Abstract: A method is provided for controlling regeneration of an SCR catalyst. The method includes coordinating the regeneration duration and temperature (e.g., longer/shorter regenerations and/or lower/higher temperatures) to the urea deposit loading. In this way, improved regeneration may be achieved due to the particular nature of urea deposits on SCR catalysts.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling regeneration of an SCR catalyst. The method includes coordinating the regeneration duration and temperature (e.g., longer/shorter regenerations and/or lower/higher temperatures) to the urea deposit loading. In this way, improved regeneration may be achieved due to the particular nature of urea deposits on SCR catalysts.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling regeneration of an SCR catalyst. The method includes coordinating the regeneration duration and temperature (e.g., longer/shorter regenerations and/or lower/higher temperatures) to the urea deposit loading. In this way, improved regeneration may be achieved due to the particular nature of urea deposits on SCR catalysts.

Abstract: A method of regenerating a particulate filter utilizes two temperature levels, with the first, lower, level removing stored hydrocarbons and urea from an SCR catalyst. The second, higher, level then follows for filter regeneration. Because the regeneration occurs after the SCR catalyst has been purged of hydrocarbons and urea, for example, the temperature experienced by the SCR catalyst during regeneration is reduced. In this way, SCR degradation may be reduced.

Abstract: A method of regenerating a particulate filter in an apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine and a catalyst that employs urea as reductant for NOx is disclosed. The method comprises exposing the catalyst and particulate filter to a first, lower elevated exhaust temperature to remove urea deposits and/or stored hydrocarbon from the catalyst, and then exposing the catalyst and particulate filter to a second, higher elevated exhaust temperature to heat the particulate filter to decompose particulate matter in the particulate filter. In this manner, damage caused to the catalyst due to the decomposition and reaction of urea deposits and/or oxidation of stored hydrocarbon during particulate filter regeneration may be avoided.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating an aftertreatment device coupled downstream of an internal combustion engine, the aftertreatment device including a urea-based selective catalyst reduction (SCR) catalyst. The method comprises establishing a threshold urea deposit accumulation for regeneration of the SCR catalyst; determining that the threshold urea deposit accumulation in the SCR catalyst has been met; and in response to the determination, regenerating the SCR catalyst by maintaining the SCR catalyst at a predetermined regeneration temperature for a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A catalyst system to provide emission reductions under lean and stoichiometric conditions. The catalyst system comprises a forward catalyst having a first cerium-free zone including oxides of aluminum, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals and precious metals and a second zone with a lower loading of precious metals, oxides of aluminum, alkali metals or alkaline earth metals. This forward catalyst stores NOx emissions under lean conditions for subsequent reduction and converts HC, CO and NOx during stoichiometric operation. The second downstream catalyst includes precious metals, reduces emissions under stoichiometric conditions, and stores any residual NOx emitted from the first catalyst for subsequent reduction. In another embodiment, a forward catalyst has top and bottom layers designed to reduce emissions under lean conditions. In this embodiment, a second downstream catalyst is used to reduce emissions under stoichiometric conditions.

Abstract: An automobile exhaust system includes a catalytic converter and a modified NOx trap wit improved sulfur tolerance. Sulfur oxide has a deleterious effect on the performance of nitrogen oxide traps. In the modified NOx trap, a sulfur oxide trap is integrated with a nitrogen oxide trap by coating the catalyst contained within a nitrogen oxide trap with a mixed oxide layer of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide. The NOx trap is regenerated by heating at elevated temperature for a short time period.

Abstract: An automobile exhaust system includes a catalytic converter, a NOx trap, and a sulfur oxide trap. The sulfur oxide trap improves the efficiency of the NOx trap. Sulfur oxide has a deleterious effect on the performance of nitrogen oxide traps. The sulfur oxide trap comprises a monolithic substrate which is over-coated with an aluminum oxide layer and a mixed oxide layer of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide. In a variation, a sulfur oxide trap is integrated with a nitrogen oxide trap by coating the catalyst contained within a nitrogen oxide trap with a mixed oxide layer of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide. In each embodiment, the sulfur oxide trap can be regenerated by heating at elevated temperature for a short time period.

Abstract: A catalyst system to provide emission reductions under lean and stoichiometric conditions. The catalyst system comprises a forward catalyst having a first cerium-free zone including oxides of aluminum, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals and precious metals and a second zone with a lower loading of precious metals, oxides of aluminum, alkali metals or alkaline earth metals. This forward catalyst stores NOx emissions under lean conditions for subsequent reduction and converts HC, CO and NOx during stoichiometric operation. The second downstream catalyst includes precious metals, reduces emissions under stoichiometric conditions, and stores any residual NOx emitted from the first catalyst for subsequent reduction. In another embodiment, a forward catalyst has top and bottom layers designed to reduce emissions under lean conditions. In this embodiment, a second downstream catalyst is used to reduce emissions under stoichiometric conditions.

Abstract: An automotive exhaust gas noise attenuating device which treats exhaust gas emissions, the device having (a) a ceramic substrate for passing an automotive exhaust stream therethrough, the substrate having (i) an inlet face and an outlet face with a plurality of aligned thin porous channel walls defining channels extending between the faces, and (ii) a three dimensional aspect relationship where depth of the substrate between said faces is generally the same as either the height of width of a face, the substrate having first alternates of the channels blocked at the outlet face and second alternates of the channels blocked at the inlet face to promote lateral flow through the porous walls between each first channel and a multiple of second alternate channels while permitting laminar flow within such channels; (b) hollow shell pellets packed into and trapped in at least some of the first alternate channels which cooperate to define porous Darcy flow surfaces therein; and (c) dolomitic carbonate and catalyzing m

Abstract: The present invention disclose a sulfur oxide trap that may be used to improve efficiency of a nitrogen oxide trap. Sulfur oxide has a deleterious effect on the performance of nitrogen oxide traps. The sulfur oxide trap of the present invention, comprises a monolithic substrate which is over-coated with an aluminum oxide layer and a mixed oxide layer of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide. In another embodiment of the invention, the sulfur oxide trap is integrated with a nitrogen oxide trap by coating the catalyst contained within a nitrogen oxide trap with a mixed oxide layer of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide. In each embodiment of the invention, the sulfur oxide trap can be regenerated by heating at elevated temperature for a short time period.

