Importance

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Abstract

A mixture of hydrogen and air is introduced onto the face of the catalytic monolith of a catalytic converter in the exhaust line of a cold internal combustion engine. The hydrogen and the oxygen from the air spontaneously combine exothermically, thereby pre-heating the catalytic converter. Pre-heating the catalytic converter significantly improves the effectiveness of the catalytic converter in eliminating undesirable emissions of the internal combustion engine. The hydrogen is preferably produced on-board the vehicle using the system. The hydrogen source may also be coupled to the internal combustion engine to be burned by the engine during startup in the absence of gasoline to minimize the production of unacceptable emissions while the catalyst is brought up to light-off temperature. The hydrogen and the oxygen are preferably metered to provide a predetermined concentration of oxygen and hydrogen and are preferably mixed in a mixing chamber prior to introduction to the catalyst.

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First Claim