Fuel-Borne Catalysts
Platinum Plus® fuel-borne catalyst offerings improve fuel combustion to:
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Reduce emissions and enhance the performance of emission control systems, and
- Increase fuel economy and reduce the carbon footprint of engine applications. These premium benefits are attributable to a unique combination of both in-cylinder and post-combustion effects.
Platinum Plus® enhanced in-cylinder combustion
Catalysts are an essential part of any emission control strategy. Traditionally, catalysts are used in solid-state form to treat the exhaust stream after leaving the engine. Clean Diesel’s fuel-borne catalyst approach is unique in that it brings catalytic action into the combustion chamber through the fuel to act not only in the solid state, but also in the liquid and gaseous states. The unique three-phase catalytic action of Platinum Plus® in the engine provides three key combustion mechanisms, contributing to a new level of performance and emission control:
Solid state: Small amounts of the catalysts are deposited on the metal surfaces of the combustion chamber, promoting a uniform flame front by catalytic activation throughout the combustion cycle.
Liquid state: The homogenous distribution of the catalyst within the fuel allows for a faster burn at a lower temperature. Platinum Plus® catalysts are fully fuel-soluble, rather than suspensions. In this way, using Platinum Plus® avoids the potential for inconsistent combustion from non-uniform catalyst dispersion, storage instabilities or mechanical wear or injector clogging effects.
Gaseous state: Catalyzation effects continue through the vapor phase to provide complete combustion. Our patented platinum-cerium formulations work synergistically, with platinum as a highly effective oxidation initiator and the cerium co-catalyst as an efficient oxygen carrier.
The net results of enhanced in-cylinder catalytic combustion are:
- extended power across the entire crank angle cycle, resulting in additional available energy and improved utilization of fuel
- reduced engine-out emissions (less soot, hydrocarbons, CO, and CO2).
Platinum Plus® enhanced emissions control mechanisms
Emissions are further reduced through the synergistic interaction with aftertreatment emissions control devices. Platinum Plus® has multiple mechanisms working simultaneously to provide maximum performance and long-term durability.
In-cylinder: The in-cylinder solid-state catalysis, together with liquid and gaseous phase effects previously described, reduce engine emissions through more complete combustion.
Post-cylinder: Platinum and cerium co-catalysts are in intimate contact with the soot particles leaving the combustion chamber, facilitating oxidation reactions. Platinum first acts as a localized oxidation catalyst for NO, forming both reactive NO2 and NO3 immediately adjacent to carbon in the particulate matter. This localized catalyzation allows for the oxidation of soot mediated by NO2 and NO3. In this way, carbon is oxidized without a resultant increase in harmful NO2 emission levels.
Continuous regeneration: The intimate contact of platinum and cerium with soot reduces soot buildup by lowering passive regeneration temperatures. This continuously oxidizes soot when “balance point” temperatures are maintained, or when the exhaust temperature increases to above the oxidation onset temperature of the soot. Platinum and cerium from Clean Diesel’s fuel-borne catalyst has been found to provide the lowest balance point temperatures of any available catalyst system, reducing filter balance points typically by 150° C or more. At the “balance point,” soot is continuously oxidized. In engines equipped with active regeneration filter systems, Platinum Plus® reduces the rate of backpressure increase, and by providing for effective continuous (passive) regeneration of soot – fuel efficiency is further increased. Because filter systems are maintained at lower overall temperatures, and they experience less “thermal shock”, the durability of filters is increased.
Control device replenishment: Catalysts from Platinum Plus® are also deposited within the exhaust system, continuously replenishing the solid-state surface catalytic activity of the aftertreatment emissions control device to ensure effective performance and long-term durability. Without Platinum Plus®, these catalyst surfaces can otherwise become blocked or lose efficiency over time. When used in conjunction with Platinum Plus® FBC, diesel particulate filters and other exhaust aftertreatment devices can be further optimized to function effectively with little or no precious metals used in their preparation. This substantially reduces both the initial cost of the emission control system, as well as the operating costs over time. This multi-mode mechanism leads to significantly reduced levels in the emissions of Particulate Matter (PM), Hydrocarbons (HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2), together with reductions in NOx. It ensures long-term durability of filter systems by replenishing catalytic activity of control devices and provides the opportunity to reduce the levels of precious metals in control devices designed for the use with Platinum Plus®. It facilitates continuous or passive regeneration across a wider temperature range and by initiating regeneration during exhaust temperature rises. This enables full regeneration in the most difficult of drive cycles and widens the range of applications for the diesel particulate filter, in a way that reduces both capital and operating costs, together with producing a lower carbon footprint. For filters otherwise prone to soot build-ups, the lower burn temperature reduces the chance for hazardous run-away regeneration. All these benefits are achieved without increases in harmful secondary emissions, such as NO2.
Flexible deployment
Platinum Plus® can be used with on-board dosing systems to reliably treat fuel, or can be added directly to bulk fuel for fleet operations. In dosing deployments, ultra-concentrated formulations are available to support “fit for life” type applications, minimizing or eliminating maintenance logistics of supporting an additional on-board fluid.
Additional performance and maintenance benefits of Platinum Plus®:
- Visibly reduces smoke and exhaust opacity
- Enhances fuel water shedding, lubricity and stability
- Superior detergents work with the catalysts to help keep injectors, valves, fuel and combustion systems clean
- Less soot buildup in lube oils can result in lower viscosity increase and reduced maintenance
- Improves cleanliness and durability of engines operating with turbochargers and exhaust gas recirculation systems.
Verifications & Registrations
- Registered with the US EPA and international authorities for on-highway use
- Certified under the VERT protocol in Switzerland for use with a DPF
- Verified by the US EPA for use with DOCs or wire mesh filters
- Submitted for certification under the EPA's voluntary retrofit program
- Certified by Transport for London for the London Low Emission Zone
Platinum Plus® product and concentrate along with dosing systems, or for bulk fueling available through Clean Diesel distributors or directly. Licenses available from Clean Diesel.
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