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Faurencia fields fuel-saving findings at SAE

In a continuing effort to reduce vehicle emissions through new exhaust system technology, engineers with Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies (FECT) will detail innovations developed to harvest waste heat for improving fuel efficiency and diesel exhaust after-treatment systems during the SAE 2011 World Congress in Detroit this week.
Posted: April 11, 2011 - 6:14PM
Author: Don Bain

On April 12, FECT Emissions Manager Nik Birkby, who is based in the U.K. and is responsible for new-product development for commercial vehicle systems will describe development methodology of an air assisted Thermal Enhancer™ that increases exhaust gas temperatures to ensure appropriate catalytic heating, enabling the regeneration of diesel particulate filters and nitrogen oxide reduction technology.

April 14, FECT Senior Systems Engineer for North America, Philip Dimpelfeld will address an exhaust Thermal Enhancer™ that uses an airless nozzle fuel system, for diesel engines without a compressed-air system used in conjunction with diesel particulate filter regeneration.

Both subjects take on greater importance in light of research at USC reporting last week particulates in the air may be have a detrimental impact on human brain function.

In a separate session April 14, FECT Chief Engineer, Innovation, for North America, Robin Willats will detail a system designed to capture wasted engine heat using it to warm the interior 25 percent faster than conventional systems and also warming the powertrain to improve fuel consumption.
In the internal combustion engine, one-third of fossil fuel energy is lost as heat in the exhaust. By harvesting this energy through a gas/water heat exchanger, usable heat to warm the passenger compartment and/or fuel economy is made available.

Faurecia's Thermal Enhancer™ can also be used to increase exhaust gas temperatures at conditions preventing effective catalyst operation in diesel-powered vehicles, such as idling and low-load operation. It provides the ability to dose with hydrocarbon to fully activate regeneration of diesel particulate filters. This technology is one of the most fuel efficient means of exhaust heating and DPF regeneration.
Faurecia is the world's sixth-largest automotive supplier involved in automotive seating, emissions control, interiors and exteriors.

The company is headquartered in Nanterre, France, with U.S. headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.

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