THE EFFECT OF SULFUR ON METHANE PARTIAL OXIDATION AND REFORMING PROCESSES FOR LEAN NOX TRAP CATALYSIS

James E. Parks, Senthil Ponnusamy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lean NOx trap catalysts have demonstrated the ability to reduce NOx emissions from lean natural gas reciprocating engines by >90%. The technology operates in a cyclic fashion where NOx is trapped on the catalyst during lean operation and released and reduced to N2 under rich exhaust conditions; the rich cleansing operation of the cycle is referred to as “regeneration” since the catalyst is reactivated for more NOx trapping after NOx purge. Creating the rich exhaust conditions for regeneration can be accomplished by catalytic partial oxidation of methane in the exhaust system. Furthermore, catalytic reforming of partial oxidation exhaust can enable increased quantities of H2 which is an excellent reductant for lean NOx trap regeneration. It is critical to maintain clean and efficient partial oxidation and reforming processes to keep the lean NOx trap functioning properly and to reduce extra fuel consumption from the regeneration process. Although most exhaust constituents do not impede partial oxidation and reforming, some exhaust constituents may negatively affect the catalysts and result in loss of catalytic efficiency. Of particular concern are common catalyst poisons sulfur, zinc, and phosphorous. These poisons form in the exhaust through combustion of fuel and oil, and although they are present at low concentrations, they can accumulate to significant levels over the life of an engine system. In the work presented here, the effects of sulfur on the partial oxidation and reforming catalytic processes were studied to determine any durability limitations on the production of reductants for lean NOx trap catalyst regeneration.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationASME 2006 Internal Combustion Engine Division Fall Technical Conference, ICEF 2006
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Pages295-305
Number of pages11
ISBN (Electronic)0791842606, 9780791842607
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006
EventASME 2006 Internal Combustion Engine Division Fall Technical Conference, ICEF 2006 - Sacramento, United States
Duration: Nov 5 2006Nov 8 2006

Publication series

NameASME 2006 Internal Combustion Engine Division Fall Technical Conference, ICEF 2006

Conference

ConferenceASME 2006 Internal Combustion Engine Division Fall Technical Conference, ICEF 2006
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySacramento
Period11/5/0611/8/06

Funding

Expansion of natural gas reciprocating engines for distributed energy is dependent on several factors, but two prominent factors are efficiency and emissions. Efficiencies must be high enough to enable low operating costs, and emissions must be low enough to permit significant operation hours, especially in non-attainment areas where emissions are carefully regulated. To address these issues the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission launched research and development programs called Advanced Reciprocating Engine Systems (ARES) and Advanced Reciprocated Internal Combustion Engine (ARICE), respectively. Fuel efficiency and low emissions are two primary goals of these programs. The work presented here was funded by the ARES program and, thus, addresses the ARES 2010 goals of 50% thermal efficiency (fuel efficiency) and <0.1 g/bhp-hr emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx). ARICE 2007 goals are 45% thermal efficiency and <0.015 g/bhp-hr NOx. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) would like to acknowledge EmeraChem LLC for supply of the catalysts. This work is a part of the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Reciprocating Engine System (ARES) Program within the Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability. The ARES program, under the leadership of Ron Fiskum, is in cooperation with representatives from Caterpillar, Cummins, and Waukesha. Senthil Ponnusamy performed work under a subcontract with Oak Ridge Associated Universities. ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle LLC for the US Department of Energy under subcontract DE-AC05-00OR22725.

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