Argonne and Caterpillar Collaborate on New Diesel Emissions Reduction Technology

Improving diesel engine performance while also reducing diesel-exhaust emissions has been an ongoing success story for engine manufacturers. Late-cycle oxygen enrichment, a technology being developed by Argonne under a cooperative research and development agreement with Caterpillar Inc., may reduce particulate emissions without increasing nitrogen oxides (NO_x) extending that successful trend even further.

Using Caterpillar's single-cylinder diesel test engine and dynamometer systems at Argonne's Engine Research Facility, researchers will test an auxiliary gas injection (AGI) process that injects supplemental oxygen directly into the combustion chamber during the diffusion phase of the combustion cycle. The added oxygen will likely help the fuel burn more completely, which may reduce particulate matter formation without increasing NO_x levels. Furthermore, the AGI process allows simultaneous NO_x reduction when supplemental nitrogen is added to the diesel combustion air.