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	A schematic diagram of FOCAS HGTR with a diesel DPF-SCR emissions system installed. Click image to enlarge.

The FOCAS^® Hot Gas Test Rig (HGTR™) is a high-flow, diesel-fueled burner-based catalyst aging system that expands on the capabilities of the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) FOCAS aging system.

FOCAS is a computer-controlled, gasoline-fueled burner system designed to simulate the aging conditions of an engine with or without the presence of lubricating oil-poisoning effects.

SwRI designed the hot gas test rig to accommodate full-sized catalyst systems and provide user-designed programmable aging cycles, allowing users to create aging cycles to meet specific needs.

FOCAS HGTR Features

	Measured NOx and CO concentration data as a function of NOx control signal on FOCAS HGTR.

• Diesel-fueled exhaust

• Independent control of NO_x concentration (100 to 1,200 ppm)

• Temperature control (250 to 1,000°C)*

• Flow control (up to 2,700 kg/hr)

• Heat recovery, minimized heat loss and dilution for reduced fuel consumption compared to an engine

• Separate burner and dilution air controls

• Full FMEA (failure modes and effects analysis) safety monitoring and response

• Ability to add oil component to aging

• Ability to add water vapor

*Temperature range is a function of total flow.

Advantages of FOCAS Burner-Based Diesel Aging

	Fuel Cost Savings
	Examples of the impact of burner dilution, heat recovery, and heat loss on fuel savings. The FOCAS HGTR will utilize heat recovery and dilution for fuel cost savings compared to engine aging. The real fuel savings will be directly related to real burner outlet temperature (which is affected by heat loss) and the level of dilution that can be utilized (which will be affected by required catalyst inlet temperature, efficiency of heat loss recovery, and burner heat loss efficiency.

Because most current diesel emission systems involve NO_x control technology, simulating diesel engine NO_x levels is an important part of an aging test stand. Since NO_x formation is closely linked to peak combustion temperatures (which are lower at lower pressures), burner-based aging systems produce lower NO_x levels than engine-based systems. The FOCAS HGTR uses a patent-pending method to control the exhaust gas NO_x from burner baseline levels to levels as high as 1,200 ppm.

The FOCAS HGTR system uses closed-loop control based on NO_x sensor feedback. Varying NO_x concentration set points can be added to aging cycles, independent of temperature and flow setpoints.

For more information about the FOCAS Hot Gas Test Rig (HGTR) capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Cynthia Webb at cwebb@swri.org, (210) 522-5873, or Bruce Bykowski at (210) 522-2937.

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Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

August 01, 2008