Design Project to improve Union Catalytic Aerogel Testbed

Catalytic converters are used in automobiles to convert harmful gases a combustion engine produces into less harmful gases the environment can accept. Current catalytic converters are made of expensive precious metals such as platinum and rhodium. Aerogels are being researched as a less expensive and more sustainable alternative to replace current catalytic converters. The Union Catalytic Aerogel Testbed, referred to as UCAT, is the testing setup and procedure set in place to analyze the performance of various catalytic aerogels made at Union College. Crosscut Lean Exhaust Emissions Reduction Simulations, also known as CLEERS, publishes industry standards for catalytic testing procedures to analyze the efficiency of catalytic converters. UCAT requires constant maintenance and improvements in an act to adhere to standards published by CLEERS. CLEERS requires a temperature measurement within the catalytic sample itself where the current UCAT implementation measures the temperature before and after the catalytic sample. A formal design process was used to create and install a new implementation to measure the temperature within the sample. Other improvements to UCAT include automating a valve that is manually turned twenty times per test, replacing broken oven heaters used to heat the sample and simulated car exhaust, replace faulty solenoids, and insulate exhaust lines to prevent condensation. Keeping up with CLEERS standards as well as improving previous implementations drives this design-based project to improve UCAT.