Improved catalytic converters for selective catalytic reduction

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To meet strict government mandated automotive emission targets and improved fuel economy, there is great interest in the use of lean burn engines, either Diesel, gasoline or natural gas. Control of emissions, especially oxides of nitrogen, is challenging in this environment, and is usually achieved using selective catalytic reduction (SCR). In this reaction, ammonia is injected into the exhaust, which then catalytically reacts with NOX to produce nitrogen. Several catalysts have been used, but they suffer from excessive deactivation in the presence of water. The newest catalyst being exploited is based on copper chabazite. Because of their relative newness, there is not much information available that allows for the computer modelling of the reactor, which is an increasingly important tool used in the development of new converters. The aim of this work is to develop improved models for SCR converters that use copper chapazite catalyst. This includes the development of a kinetic model for copper chabazite for an exhaust gas feed that includes both NO and NO2 under transient conditions representative of real driving cycles. The model should capture the observed effects published in the literature. Such a model is beneficial for the catalytic converter industry, as it would allow for catalytic converters and catalytic converter configurations (i.e., catalyst geometry, control systems) to be designed more rapidly via simulations as opposed to laboratory experiments. This would ultimately assist the automotive industry in their exhaust gas system design to meet the continually more stringent government regulations. The results of this project will be technology that allows for the faster development of catalytic converters for new vehicles. Our partner, Umicore AG, is one of the three main catalytic converter manufacturers in the world, with extensive worldwide operations. They have manufacturing facilities in Canada where they build for the North American market. This technology will give Umicore a competitive advantage in the field, and as a result should yield increased economic activity in Canada.