Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes combusting fuel and air within a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, thereby forming an exhaust gas, passing the exhaust gas out of the combustion chamber, and performing a startup procedure, the startup procedure including passing the exhaust gas from the combustion chamber through a first aftertreatment system to a pollutant capture unit, capturing criteria pollutants of the exhaust gas with the pollutant capture unit, and heating the first aftertreatment system to a first activation temperature. Subsequent to heating the first aftertreatment system to the first activation temperature a secondary procedure is performed including passing the exhaust gas from the combustion chamber directly to a second aftertreatment system bypassing the pollutant capture unit to heat the second aftertreatment system to a second activation temperature.

Abstract: A thermal diffusion unit is fluidly connected to a combustion engine via a flue line. The thermal diffusion unit has a plurality of plates assembled in a parallel configuration, including a pair of heating plates having a heating fluid gap extending therebetween and a pair of cooling plates having a cooling fluid gap extending therebetween. A diffusion sheet is positioned between the pair of heating plates and the pair of cooling plates, such that the diffusion sheet interfaces on a first side with one of the heating plates and interfaces on an opposite side with one of the cooling plates. The diffusion sheet includes a plurality of interconnected thermal diffusion cells arranged in a repeating pattern, at least one heated passage fluidly connecting adjacent thermal diffusion cells, and at least one cooled passage fluidly connecting adjacent thermal diffusion cells.