Hydrocarbon Trap Technology for the Reduction of Cold-Start Hydrocarbon Emissions

The use of hydrocarbon traps to reduce cold-start emissions is one of the numerous methods that have been suggested to meet ULEV hydrocarbon emission requirements. To aid in our understanding of hydrocarbon traps and in the design of improved hydrocarbon trap systems, in-situ mass spectrometry has been used to speciate several hydrocarbons during the first 505 seconds of an FTP from the exhaust of a 2.0 L vehicle fitted with hydrocarbon traps in the after treatment system. This technique allows second-by-second engine-out and vehicle-out hydrocarbon speciation. The in-situ mass specrometry technique has shown that hydrocarbon traps are generally effective for trapping aromatics and C₄₊ alkanes and alkenes, but are ineffective in trapping methane, ethane, and ethene: Further improvements in the trapping performance for C₃-C₅ hydrocarbons can be made by placing a water trap in front of the hydrocarbon trap.