Abstract
The direct injection(DI) diesel engine has become a prime candidate for future transportation needs because of its high thermal efficiency. However, nitrogen oxides(NOx) increase in the local high temperature regions and particulate matter (PM) increases in the diffusion flame region within diesel combustion. Therefore, the demand for developing a suitable after treatment device has been increased. NOx absorbing catalysts are based on the concept of NOx storage and release making it possible to reduce NOx emission in net oxidizing gas conditions. This De-NOx system, called the LNT(Lean NOx Trap) catalyst, absorbs NOx in lean exhaust gas conditions and release it in rich conditions. This technology can give high NOx conversion efficiency, but the right amount of reducing agent should be supplied into the catalytic converter at the right time. In this research, a performance characteristics of LNT with a hydrogen enriched gas as a reductant was examined and strategies of controlling the injection and rich exhaust gas condition were studied. The NOx reduction efficiency is closely connected to the injection timing and duration of reductant. LNT can reduce NOx efficiently with only 1 % fuel penalty.