Non-thermal plasma/ozone-assisted catalytic system and use in exhaust systems

An engine assembly, comprising:

• an internal combustion engine;
• an aftertreatment system coupled to the internal combustion engine, wherein the aftertreatment system includes:
• a catalyst coupled to the internal combustion engine such that the catalyst receives exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine;
• a plasma generator in fluid communication with the catalyst, wherein the plasma generator is upstream of the catalyst and downstream of the internal combustion engine, and the plasma generator is configured to generate oxidizers to at least partially oxidize hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases exiting the internal combustion engine;
• wherein the aftertreatment system includes a main conduit and an aftertreatment oxygen sensor coupled to the main conduit such that the aftertreatment oxygen sensor is configured to determine an oxygen concentration in the exhaust gases flowing through the main conduit, and the aftertreatment oxygen sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gases flowing through the main conduit;
• a controller coupled to the plasma generator to allow the controller to control the plasma generator, wherein the controller is programmed to turn on the plasma generator, and the controller is in communication with the aftertreatment oxygen sensor;
• and
• wherein the controller is configured to determine that the aftertreatment oxygen sensor is operational, and the controller is configured to turn off the plasma generator in response to determining that the aftertreatment oxygen sensor is operational.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a diesel internal combustion engine;
• an aftertreatment system coupled to the diesel internal combustion engine, wherein the aftertreatment system includes:
• a main conduit coupled to the diesel internal combustion engine, wherein the main conduit is configured to receive exhaust gases from the diesel internal combustion engine;
• a diesel oxidation catalyst coupled to the main conduit;
• a plasma generator in fluid communication with the main conduit, wherein the plasma generator is upstream of the diesel oxidation catalyst and downstream of the diesel internal combustion engine, and the plasma generator is configured to generate oxidizers to at least partially oxidize hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases exiting the diesel internal combustion engine;
• and
• a turbocharger in fluid communication with the aftertreatment system, wherein the turbocharger is in fluid communication with the plasma generator;
• wherein the turbocharger defines a turbocharger inlet and a turbocharger outlet, and the plasma generator is closer to the turbocharger outlet than to the turbocharger inlet;
• an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler in fluid communication with the diesel internal combustion engine, wherein the plasma generator is in fluid communication with the EGR cooler, wherein the plasma generator is configured to supply the oxidizers to the EGR cooler to facilitate a soot oxidation reaction in the EGR cooler;
• a controller coupled to the plasma generator to allow the controller to control the plasma generator, wherein the controller is programmed to turn on the plasma generator, the controller is programmed to determine that an efficiency of the EGR cooler is greater than a minimum efficiency threshold, and the controller is programmed to turn off the plasma generator in response to determining that the efficiency of the EGR cooler is greater than the minimum efficiency threshold.