Low Temperature Aftertreatment (LTAT) Test Protocol Development

Kenneth  Rappe, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Low temperature exhaust conditions associated with advanced powertrain technologies are especially challenging for current aftertreatment catalysts to meet EPA and California emissions standards. In response, new catalyst research is occurring at various institutions to specifically address this challenge. Considering these efforts, the USDRIVE/ACEC Tech Team has identified the need for consistent and realistic metrics for aftertreatment catalyst evaluation. To support this, a team of researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory are developing catalyst test protocols, or standardized catalyst test procedures, that sufficiently captures a catalyst technology’s performance capability.

The purpose of the catalyst testing protocols is to accelerate the pace of catalyst innovation by maximizing the value and impact of reported data. The intent is to facilitate a fair comparison between various technology options in a manner that has industry and community consensus and is representative of the intended engine application. The protocols are intended solely as a guideline to allow comparison of the catalyst research results with the technical community; it is not meant to dictate how research is conducted. The protocols will consist of a set of standardized requirements and test procedures that are adaptable in various laboratories.

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