Grantee Research Project Results
Self-Heating Three-Way Catalyst
EPA Contract Number: 68D99046Title: Self-Heating Three-Way Catalyst
Investigators: Lyon, Richard K.
Small Business: EERGC
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1999 through March 1, 2000
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , SBIR - Air Pollution , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Although most automobiles now on the road are equipped with a three-way catalyst to minimize their emissions of NOx, CO, and unburned hydrocarbons, pollution from automobiles remains a major problem. The great bulk of these emissions is due to the cold start problem (i.e., the fact that a car engine produces pollutants from the instant it starts, but the catalyst is effective only after it is heated to operating temperature). To solve this problem, a minor change is proposed in the mode of operation of the three-way catalyst systems now in use. With this small change in the operating mode and no change in the catalyst itself, the catalyst becomes able to instantaneously heat itself to operating temperature, eliminating cold start emissions.This technology has the potential to greatly reduce pollution from automobiles at a very modest cost.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, air emissions, engineering, chemistry, EPA., Scientific Discipline, Air, Toxics, Sustainable Industry/Business, air toxics, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Chemistry, HAPS, Technology for Sustainable Environment, mobile sources, New/Innovative technologies, Engineering, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Nox, Nitrogen Oxides, cars, air pollutants, hydrocarbon, vehicle emissions, novel catalyst systems, pollution control technologies, clean technology, air pollution control, emissions, air pollution, automotive exhaust, catalyst formulations, catalysts, auto emissions, automobiles, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, environmentally benign catalysts, exhaust, exhaust gasProgress and Final Reports:
The 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.