Lean-combustion spark-ignition engine exhaust aftertreatment using non thermal plasma

Dielectric barrier discharges offer the advantage to excite molecules to reaction processes on a low temperature level in an O2 containing exhaust gas of gasoline or diesel engines. With the aim of a flexible coaxial reactor and a compact and efficient generator the influence of geometric and electric parameters on the reduction of exhaust gas components was determined. Geometric parameters studied were gap width, length, contour of the reactor. Electric parameters were: voltage curve, voltage height, frequency and electric power. Using the advantage of low temperature reactions it was possible to reduce the HC emission of a gasoline engine by about 35 per cent within an electric power of 1000 W.