Faurecia Takes Control of Danish Diesel Emissions Control Company

Faurecia SA has hiked its stake in Amminex Emissions Technology A/S to 91.5% from 42% to help accelerate commercialization of the Danish company’s diesel emissions aftertreatment technology.

CEO Annika Isaksson and chief technology officer Tue Johannsen, who invented the system and founded the company, will remain in their current positions following the buyout.

Amminex says its ammonia storage and delivery system (ASDS) is more efficient and more compact than current urea-based selective catalytic reduction aftertreatment devices used to curb emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). ASDS also provides improved performance over a broader range of operating conditions, according to the developer.

Amminex’s AdAmmine system can absorb large amounts of ammonia in a sponge-like solid-form salt material. The company says a 100-gram cube of the material, which can fit into the palm of a person’s hand, can contain as much as 50 grams of solid ammonia—the equivalent to 60 liters of ammonia gas.

The density of ammonia in the solid material is twice as high as in traditional liquid-based ammonia, which extends the driving range between refills. Amminex says the system leaves no deposits in the exhaust system, thereby reducing maintenance.

Unlike conventional liquid-spray systems, which turn off at low vehicle speeds when exhaust temperatures are low unless extra fuel is consumed, ASDS functions continuously. This improves efficiency and reduces costs, according to Amminex.

Faurecia has worked with Amminex since mid-2009. The companies demonstrated AdAmmine and ASDS in a commercial vehicle at the Paris auto show last September. The technology also can be adapted for passenger vehicles and mobile equipment.

Testing earlier this year at the University of Graz in Austria showed vehicles equipped with ASDS could easily meet current Euro VI emission requirements. Amminex claims the devices also could reduce fuel consumption by as much as 2% compared with current urea aftertreatment systems.