[en] Highlights: • A novel phenomenological model was established based on test data. • A global kinetic submodel and an original parametric submodel were included. • Dilution temp, exhaust temp, sulfur content and space velocity were considered. • The model serves as a useful tool for PM reduction and air pollution control. -- Abstract: Particle number is a key index for evaluating particulate emissions, and diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) are one of the most important technologies for controlling the particulate emissions of a diesel engine. In this paper, a novel phenomenological one-dimensional model was established to predict particle number and size distributions at a DOC outlet with the aim of investigating the effects of DOC on particle number emissions. The phenomenological model consisted of two submodels: submodel-1, a global kinetic model for calculating particle size in particle number and size distributions after particles had passed through the DOC, and submodel-2, an original global parametric model for calculating the particle number at the DOC outlet. The effects of the sampling process, fuel properties, and the engine operating condition were considered in submodel-2. An 8.8 L, direct-injection, heavy-duty diesel engine was tested. The particle number and size distributions at the DOC inlet and outlet were determined using an engine exhaust particle sizer. The test data, coupled with literature results, were used to calibrate and validate the phenomenological model. This model was then applied to investigate the influence of various factors on particle number and size distributions at the DOC outlet. It was found that dilution temperature, fuel sulfur content, exhaust gas temperature, and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) played a key role in the particle number after DOC oxidation. The particle number concentration at the DOC outlet increased as fuel sulfur content and exhaust gas temperature increased and decreased as GHSV and dilution temperature increased. In general, results proved that this phenomenological model was accurate enough to predict particle number and size distributions at a DOC outlet under most operating conditions. It may serve as a useful tool for research and development focusing on PM reduction of diesel engines and air pollution control.

[en] Highlights: • SCR performance decreases after durability testing, especially at high engine speeds. • NOx conversion efficiency of deteriorated catalysts decreases at high temperatures. • Deterioration of catalysts in front of SCR is more serious than in rear. • Deterioration is due to a decrease in specific surface area and catalyst components. • Anatase-to-rutile transformation of TiO₂ does not happen, not cause of deterioration. -- Abstract: The durability of V₂O₅-WO₃/TiO₂ selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts for heavy-duty diesel engines was evaluated based on 500 h SCR durability tests conducted using B20 fuel (20% v/v biodiesel + 80% v/v petroleum diesel). The fresh and deteriorated SCR catalysts were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurements to investigate the deterioration mechanism of the catalysts. The results show that the SCR de-NOx performance is degraded after SCR durability testing, particularly at high engine speeds. The NOx conversion efficiency of the deteriorated SCR catalysts decreases at temperatures above 400 °C but remains high at temperatures between 250 and 400 °C. The catalyst characterization results reveal that the deterioration in the de-NOx performance is not owing to anatase-to-rutile transformation of TiO₂, but because of a decrease in the specific surface area and the loss of the catalyst components, which are greater in the front cross section of the SCR than in the rear cross section. For a given catalyst cross section, the decrease in the specific surface area exhibits a positive correlation with the flow rate of the exhaust gas.