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A low thermal mass, metal monolith, catalytic converter, was tested for reducing automotive emissions for applications both as lightoff and main converters. FTP testing was carried out to measure the first four minutes of Bag 1 emissions from a 2.2l, fuel-injected Plymouth Reliant, at New York State, Automotive Emissions Laboratory, Albany (NY-AEL). The car had aproximately 17,000 miles when tested and its driving history had been catalogued by NY-AEL. Both resistively heated and non-resistive mini-converter systems were tested in series with a conventional replacement new automotive converter. The non-resistive converter reduced HC, CO and NOx emissions by more than 50%, 40% and 30%, respectively. despite excess air addition. Lightoff occurred within 10 seconds of engine start. A modified cycle exploring steady state conditions under load showed greater than 70% reduction in NOx.

A catalytic glow plug was developed for low surface temperature operation which shows the capability of achieving equivalent effectiveness as a similar-geometry non-catalytic plug operating at a higher temperature. The plug was tested in a diesel-fueled version of the John Deere Technologies International Stratified Charge Rotary Engine (SCRE), wherein a glow plug can be used as the continuous ignition source for the pilot injector. The catalytic plug operated the engine using an indicated surface temperature as much as 275°C colder than the non-catalytic baseline plug. The catalytic glow plug, by operating effectively at a lower temperature than a conventional glow plug, offers the potential for greatly improved durability. Interesting applications include the SCRE engine, other low compression diesel engines, alternative fuel diesel engines, gas turbine engines, and diesel engine cold starting.