• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.9-16
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• 2004

Close-coupled catalyst (CCC) can reduce the engine cold-start emissions by utilizing the energy in the exhaust gas. However, in case the engine is operated at high engine speed and load condition, the catalytic converter may be damaged and eventually deactivated by thermal aging. Excess fuel is sometimes supplied intentionally to lower the exhaust gas temperature avoiding the thermal aging. This sacrifices the fuel economy and exhaust emissions. This paper describes the results of an exhaust heat exchanger to lower the exhaust gas temperature mainly under high load conditions. The heat exchanger was installed between the exhaust manifold and the inlet of close-coupled catalytic converter. The exhaust heat exchanger successfully decreased the exhaust gas temperature, which eliminated the requirement of fuel enrichment under high load conditions. However, the cooling of the exhaust gas through the heat exchanger may cause the deterioration of exhaust emissions at cold start due to the increment of catalyst light-off time.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.2032-2041
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• 2004

Results from an experimental study of flow distribution in a close-coupled catalytic converter(CCC) are presented. The experiments were carried out with a flow measurement system specially designed for this study under steady and transient flow conditions. A pitot tube was a tool for measuring flow distribution at the exit of the first monolith. The flow distribution of the CCC was also measured by LDV system and flow visualization. Results from numerical analysis are also presented. Experimental results showed that the flow uniformity index decreases as flow Reynolds number increases. In steady flow conditions, the flow through each exhaust pipe made some flow concentrations on a specific region of the CCC inlet. The transient test results showed that the flow through each exhaust pipe in the engine firing order, interacted with each other to ensure that the flow distribution was uniform. The results of numerical analysis were qualitatively accepted with experimental results. They supported and helped explain the flow in the entry region of CCC.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.837-844
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• 2003

The exhaust gas flow in the inlet collector of close coupled catalyst(CCC) adapted to the exhaust manifold is very complex flow because the exhaust gas is a pulsation flow with several port flow. The distribution of gas flow and temperature in inlet collector effect to the efficiency of catalytic converter. In this study, it measures temperatures on several point in inlet collector with two kind of inlet collector volume. And it analyzes with CFD to exhaust manifold and close coupled catalyst for temperature and flow. Comparing to measured and analyzed result, it find increasing of collector volume effects to catalyst temperature distribution and uniformity of catalytic converter

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.533-539
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• 2001

In this study, results from an experimental and numerical study of flow distribution in a close-coupled catalytic converter (CCC) are presented. The experiments were carried out using a glow measurement system. Flow distribution at the exit of the first monolith in the CCC was measured using a pitot tube under steady and transient flow conditions. Numerical analysis was done using a CF D code at the same test conditions, and the results were compared with the experimental results. Experimental results showed that the uniformity index of exhaust gas velocity decreases as Reynolds number increases. Under the steady flow conditions, flow through each exhaust pipe concentrates on a small region of the monolith. Under the transient flow conditions, flow through each exhaust pipe with the engine firing order interacts with each other to spread the flow over the monolith face. The numerical analysis results support the experimental results, and help explain the flow pattern in the entry region of the CCC.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2000.11b
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• pp.335-340
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• 2000

Most vehicle's exhaust emissions come from the cold transient period of the FTP-75 test. In this study, UEGI technology was developed to help close-coupled catalytic converter (CCC) reach light-off temperature within a few seconds after cold-start. In the UEGI system, unburned exhaust mixture is ignited by four glow plugs installed upstream of the catalyst. Experimental results showed that the temperature of CCC rises faster with the UEGI technology, and the CCC reaches light-off temperature earlier. Under the conditions tested, the light-off time of the baseline case was 62 seconds and that of the UEGI case was 33 seconds.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.61-69
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• 2002

To meet stringent LEV and ULEV emission standards, a considerable amount of development work was necessary to ensure suitable efficiency and durability of catalyst systems. The main challenge is to cut off the engine cold-start emissions. It is known that up to 80% of the total hydrocarbons(THC) are exhausted within the first five minutes in case of US FTP 75 cycle. Close-Coupled Catalyst(CCC) provides fast light-off temperature by utilizing the energy in the exhaust gas. However, if some malfunction occurred at engine operation and the catalyst temperature exceeds 1050$\^{C}$, the catalytic converter is deactivated and shows the poor conversion efficiency. This paper presents effEcts of engine operating conditions on catalytic converter temperature in a SI engine, which are the indications of catalytic deactivation. Exhaust gas temperature and catalyst temperature were measured as a function of air/fuel ratio, ignition timing and misfire rates. Additionally, light-off time was measured to investigate the effect of operating conditions. It was found that ignition retard and misfire can result in the deactivation of the catalytic converter, which eventually leads the drastic thermal aging of the converter. Significant reduction in light-off time can be achieved with proper control of ignition retard and misfire, which can reduce cold-start HC emissions as well.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.140-146
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• 1996

A large portion(above 70%) fo the hydrocorbon and NOx emissions for a typical vehicle occur mainly before the conventional underbody catalyst reaches activation temperature. To meet the stringent regulation as EC stage 2, the emissions produced during this period must be reduced. One of alternative techniques is to place CCC(Close-Coupled Catalyst) near the exhaust manifold. In this study, the characteristics of CCC are observed through EEC mode.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.445-451
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• 2005

Most of the pollutants from passenger cars are emitted during the cold-transient phase of the FTP-75 test. In order to reduce the exhaust emissions during the cold-transient period, it is essential to warm up the catalyst as fast as possible after the engine starts, and the Unburned Exhaust Gas Ignition (UEGI) technology was developed through our previous studies to help close-coupled catalytic converters (CCC) reach the light-off temperature within a few seconds after cold-start. The UEGI system operates by igniting the unburned exhaust mixture by glow plugs installed upstream of the catalyst. The flame generates a high amount of heat, and if the heat is concentrated on a specific area of monolith surface, then thermal crack or failure of the monolith could occur. Therefore, it is very important to monitor the temperature distribution in the CCC during the UEGI operation, so the local temperatures in the monolith were measured using thermocouples. Experimental results showed that the temperature of CCC rises faster with the UEGI technology, and the CCC reaches the light-off temperature earlier than the baseline case. Under the conditions tested, the light-off time of the baseline case was 62 seconds, compared with 33 seconds for the UEGI case. The peak temperature is well under the thermal melting condition, and temperature distribution is not so severe as to consider thermal stress. It is noted that the UEGI technology is an effective method to warm up the catalyst with a small amount of thermal stress during the cold start period.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.10-17
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• 2007

Design of experiments (DOE) technique has been used to design an exhaust heat exchanger to reduce the exhaust gas temperature under high load conditions in a spark-ignition engine. The DOE evaluates the influence and the interaction of a selected eight design parameters of the heat exchanger affecting the cooling performance of the exhaust gas through a limited number of experiments. The heat exchanger was installed between the exhaust manifold and the inlet of the close-coupled catalytic converter (CCC) to reduce thermal aging. To maximize the heat transfer between exhaust gas and coolant, fins were implemented at the inner surface of the heat exchanger. The design parameters consist of the fin geometry (length, thickness, arrangement, and number of fin), coolant direction, heat exchanger wall thickness, and the length of the heat exchanger. The acceptable range of each design parameter is discussed by analyzing the DOE results.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2000.11b
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• pp.150-155
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• 2000

Exhaust emissions from vehicles are the main source of air pollution. Many researchers are trying to find the way of reducing vehicle emissions, especially in the cold transient period of the FTP-75 test. In this study, UEGI (Unburned Exhaust Gas Ignition) technology, warming up the close-coupled catalytic converter (CCC) by igniting the unburned exhaust mixture using two glow plugs installed in the upstream of the catalyst, was developed. It was applied to an exhaust system with a hydrocarbon adsorber to ensure an effective reduction of HC emission during the cold start period. Results showed that the CCC reaches the light-off temperature (LOT) in a shorter time compared with the baseline exhaust system, and HC and CO emissions are reduced significantly during the cold start.