Soot Reduction In Diesel Engines By Catalytic Effects

Recent tests at Brookhaven National Laboratory indicate that both small additions of alcohols to the fuel and the presence of platinum surfaces in the combustion chamber can reduce soot emissions in a diesel engine. These tests were conducted over a limited range of operation in a single cylinder CFR engine. Most of the testing was done using pure cetane as a fuel at constant speed and load. Possible major features of the reaction mechanisms for both fuel additives and surface catalyst effectiveness are presented.