Research on HC Adsorption Emission System

This paper describes a technology for reducing cold hydrocarbons (HCs) emissions during cold engine start-up. The technology consists of a new HC adsorption system and a method for detecting the deterioration of adsorption performance of the HC adsorber. This active type HC adsorption system is added to Honda's current SULEV system technologies (high performance catalysts, catalyst quick warm-up control, and high accuracy A/F control), for further reduction of cold HC emissions at start-up. In addition, a new sensor has been developed to detect humidity in the exhaust gas, which in turn is used to predict performance deterioration of the HC adsorber.

During FTP (Federal Test Procedure) testing, this emission control system has achieved a reduction of more than 70% in cold HC emissions during cold start, and a reduction of about 60% in NMOG weighted mean (WM) value, as compared to without the HC adsorption system. Furthermore, using a correlation between HC and moisture adsorption performance in the HC adsorbent, a method for detection performance deterioration in the HC adsorber with a newly developed humidity sensor has been developed.