The paper describes the research work concerning the investigation and optimization of oxidation catalysts for diesel engines, especially for passenger cars and light duty trucks.
The investigations carried out both in the laboratory and on the chassis dynamometer with different engine types (DI and IDI as well as natural aspirated and turbocharged) demonstrate the influence of a number of important catalyst design parameters on catalytic converion of soluble particulate content and gaseous emissions (HC, CO and S02) (e.g. precious metal content, washcoat formulation, space velocity, cell density, substrate material, different exhaust gas temperatures, variable oxygen and sulphur dioxide content) with fresh and aged catalysts.
Furthermore the results show that only by careful optimization of the engine combustion (FIE, intake manifold swirl, the design of combustion chamber) for the lowest possible insoluble emissions the future emission limits with the necessary margins are obtainable.