Patent ID: 6983645

Claim:
A method for simulating the impact of cold start on a catalytic converter, the method comprising: providing a non-engine based exhaust component rapid aging system comprising a combustor in fluid communication with an air supplier, a fuel supplier and a catalytic converter, said combustor producing a flowpath comprising at least a first collapse, an expansion, and a second collapse and providing substantially continuous and effective stoichiometric combustion of a fuel feedstream to produce an exhaust product; subjecting the catalytic converter to a sufficient number of simulated cold start cycles to simulate the effect of cold start aging on said catalytic converter, the simulated cold start cycles comprising: exposing said catalytic converter at an initial temperature sufficiently low to simulate cold start to a flow of atomized lubricating oil suspended in air at a flow rate for a first flow time effective to simulate the flow of lubricating oil to the catalytic converter upon cold start of an engine; activating said combustor under conditions effective to simulate rich warm up mode, said activating occurring while continuing said flow of lubricating oil at said flow rate for second flow time; halting said flow of lubricating oil; and maintaining said conditions effective to simulate rich warm up mode for a period of time effective to prevent excess build-up of unburned oil on the face of the catalyst, thereby producing a cold start aged catalytic converter; and evaluating the efficiency of the cold start aged catalytic converter.