Technical Paper
Exhaust Temperature Control Enhances Dual Stage Catalyst System Performance on Engines Fueled with Low-Pressure Natural Gas
2012-09-10
2012-01-1730
Controlling exhaust gas temperature in a dual-stage catalyst system improves by a factor of three (or more) its capability to tolerate air-fuel ratio (AFR) variability and maintain compliance with stationary engine emission standards enforced in CA. This system is ideally suited for combined heat and power (CHP) generating units, in which heat is intentionally extracted from the engine exhaust gases to improve overall system thermal efficiency. Engines fueled with low-pressure natural gas typically employ fumigation fuel delivery systems. When operated at stoichiometric AFR using typical feedback fuel metering strategies and a three-way catalyst (TWC), these systems cannot reliably achieve the fuel control precision required to satisfy stringent emission requirements. Small rich or lean deviations in AFR result in large increases in tailpipe CO (rich) or NOx (lean). In the 1980's, automobile OEMs employed dual-stage catalyst systems to address a similar issue.
