Experimental Investigation on Cold Start HC and CO Emission Control using Electrically Heated Pre-Catalyst (EHC) in Mark IV Ambassador SI engine

Exhaust emission requirements have become increasingly more stringent in the past decade with the introduction of LEV and ULEV standards. These regulations have forced improved combustion control and after treatment of exhaust. It is well known that, to achieve these very low emissions standards by the control on Hydrocarbon and Carbon monoxide emission during cold start. Cold start emission represents the greatest concentration of emission from today's catalyst equipped vehicles. One strategy to control the cold start emission is the use of an Electrically Heated pre-Catalyst (EHC). This paper deals with cold start emission control using Electrically Heated pre-Catalytic Converter (EHC) with copper oxide as catalyst in Mark IV Ambassador Spark Ignition engine. It is found that EHC with existing main catalytic converter (MC) significantly reduces cold start HC and CO emission.