Recycling Diesel Soot Particles for Use as Activated Carbon in Lithium Ion Batteries

The objective of this proposal is to demonstrate an aftermarket “retrofit kit” for small (10-30kW) diesel generators, capable of capturing particulate matter (PM) emissions (i.e., soot) to levels below Tier 4 standards using electrostatic precipitation (ESP). These 10-30kW diesel generators are typically used on refrigerated shipping containers and truck refrigeration units (TRUs). This project will demonstrate the ability to capture and recycle these soot particles for use as activated carbon in Li ion batteries. The ultimate outcome is a near-zero emissions product that can be deployed in California and throughout the country. In addition to retrofits of older non-compliant refrigeration units, this pollution control device can be incorporated into new TRUs (e.g., through Carrier Transicold or ThermoKing), enabling CARB and EPA emissions standards to be met with a cheaper engine. Furthermore, the research team is anticipating further, more strict regulations to be implemented by CARB in the near future, which will impose even more stringent emissions requirements on diesel-powered truck refrigeration units. In addition to the remediation provided by the highly reactive chemical species in the plasma (e.g., atomic oxygen), an electrostatic precipitator is used to collect the charged particulate matter. If successful, this project will provide a robust method for recycling toxic particulate material (i.e., soot) from diesel exhaust to be used as activated carbon in Li ion batteries.

• Record URL:
  https://ncst.ucdavis.edu/project/recycling-diesel-soot-particles-use-activated-carbon-lithium-ion-batteries

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $100000
• Contract Numbers:

  DOT 69A3551747114

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 

  METRANS Transportation Center

  University of Southern California
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90089-0626
• Project Managers:

  Iacobucci, Lauren

• Performing Organizations:

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 

  METRANS Transportation Center

  University of Southern California
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90089-0626
• Principal Investigators:

  Cronin, Stephen

• Start Date: 20200516
• Expected Completion Date: 20220515
• Actual Completion Date: 20220803
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electrostatic precipitators; Generators; Lithium batteries; Particulates; Pollutants; Recycling; Refrigeration systems
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Transportation (General); Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01725623
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: National Center for Sustainable Transportation
• Contract Numbers: DOT 69A3551747114
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Dec 20 2019 10:10AM