Grantee Research Project Results
On Board Oxygen Generating Membranes for Reduced Start-Up Emissions
EPA Contract Number: 68D60055Title: On Board Oxygen Generating Membranes for Reduced Start-Up Emissions
Investigators: Nemser, Stuart
Small Business: Compact Membrane Systems Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: September 1, 1996 through September 1, 1999
Project Amount: $224,900
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (1996) Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Air Pollution , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , Air Quality and Air Toxics
Description:
Automotive three-way catalysts (TWC) are efficient at steady state operating temperatures typically destroying over 98% of incoming hydrocarbons (HCs) and carbon monoxide (CO). However, up to 80% of emissions occur during the first few minutes of Federal Test Procedures (FTP) when the engine is running rich, the engine is cold, and TWC has not reached light-off temperature. This project's objective is to develop and demonstrate that compact oxygen enrichment membranes can be effectively used to significantly reduce HC and CO emissions during start-up and lead to quicker heat-up of TWC. It Phase I, they showed that:1. Membranes with 5 times goal performance were developed and demonstrated stable performance.
2. Economic analysis indicated membrane modules supplying 1500 scfh would weigh two pounds, occupy 0.13 cubic feet, and cost about $17.50.
3. Oxygen enrichment significantly reduced HC/CO start-up emissions.
In Phase II, they will: 1) design, build and test full scale membrane modules; 2) install membrane modules in automobiles and demonstrate reduced cold-start emissions via FTP; and 3) run extensive membrane module tests in engine environment.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, air pollution, engineering., Air, Scientific Discipline, Toxics, Chemistry, HAPS, mobile sources, Environmental Chemistry, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, air toxics, Environmental Engineering, hydrocarbons, vehicle emissions, emission control strategies, membrane technology, automotive emission controls, hydrocarbon, atmospheric chemistry, automotive emissions, oxygen generating membranes, carbon monoxide, emission control technologies, air pollutants, ambient air, membrane technology , emissions contol engineering, automotive three way catalysts, air pollution, automotive exhaust, Federal Test ProceduresProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
On Board Oxygen Generating Membranes for Reduced Start-Up EmissionsThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.