Ammonia injection optimization for selective catalytic reduction aftertreatment systems

Abstract

This work presents an optimized ammonia injection strategy for the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Cycle and its potential benefits in terms of NO _x emissions and ammonia consumption in selective catalytic reduction. An optimization tool based on optimal control was used to improve the ammonia injection in the selective catalytic reduction with different NO _x emission limits. This optimal control can be used in two ways: one to minimize NO _x emission and another to reduce the ammonia consumption in the selective catalytic reduction. The optimized strategy and the standard ammonia injection strategy were tested and compared on a fully instrumented engine test bench when applied in a Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Cycle. The results showed a considerable improvement in the use of the optimization tool. When compared to the standard calibration, the new injection strategy for the same amount of ammonia injection reduced NO _x emissions by 13.7%, and for the same NO _x concentration emissions 33.5% of ammonia consumption was saved.