Dual Fuel Emission Control Devices - Design Factors Affecting Mounting Mat Selection

Gasoline/alcohol dual fuel (bi-combustible) engines are a popular emerging technology in the Brazilian automotive market. These engines allow the operator to have maximum flexibility where price and availability are factors in the local fuel market. In addition to price and availability, these two fuels create very different operating environments within the engine and the exhaust system. The operating temperature of an engine running on pure alcohol tends to be lower than that of the same engine running on pure gasoline. Different blends will naturally cause intermediate operating temperatures. The wide range of operating temperatures presents challenges for the catalytic converter design. This paper will discuss how operating temperature influences the thermo-mechanical conditions in the converter and how the various conditions influence the choice of support mat.