Project seeks to improve catalytic conversion efficiencies of HGV exhaust systems
17 January 2013
A new joint venture will see £4.5m invested in an engineering project which will seek to improve the catalytic conversion efficiencies of exhaust systems in heavy duty vehicles.
Photo: Stock.xchng
The project will mark the first collaboration between Loughborough University – which is part of the project consortium - and the Energy Technology Institute (ETI). The ETI, which is based at Holywell Park in Loughborough, is hosted by the universities of Loughborough, Birmingham and Nottingham as part of the Midlands Energy Consortium.
The ETI commissioned and funded project will be led by Johnson Matthey, who in addition to collaborating with the university, will also work alongside ETI member Caterpillar. The work by the university will be carried out by the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.
The project aims to help HDV fuel efficiency by developing a more efficient exhaust emission clean up system (catalytic converter). Often, diesel engine fuel efficiency is reduced by having to comply with exhaust emission standards.
It is hoped that the new exhaust system developed by this project will be so efficient that it will effectively remove this constraint; allowing the HDV diesel engine to be more fuel efficient. The project aims to deliver fuel efficiency and CO2 benefits of between three anf four percent.