Independent Tests Confirm Up To 70% Platinum Reduction
Stamford, CT - Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc., a developer of chemical and technological solutions to reduce harmful engine emissions, recently announced positive results confirming substantial platinum savings through the use of CDT's Platinum Plus fuel-borne catalyst (FBC) technology.
High levels of platinum-based catalysts are used with modern Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) to meet the present and forthcoming worldwide emissions standards for particulate matter (PM), including the Euro 5 and EPA 2007 requirements. This increase in the utilization of platinum, has added significantly to the cost of implementing DPF technology as well as contributing to higher emissions of unwanted NO2 from the exhaust (NO2 is a major concern to European legislators at this time).
Recent tests were conducted on current model year passenger car diesel engines equipped with DPF systems, by a leading European test laboratory on behalf of CDT and its commercial partners. They confirmed that an optimized DPF system using Platinum Plus FBC technology, operates successfully with up to 70% less platinum when compared with a conventional non FBC system, thereby confirming CDT's findings from its previous European and US studies.
At current platinum prices these savings translate into a potential cost saving over the current DPF systems, of between Euro €240 to €400 (US $310 to $520) per passenger car. Higher savings are achieved from the larger emission control systems used for light, medium and heavy duty diesel vehicles. In addition to these benefits, studies of CDT's Platinum Plus in other independent testing show that overall fuel economy of diesel vehicles can be further enhanced by up to 10%. This improvement in fuel efficiency translates directly into lower CO2 greenhouse gas emissions and reduced operating costs per kilometre driven.
Future Euro 5 legislation for diesel passenger cars suggests that diesel particulate filters will be used with the next generation of diesel engine passenger cars from the end of 2009. The car manufacturers concerned about the durability of the emission control performance of their vehicles, and managing the costs of these systems (including platinum and other catalytic material costs) are looking again at DPF systems regenerated with FBC. The use of DPF with fuel borne catalysts has been demonstrated as one of the safest and most cost effective ways of keeping the diesel particulate filter system operating reliably. The application of FBC with lightly catalyzed DPF systems further ensures low levels of NO2 emissions relative to the use of highly catalyzed systems.
CDT's proprietary, patent protected, diesel engine emission reduction technologies such as Platinum Plus, ARIS® selective catalytic reduction (SCR), and the patented combination of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) with SCR provide proven performance in the reduction of diesel particulates, CO2, NOx and hydrocarbon emissions. CDT makes available its patented technologies under license to top tier suppliers, and engine and vehicle manufacturers, allowing them to meet strict emission control guidelines and regulations.
SOURCE: Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc.