Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

William Lewis Henderson Watkins

Mohinder S Chattha

Jun (John) Li

Amy Berris

Jeffrey Scott Hepburn

William Charles Ruona

Michael Igor Kluzner

Haren S Gandhi

Robert Walter McCabe

Douglas Allen Dobson

Joseph Robert Theis

Robert Joseph Jerger

Lifeng Xu

Robert J Kudla

George Wade Graham

Timothy Brian Chanko

Ronald Gene Hurley

John Denari

Jun Li

Diane L Guttridge

A method of regenerating a particulate filter utilizes two temperature levels, with the first, lower, level removing stored hydrocarbons and urea from an SCR catalyst. The second, higher, level then follows for filter regeneration. Because the regeneration occurs after the SCR catalyst has been purged of hydrocarbons and urea, for example, the temperature experienced by the SCR catalyst during regeneration is reduced. In this way, SCR degradation may be reduced.

Multi-stage regeneration of particulate filter

A catalyst system to provide emission reductions under lean and stoichiometric conditions. The catalyst system comprises a forward catalyst having a first cerium-free zone including oxides of aluminum, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals and precious metals and a second zone with a lower loading of precious metals, oxides of aluminum, alkali metals or alkaline earth metals. This forward catalyst stores NOx emissions under lean conditions for subsequent reduction and converts HC, CO and NOx during stoichiometric operation. The second downstream catalyst includes precious metals, reduces emissions under stoichiometric conditions, and stores any residual NOx emitted from the first catalyst for subsequent reduction. In another embodiment, a forward catalyst has top and bottom layers designed to reduce emissions under lean conditions. In this embodiment, a second downstream catalyst is used to reduce emissions under stoichiometric conditions. In yet another catalyst, multiple zones are created within a single catalyst.

Catalyst system for lean burn engines

An automobile exhaust system includes a catalytic converter and a modified NOx trap wit improved sulfur tolerance. Sulfur oxide has a deleterious effect on the performance of nitrogen oxide traps. In the modified NOx trap, a sulfur oxide trap is integrated with a nitrogen oxide trap by coating the catalyst contained within a nitrogen oxide trap with a mixed oxide layer of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide. The NOx trap is regenerated by heating at elevated temperature for a short time period.

Vehicle sulfur oxide trap and related method

An automobile exhaust system includes a catalytic converter, a NOx trap, and a sulfur oxide trap. The sulfur oxide trap improves the efficiency of the NOx trap. Sulfur oxide has a deleterious effect on the performance of nitrogen oxide traps. The sulfur oxide trap comprises a monolithic substrate which is over-coated with an aluminum oxide layer and a mixed oxide layer of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide. In a variation, a sulfur oxide trap is integrated with a nitrogen oxide trap by coating the catalyst contained within a nitrogen oxide trap with a mixed oxide layer of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide. In each embodiment, the sulfur oxide trap can be regenerated by heating at elevated temperature for a short time period.

An integrated lean NO trap. The integrated lean NO trap includes a lean NO trap containing a composite metal oxide mixture consisting essentially of about 80-100 wt % stoichiometric spinel MgAl O and between about 0-20 wt % of CeO or CeO &mdash;ZrO . A method for removing NO and SO impurities from exhaust gases using the integrated lean NO trap is also described.

Sulfur tolerant lean NOx trap

The invention is a method of treating exhaust gases generated by an internal combustion engine using a NO trap in the exhaust flow system. The method comprises locating a nitrogen oxide trap in the exhaust gas passage and cycling the air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gases entering the trap between lean and rich, such that the trap absorbs nitrogen oxides during the lean cycle and desorbs the nitrogen oxides when the concentration of the oxygen in the exhaust flow is lowered as during a rich cycle. The trap comprises: (a) a porous support material comprising mostly &ggr;-alumina; (b) a sulfur-suppressing metal selected from the group consisting of cesium, zinc and a combination of cesium and zinc; (c) a precious metal; and (d) a NO sorption metal such as barium, the metals being deposited in the support material, the amount of the metals being individually dependent on the weight of the support material. The desorbed nitrogen oxides may be converted over the precious metal to N by reductants like hydrogen, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide present in the exhaust gas.

Modified platinum NOx trap for automotive emission reduction

A system and method of normalizing an emissions threshold catalytic brick without a mileage accumulation step is used to evaluate an on-board diagnostics for an exhaust system. The method comprises normalizing a emissions threshold catalytic brick by placing the emissions threshold catalytic brick in a exhaust gas circulation oven, such as a retort chamber immediately after an oven-aging and chemical aging process wherein the emissions threshold catalytic brick is saturated with a exhaust gas at a predetermined rate and at a predetermined temperature for a specified period of time based upon the characteristics desired for the emissions threshold catalytic brick. Additionally, a method for evaluating on-board diagnostics of an exhaust system using an emissions threshold catalytic brick based upon the characteristics of the exhaust system that it will be placed in is also contemplated.

Method and system for evaluating exhaust on-board diagnostics system

A method for manufacturing a NOx absorbent useful to purge exhaust gases during lean-burn internal combustion engine operation. The material is resistant to sulfur poisoning hence improving the long term NOx absorption efficiency. The method comprises providing an alumina/ceria support with barium and precious metal of at least platinum and then overcoating with a layer of lithium. The absorbent can be used in the exhaust gas system and subjected to lean operation when the nitrogen oxides are absorbed and then to stoichiometric or rich A/F operation which causes the nitrogen oxide to desorb and then they are reduced over the precious metal.

Growing community of inventors

Toledo, OH, United States of America

William Lewis Henderson Watkins