Corning develops emissions-control system for 21st-century automobiles.CORNING, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 1996--Corning Incorporated has developed a new emissions-control system for 21st-century automobiles. The system, which combines adsorber technology with catalytic converter catalytic converter: see internal-combustion engine. catalytic converter In automobiles, a component of emission control systems used to reduce the discharge of noxious gases from the internal-combustion engine. technology, easily beat U.S. ultra-low emissions vehicle (ULEV ULEV Ultra-Low-Emissions Vehicle ULEV Ultra Low Emission Vehicle ) standards for post-2000 automobiles in recent independent laboratory tests. The system, a passive underbody main adsorber, or PUMA , consists of a zeolite zeolite Any member of a family of hydrated aluminosilicate minerals that have a framework structure enclosing interconnected cavities occupied by large metal cations (positively charged ions)—generally sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and barium—and water adsorber positioned between two catalytic converters. An innovative exhaust-flow-management system diverts cold exhaust gases Exhaust gas is flue gas which occurs as a result of the combustion of fuels such as natural gas, gasoline/petrol, diesel, fuel oil or coal. It is discharged into the atmosphere through an exhaust pipe or flue gas stack. to the in-line adsorber, which traps and holds hydrocarbon hydrocarbon (hī'drōkär`bən), any organic compound composed solely of the elements hydrogen and carbon. The hydrocarbons differ both in the total number of carbon and hydrogen atoms in their molecules and in the proportion of hydrogen gases until the conventional catalysts reach operating temperature. In recent tests on an automobile with 3.8 liter engine, the PUMA system achieved hydrocarbon emissions of .030 grams per mile, an 88 percent reduction over the current United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. standard and well below the ULEV standard that will be in place in the year 2000. Corning's PUMA system can be located under the car, limiting the catalyst's exposure to high temperature and freeing up limited space in the engine compartment for other uses. Unlike electrically heated catalysts, the PUMA system is passive, has no moving parts Moving parts are the components of a device that undergo continuous or frequent motion, most commonly rotation. "Parts" only include the mechanical components which does not include fuel, or any other gas or liquid. , and begins reducing hydrocarbons immediately after ignition. In addition, its axial-flow design creates far less back pressure on the engine during normal operation than that produced by other cold-start technologies, such as electrically heated catalysts and preconverters. The PUMA system is also being developed to help European automobile manufacturers meet Euro 3 regulations that take effect at the end of the decade. Corning is a company whose businesses are at the leading edge of the technologies that comprise three of the fastest growing segments of the global economy: communications, the environment, and life sciences. Its 1995 sales totaled $5.3 billion. CONTACT: Corning Inc., Corning Robert W. DeMallie, 607/974-8778 |
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