Abstract: Diesel fuels containing low concentrations of specific bimetallic or trimetallic fuel-borne catalysts reduce particulates and other emissions without the use of after treatment devices, such as filters or catalysts, e.g., diesel particulate filters (DPF's) or diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC's) in the case of diesel engines. By utilizing a fuel containing a fuel-soluble catalyst comprised of platinum and at least one additional metal comprising cerium and/or iron, production of pollutants of the type generated by incomplete combustion is reduced. Preferred fuel borne catalyst levels will be low, e.g., from 0.05 to 0.5 ppm for platinum and 3 to 8 ppm for cerium and/or iron, thereby providing effective engine out emissions reductions without any aftertreatment device. Performance of lightly catalyzed aftertreatment devices will be improved with the subject invention.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described with which pulverized coal can be burned with an essentially non-turbulent flame in which the residence time of individual cool particles within the burner flame is generally increased. Pulverized cool is supplied through a plurality of annularly-distributed conduits. A supply of secondary air is passed around the conduits in a manner so as to produce an axial or low turbulent flow of air from the burner with a relatively small amount of the combustion air being swirled to produce a vortex suitable to anchor the burner flame. The pulverized solid fuel is injected to enter both the vortex and flame regions so as to expose a large portion of fuel particles to a low turbulent diffusion flame in which oxygen reaches burning particles primarily by way of a diffusion process.