Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling a vehicle engine to improve engine efficiency utilizing onboard water condensate. In one example, condensate is collected from cooling air routed into an engine, and injected into one of a plurality of locations based on engine operating conditions to keep NOx in combustion gases below desired amounts and to avoid ignition knock in said engine. In this way, condensate build-up in the CAC is advantageously utilized, engine performance and efficiency may be improved, and harmful emissions may be reduced.

Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling a vehicle engine to improve engine efficiency utilizing onboard water condensate. In one example, condensate is collected from cooling air routed into an engine, and injected into one of a plurality of locations based on engine operating conditions to keep NOx in combustion gases below desired amounts and to avoid ignition knock in said engine. In this way, condensate build-up in the CAC is advantageously utilized, engine performance and efficiency may be improved, and harmful emissions may be reduced.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a condensate level in a charge air cooler. In one example, a method may include adjusting an air flow to a membrane in response to a condensate level in the charge air cooler.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a condensate level in a charge air cooler. In one example, a method may include adjusting an air flow to a membrane in response to a condensate level in the charge air cooler.

Abstract: An alumina-based lean NOx trap system for use in a lean burn engine such as a diesel engine is provided which includes at least one alumina-based lean NOx trap comprising a catalyst, an alumina NOx absorbent material, and optionally, from 0 to about 4 wt % of an alkaline earth metal oxide. The system preferably includes at least a first alumina-based lean NOx trap, and a second lean NOx trap which is positioned downstream from the first lean NOx trap in an engine exhaust. The second lean NOx trap may comprise an alumina-based trap or a conventional lean NOx trap. The lean NOx trap system converts at least a portion of NOx contained in the exhaust gas to N2 at a temperature between about 150° C. to about 500° C. The alumina-based lean NOx trap system also undergoes efficient desulphurization and maintains its activity with extended use.

Abstract: An exhaust gas after-treatment system having a NOx storage material and a separate HC and CO oxidation section, such oxidation section having an oxidation catalyst substantially free of the NOx storage material.

Abstract: In an exhaust aftertreatment system, which includes a nonthermal plasma discharge device followed by a NOx storage device followed by a precious metal catalyst, a method is disclosed for operating the engine at a lean air-fuel ratio when the NOx storage device is not full and for operating the engine rich when the NOx storage device is substantially full. Electrical energy supplied to the nonthermal plasma discharge device during lean operation is discontinued during rich operation of the engine.

Abstract: The invention is a method for diagnosing operation of a nonthermal plasma discharge device and a lean NOx trap disposed in the exhaust of an internal combustion engine. The method further includes reducing power to the nonthermal plasma discharge device and determining that the nonthermal plasma discharge device is operating properly when a concentration of NOx of exhaust gases exiting the lean NOx trap increases in response to reducing power to the nonthermal plasma discharge device. Additionally, the nonthermal plasma discharge device is found not to be operating when the NOx concentration remains substantially constant in response to a decrease in power supplied to the nonthermal plasma discharge device.

Abstract: A method for reducing NOx in a gas stream by sequentially exposing the gas stream to a first and a second catalyst. The first catalyst converts at least a portion of the gas stream to a reducing gas, it reduces at least a portion of the NOx in a first temperature range, and it absorbs at least a portion of the NOx in the first temperature range. The second catalyst reduces at least a portion of the NOx in a second temperature range utilizing the reducing gas produced by the second catalyst. The reducing gas produced by the first catalyst is typically a partially oxidized hydrocarbon, preferably an aldehyde, and more preferably acetaldehyde or formaldehyde. In addition to the first and second catalysts, the gas stream may be exposed to a plasma. Preferably, the first catalyst is selected as a zeolite, and more preferably a zeolite impregnated with a cation.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the amount of NOx in an automotive vehicle combustion exhaust gas are disclosed. Accordingly, the system includes a first converter for forming aldehyde in a tributary fluid that includes fuel from the fuel tank of an automotive vehicle. Once the aldehyde is formed, the tributary fluid is combined with combustion exhaust of the vehicle to form an aldehyde/exhaust admixture. Thereafter, a second converter of the system is used to reduce NOx in the aldehyde/exhaust admixture to N2 gas and O2 gas.