Plasma-assisted catalytic technique for reducing HC emission from cold- starting engines

A lab-scale test has been performed to develop a technique for reducing HC emissions from cold-starting engines using nonthermal plasma-assisted catalytic process. An ac power supply and a barrier discharge reactor packed with several types of catalysts have been used in the present study. The test results showed that simultaneous use of catalysts with nonthermal plasma process allows the process to be used even under room temperature conditions that is apparently too low to activate conventional catalytic process for treating HC emissions. Parametric tests with various temperature conditions, different types of HC (C₂H₄, C₃H₆, and toluene), and several types of catalysts and adsorption materials have been performed to provide basic design criteria of aftertreatment system used for automotive engines.