SOOT ELIMINATION AND NOX AND SOX REDUCTION IN DIESEL-ENGINE EXHAUST BY A COMBINATION OF DISCHARGE PLASMA AND OIL DYNAMICS

The soot included in the exhaust gas from a 2-L diesel-engine car has been eliminated almost completely, independent of the load and cruising speed, by a plasma reactor mounted downstream of the engine exhaust and a novel technique using a combination of discharge plasma and oil dynamics. The NOx (NO2 + NO) and SOx components have also been reduced about 70% at a rotational speed of 1200 rpm and a load of 7 kg-m corresponding to about 60% of maximum torque (about 11.4 kg-m at 1200 rpm). The reduction rate of NOx in this investigation is about 20% more efficient than ordinary treatment using a discharge plasma only. In summary, the three major air pollutants-soot, NOx, and SOx-were simultaneously removed from diesel-engine exhaust gas.