Southwest Research Institute

Bruce Bruno Bykowski

Cynthia Chaffin Webb

Gordon J Bartley

Andy Morris Anderson

Thomas R Gabehart

Gordon James Johnston

Martin John Heimrich

A burner-based system for producing exhaust that simulates the exhaust produced by a production type internal combustion engine. The system is computer controlled so that parameters such as the composition of the exhaust, its rate of flow, and its temperature can be specified. This permits various engine operating conditions to be simulated. An emissions control device can be installed to receive the exhaust, and to thereby undergo rigorous testing. Various tests for durability can be performed.

Component evaluations using non-engine based test system

A method for accelerated aging of an automotive catalytic converter under conditions incorporating cold start simulations.

System and method for burner-based accelerated aging of emissions control device, with engine cycle having cold start and warm up modes

A method for simulating at least one drive cycle of a vehicle using a non-engine based test system, the method including providing a non-engine based test system including a combustor in fluid communication with a catalytic converter from the vehicle; supplying fuel and air to said combustor at an air to fuel ratio (AFR) and under conditions effective to produce a feedstream flowpath; substantially stoichiometrically combusting at least a portion of the fuel in the feedstream flowpath under conditions effective to simulate at least one drive cycle of the vehicle and to produce a simulated drive cycle exhaust product for the vehicle, the conditions being effective to prevent substantial damage to the combustor; and, collecting and analyzing the simulated drive cycle exhaust product.

Method for drive cycle simulation using non-engine based test system

The present application relates in general to methods for testing the performance of an automotive catalytic converter under conditions simulating those which occur in motor vehicles over extended driving conditions.

Method for testing catalytic converter durability

A method for accelerated aging of an automotive catalytic converter under conditions incorporating cold start simulation.

Method for accelerated aging of catalytic converters incorporating engine cold start simulation

A diesel particulate trap formed from silicon carbide cermet foam with associated hardware to retain the foam in a particular configuration. Several pieces of the foam, in the shape of 'doughnuts', are stacked on top of each other. The stack of foam doughnuts is assembled in a container designed to allow diesel exhaust to flow radially inward through the doughnuts and exit through the center. Ceramic felt gaskets are interposed between the doughnuts and between each of the end doughnuts and steel end plates. These gaskets serve as buffers and allow for different thermal expansion properties of the steel and silicon carbide cermet foam. The silicon carbide is conducting and has resistance and when current is passed through the foam doughnuts, they become hot enough to burn the collected particulate.

Growing community of inventors

San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Bruce Bruno Bykowski