Over the past couple of decades, the adverse health effects of diesel particulate emissions have been firmly established by many studies. Ultrafine particles in diesel emissions have been linked to premature cardiovascular and respiratory deaths in metropolitan areas, as well as lung cancer. In response to air quality regulations, approaches such as diesel particulate filters have been developed, however, these filters impose efficiency-robbing backpressure on the engine as well as a burdensome (and potentially dangerous) maintenance and regeneration process. This project will develop and demonstrate a novel approach using a transient low-temperature plasma powered by extremely short duration high-voltage electrical pulses to perform a combination of chemical conversion and capture of diesel particulate emissions. This purely electrical approach to mitigating these particulate emissions will enable higher efficiency, cleaner diesel engines all while simplifying maintenance and reducing overall lifecycle costs. Once the optimized prototype has been independently verified to remove at least 85% of the particulate matter, it will proceed through longevity testing on the path to a formal certification that meets regulatory standards. The first commercially available systems are expected to target emissions from the transport refrigeration units (TRUs) that are used in long-haul trucking for perishable goods. Pending success in that initial market, the solution can then be scaled to larger numbers of diesel engines of greater size, resulting in cleaner air, more efficient diesel engines, and lower lifecycle costs.
