Membrane-based air composition control for light-duty diesel vehicles : a benefit and cost assessment.
This report presents the methodologies and results of a study conducted by Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) to assess the benefits and costs of several membrane-based technologies. The technologies evaluated will be used in automotive emissions-control and performance-enhancement systems incorporated into light-duty diesel vehicle engines. Such engines are among the technologies that are being considered to power vehicles developed under the government-industry Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV). Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO{sub x}) from diesel engines have long been considered a barrier to use of diesels in urban areas. Recently, particulate matter (PM) emissions have also become an area of increased concern because of new regulations regarding emissions of particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or less (PM2.5). Particulates are of special concern for diesel engines in the PNGV program; the program has a research goal of 0.01 gram per mile (g/mi) of particulate matter emissions under the Federal Test Procedure (FTP) cycle. This extremely low level (one-fourth the level of the Tier II standard) could threaten the viability of using diesel engines as stand-alone powerplants or in hybrid-electric vehicles. The techniques analyzed in this study can reduce NO{sub x} and particulate emissions and even increase the power density of the diesel engines used in light-duty diesel vehicles. For nearly a decade, Argonne has been evaluating membrane-based methods to control the composition of air used in combustion. Membranes are the only practical method of modifying air composition for on-board use. The applicability of the technique depends strongly on both the technical and economic feasibility of implementing it on a vehicle. Over the past 10 years, significant technical advances have been made in the development of air-separation membranes. Researchers have developed and commercialized novel membrane materials that can efficiently separate air at the concentrations required for vehicle applications and have developed compact membrane modules that can be incorporated into vehicle design. Previous analysis by Argonne and others has demonstrated the effectiveness of oxygen enrichment at reducing PM, smoke, hydrocarbon (HC), and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions while increasing engine power output. Under appropriate oxygen-enriched operating conditions, diesel engines have achieved a net increase of 10-20% in power density and a decrease of 30-60% in PM emissions. Nitrogen-enriched air can be used as an alternative to exhaust gas recirculation to control NO{sub x} emissions and can also be used to generate a monatomic nitrogen plasma for exhaust post-treatment to reduce emissions of NO{sub x}. Argonne has recently identified an operating regime that can simultaneously reduce NO{sub x} and PM while increasing power output when oxygen-enriched combustion air is used. This promising technique, which will be verified by additional experimental work at Argonne (using a range of engine sizes), will require the use of membranes similar to those analyzed in this study.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 12047
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/ESD/TM-144; TRN: AH200119%%244
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 9 Nov 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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