Emissions Reduction Performance of a Bimetallic Platinum/Cerium Fuel Borne Catalyst with Several Diesel Particulate Filters on Different Sulfur Fuels

Results of engine bench tests on a 1998 heavy-duty diesel engine have confirmed the emissions reduction performance of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered platinum/cerium bimetallic fuel borne catalyst (FBC) used with several different catalyzed and uncatalyzed diesel particulate filters (DPF's). Performance was evaluated on both a 450ppm sulfur fuel (No.2 D) and a CARB 50ppm low sulfur diesel (LSD) fuel. Particulate emissions of less than 0.02g/bhp-hr were achieved on several combinations of FBC and uncatalyzed filters on 450ppm sulfur fuel while levels of 0.01g/bhp-hr were achieved for both catalyzed and uncatalyzed filters using the FBC with the low sulfur CARB fuel.

Eight-mode steady state testing of one filter and FBC combination with engine timing changes produced a 20% nitrogen oxide (NOx) reduction with particulates (PM) maintained at 0.01g/bhp-hr and no increase in measured fuel consumption. In another evaluation, a bio-diesel blend of CARB low sulfur fuel and the FBC combined with a catalyzed DPF and engine-timing changes produced PM levels of 0.01g/bhp-hr with NOx emissions of 3.4g/bhp-hr over the FTP test cycle. A blend of a commercial jet/kerosene fuel and the FBC demonstrated PM and NOx reductions of 33% and 10% below results obtained for the No. 2 base fuel. Future tests are planned to evaluate this cleaner burning diesel blend with filters, and engine timing changes.