Method and system for determining the feasibility of an automotive exhaust catalyst

1. A method for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications, the method comprising:

utilizing a catalyst feasibility index algorithm to select an automotive exhaust catalyst;

inputting into the catalyst feasibility index algorithm a plurality of values, each value indicative of an automotive exhaust catalyst criterion;

obtaining a resultant catalyst feasibility index summary value, wherein the value is a single number;

comparing the resultant catalyst feasibility index summary value with those of other tests conducted on other catalysts; and

selecting a catalyst based upon the comparison of resultant catalyst feasibility index value with other catalysts.

2. The method for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of values that are input into the feasibility index comprise: light-off performance, air-to-fuel ratio tolerance, and steady state emissions performance catalyst criteria.

3. The method for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of values that are input into the feasibility index comprise:

the market cost of a precious metal utilized in a catalyst.

4. The method for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of values that are input into the feasibility index comprise:

a value representing the structure of the catalyst; and

a value representing the washcoat of the catalyst.

5. The method for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of values that are input into the feasibility index comprise:

a value representing a time measurement to catalyst breakthrough; and

wherein the method further comprises:

utilizing a square wave feed gas input for measuring to time to catalyst breakthrough.

6. The method for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

utilizing the following relationship:

CFI XX =( AFR 90 ×CPK ss — avg — xx )/ LO 70 — XX

wherein CFI is the catalyst feasibility index, XX is a toxic automotive exhaust emission, AFR 90 is the stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio tolerance window with a 90% efficiency for the toxic automotive exhaust emission, CPK ss — avg — xx is the statistical capability (Cpk) value for the toxic automotive exhaust emission;

wherein the Cpk utilizes the following relationship:

Cpk =(Mean Efficiency−90%)/(3 σ efficiency ); and

wherein LO 70 — XX is light-off performance at the temperature to reach 70% efficiency for the toxic automotive exhaust emission.

7. The method for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 6 , wherein XX represents hydrocarbons, the method further comprising:

utilizing the following relationship:

CFI HC =( AFR 90 ×CPK ss — avg — HC )/ LO 70 — HC.

8. The method for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 6 , wherein XX represents oxides of nitrogen (NO x ), the method further comprising:

utilizing the following relationship:

CFI NOx =( AFR 90 ×CPK ss — avg — NOx )/ LO 70 — NOx.

9. The method for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 6 , wherein the catalyst feasibility index further comprises a plurality of weighting factors and wherein the method further comprises:

utilizing the follow relationships:

CFI HC =[(1+α1)×( AFR 90 )×(1+α2)× CPK ss — avg — HC )]/[(1−α3)×( LO 70 — HC )], and

CFI NOx =[(1+α1)×( AFR 90 )×(1+α4)×( CPK ss — avg — NOx )]/[(1−α5)× LO 70 — NOx )];

wherein α1 is a stoichiometric window weighting factor;

wherein α2 is a hydrocarbon (HC) steady state efficiency weighting factor;

wherein α3 is a hydrocarbon (HC) light-off performance weighting factor;

wherein α4 is an oxide of nitrogen (NO x ) steady state efficiency weighting factor; and

wherein α5 is an oxide of nitrogen (NO x ) light-off performance weighting factor.

10. The method for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 9 , farther comprising:

averaging the catalyst feasibility index for hydrocarbons, CFI HC , with the catalyst feasibility index for oxides of nitrogen, CFI NOx ; and

utilizing the following relationship to obtain an average catalyst feasibility index value:

CFI AVG =AVERAGE( CFI HC ,CFI NOx ).

11. A computer readable medium encoded with programming for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications, the programming configured to:

utilize a catalyst feasibility index algorithm to select an automotive exhaust catalyst;

input into the catalyst feasibility index algorithm a plurality of values, each value indicative of an automotive exhaust catalyst criterion;

obtain a resultant catalyst feasibility index summary value, wherein the value is a single number;

compare the resultant catalyst feasibility index summary value with those of other tests conducted on other catalysts; and

select a catalyst based upon the comparison of resultant catalyst feasibility index value with other catalysts.

12. The computer readable medium encoded with programming for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of values that are input into the feasibility index comprise: light-off performance, air-to-fuel ratio tolerance, and steady state emissions performance catalyst criteria.

13. The computer readable medium encoded with programming for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of values that are input into the feasibility index comprise:

the market cost of a precious metal utilized in a catalyst.

14. The computer readable medium encoded with programming for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of values that are input into the feasibility index comprise:

a value representing the structure of the catalyst; and

a value representing the washcoat of the catalyst.

15. The computer readable medium encoded with programming for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of values that are input into the feasibility index comprise:

a value representing a time, measurement to catalyst breakthrough; and

wherein the programming is further configured to:

utilize a square wave feed gas input for measuring to time to catalyst breakthrough.

16. The computer readable medium encoded with programming for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 11 , the programming is further configured to:

utilize the following relationship:

CFI XX =( AFR 90 ×CPK ss — avg — xx )/ LO 70 — XX

wherein CFI is the catalyst feasibility index, XX is a toxic automotive exhaust emission, AFR 90 is the stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio tolerance window with a 90% efficiency for the toxic automotive exhaust emission, CPK ss — avg — xx is the statistical capability (Cpk) value for the toxic automotive exhaust emission;

wherein the Cpk utilizes the following relationship:

Cpk =(Mean Efficiency−90%)/(3 σ efficiency ); and

wherein LO 70 — XX is light-off performance at the temperature to reach 70% efficiency for the toxic automotive exhaust emission.

17. The computer readable medium encoded with programming for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 16 , wherein XX represents hydrocarbons, and the programming is further configured to:

utilize the following relationship:

CFI HC =( AFR 90 ×CPK ss — avg — HC )/ LO 70 — HC.

18. The computer readable medium encoded with programming for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 16 , wherein XX represents oxides of nitrogen (NO x ), and the programming is further configured to:

utilize the following relationship:

CFI NOx =( AFR 90 ×CPK ss — avg — NOx )/ LO 70 — NOx.

19. The computer readable medium encoded with programming for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 16 , wherein the catalyst feasibility index further comprises a plurality of weighting factors and wherein the programming is further configured to:

utilize the follow relationships:

CFI HC =[(1+α1)×( AFR 90 )×(1+α2)× CPK ss — avg — HC )]/[(1−α3)×( LO 70 — HC )], and

CFI NOx =[(1+α1)×( AFR 90 )×(1+α4)×( CPK ss — avg — NOx )]/[(1−α5)× LO 70 — NOx )];

wherein α1 is a stoichiometric window weighting factor;

wherein α2 is a hydrocarbon (HC) steady state efficiency weighting factor;

wherein α3 is a hydrocarbon (HC) light-off performance weighting factor;

wherein α4 is an oxide of nitrogen (NO x ) steady state efficiency weighting factor; and

wherein α5 is an oxide of nitrogen (NO x ) light-off performance weighting factor.

20. The computer readable medium encoded with programming for determining the feasibility of a particular automotive exhaust catalyst and the associated optimal automotive catalyst specifications of claim 19 , the programming is further configured to:

average the catalyst feasibility index for hydrocarbons, CFI HC , with the catalyst feasibility index for oxides of nitrogen, CFI NOx ; and

utilize the following relationship to obtain an average catalyst feasibility index value:

CFI AVG =AVERAGE( CFI HC ,CFI NOx ).