A high power density microwave energy power source for carbon soot processing in diesel engine application

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Carbon emissions from diesel engines are a major source of automotive pollution and are harmful to the environment. It is known that the diesel combustion exhaust releases carbon soot particle, which is partially mixed in operational and used engine oil. Under the Paris Agreement, Canada is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. To combat climate change by reducing the carbon footprint, the objective of the proposed research project is to investigate and develop a clean, high power efficiency and eco-friendly microwave technology for processing carbon soot in the operational and used engine oil in automotive application. In particular, the proposed project will develop a novel high power density power conversion circuit that is capable of generating microwave energy (in the range of thousands of MHz) efficiently for use in carbon soot elimination. In a microwave energy generator, the key element is the high voltage power supply. Hence, power conversion circuit with a very high voltage conversion ratio is required. The proposed power conversion circuit will feature very large step-up voltage conversion ratio with loss-less switching behavior to maximize the circuit efficiency. Successful outcomes from this project will help OMTEC to maintain its position as a leader in the development of cutting edge technology for the oil processing of diesel engine application. In addition to technology advancement, the proposed research project will provide opportunities for students to develop strong analytical skills to devise novel power electronic circuits, and to gain extensive hardware testing experience in proof-of-concept power circuit prototypes for microwave energy generation. The developed hardware prototypes of all the devised power conversion circuit concepts will be tested at the Advanced Power Electronics Laboratory for Sustainable Energy Research at York University.