Abstract: An integrated lean NOx trap. The integrated lean NOx trap includes a lean NOx trap containing a composite metal oxide mixture consisting essentially of about 80-100 wt % stoichiometric spinel MgAl2O4 and between about 0-20 wt % of CeO2 or CeO2—ZrO2. A method for removing NOx and SOx impurities from exhaust gases using the integrated lean NOx trap is also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for storing and reducing NOx from lean burn internal combustion engines. The present invention uses composite metal oxides, in spinel structure, in conjunction with the typical lean NOx trap formulation to form an integrated lean NOx trap. The composite metal oxides in spinel structure act primarily as a SOx trapping element and also secondarily as a NOx trapping element within the integrated LNT. In this integrated LNT, the sulfur is trapped and released in a way that does not allow the sulfur to go to the primary NOx trapping element an alkali or earth metal - and thus prevents the integrated lean NOx trap from becoming poisoned, thereby leaving more reactive sites for NOx trapping and conversion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for storing and reducing NOx for lean burn internal combustion engines. The present invention uses composite metal oxides, in spinel structure, in conjunction with a typical LNT formulation to form an integrated LNT. The composite metal oxides in spinel structure act primarily as a SOx trapping element and also a secondarily NOx trapping element within the integrated LNT. In this integrated LNT, the sulfur is trapped and released in a way that does not allow the sulfur to go to the primary NOx trapping element, i.e. the alkali or alkali earth metal oxides, to poison the integrated LNT; thereby, leaving more reactive sites for the NOx trapping and conversion.

Abstract: The invention is a method of treating exhaust gases generated by an internal combustion engine using a NOx trap in the exhaust flow system. The method comprises locating a nitrogen oxide trap in the exhaust gas passage and cycling the air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gases entering the trap between lean and rich, such that the trap absorbs nitrogen oxides during the lean cycle and desorbs the nitrogen oxides when the concentration of the oxygen in the exhaust flow is lowered as during a rich cycle. The trap comprises: (a) a porous support material comprising mostly &ggr;-alumina; (b) a sulfur-suppressing metal selected from the group consisting of cesium, zinc and a combination of cesium and zinc; (c) a precious metal; and (d) a NOx sorption metal such as barium, the metals being deposited in the support material, the amount of the metals being individually dependent on the weight of the support material.

Abstract: A system and method of normalizing an emissions threshold catalytic brick 302 without a mileage accumulation step is used to evaluate an on-board diagnostics for an exhaust system. The method comprises normalizing a emissions threshold catalytic brick 302 by placing the emissions threshold catalytic brick 302 in a exhaust gas circulation oven, such as a retort chamber 300, immediately after an oven-aging and chemical aging process wherein the emissions threshold catalytic brick 302 is saturated with a exhaust gas at a predetermined rate and at a predetermined temperature for a specified period of time based upon the characteristics desired for the emissions threshold catalytic brick. Additionally, a method for evaluating on-board diagnostics of an exhaust system using an emissions threshold catalytic brick 302 based upon the characteristics of the exhaust system that it will be placed in is also contemplated.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a NOx absorbent useful to purge exhaust gases during lean-burn internal combustion engine operation. The material is resistant to sulfur poisoning hence improving the long term NOx absorption efficiency. The method comprises providing an alumina/ceria support with barium and precious metal of at least platinum and then overcoating with a layer of lithium. The absorbent can be used in the exhaust gas system and subjected to lean operation when the nitrogen oxides are absorbed and then to stoichiometric or rich A/F operation which causes the nitrogen oxide to desorb and then they are reduced over the precious metal.

Abstract: The invention is a method of treating exhaust gases generated by an internal combustion engine using a NOx trap in the exhaust gas system. The method comprises locating a nitrogen oxide trap in the exhaust gas passage and cycling the air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gases entering the trap between lean and rich, such that the trap absorbs nitrogen oxides during the lean cycle and desorbs the nitrogen oxides when the concentration of the oxygen in the exhaust gas is lowered as during a rich cycle. The trap comprises: (a) a tri-metal oxides made of aluminum-manganese-zirconium and (b) at least 0.1 wt. % platinum, the wt. % being based on the weight of said tri-metal oxide material. The desorbed nitrogen oxides may be converted over the precious metal to N.sub.2 and O.sub.2 by reductants like hydrocarbons present in the exhaust gas. The invention is also the catalyst trap material.

Abstract: The invention is a nitrogen oxide trap comprising a porous support; and catalysts comprising platinum and either sodium, potassium, or their mixture loaded on the porous support. The sodium, potassium, or sodium/potassium mixture is present in a significantly high loading of at least 30 weight percent, and the platinum comprises 0.2-3 weight percent, based on the weight of the porous support. The trap may be used in an internal combustion engine exhaust gas catalyst system. During lean-burn operation of the engine the trap sorbs nitrogen oxides (NOx) and releases the nitrogen oxides during decreased oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas, the desorbed NOx being converted to N.sub.2 and O.sub.2.