularly in heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses operating in city-mode driving conditions. It is anticipated that the proposed novel mixer will minimize urea crystallization risks, accelerate rates of thermolysis and hydrolysis reactions in the Diesel exhaust and enable the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalyst reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) at temperatures well below the current limit of 200 °C. By removing these barriers, the technology developed in this project will enable low temperature reduction of Diesel exhaust NOx, known to both harm human health and increase greenhouse gases. The proposed innovation will likely also provide economic value consisting of vehicle component cost savings, major warranty cost reduction and reduced fuel consumption.