Diesel engines can be run with a lean burn air-to-fuel ratio, to ensure the full combustion of soot and to prevent their exhausting unburnt fuel. The excess air necessarily leads to generation of, which are harmful pollutants, from the nitrogen in the air. SCR is used to reduce the amount of released into the atmosphere. DEF from a separate tank is injected into the exhaust pipeline. Within the SCR catalyst, the are reduced by the ammonia into water and nitrogen, which are both less polluting. The water and nitrogen are then released into the atmosphere through the exhaust. The injection rate of DEF into the exhaust depends on the specific after-treatment system, but is typically 2–6% of diesel consumption volume. This low dosing rate ensures long fluid refill intervals and minimizes the tank's size. An electronic control unit adjusts the addition of fluid in accordance with such parameters as engine operating temperature and speed.
Chemistry
DEF is a 32.5% solution of urea,. When it is injected into the hot exhaust gas stream, the water evaporates and the urea thermally decomposes to form ammonia and isocyanic acid : The isocyanic acid reacts with the water vapor and hydrolyses to carbon dioxide and ammonia: Overall, thus far: Ammonia, in the presence of oxygen and a catalyst, reduces two different nitrogen oxides: The overall reduction of by urea is then:
Operation in winter time
DEF freezes at. For the SCR exhaust cleaning system to function at low temperatures, a sufficient amount of the frozen DEF must be melted in as short time as possible, preferably on the order of minutes. For example, 2010 EPA emissions requirements require full DEF coolant flow within 70 minutes. Typically, the frozen DEF is melted by heat from the engine, e.g. engine coolant passing through the DEF tank, governed by a thermostatic coolant control valve. This method may take significant time before the SCR exhaust cleaning system is fully operational, often up to an hour. Another method to thaw DEF is to integrate an electrical heater into the DEF tank. This heater must be sized, positioned, and powered adequately to rapidly melt sufficient frozen DEF. It should preferably be self-regulating not to overheat if the heater is outside of the liquid. It should also preferably be self-regulating to eliminate any complicated sensor and temperature regulating systems. Furthermore, the heater should not exceed, as DEF begins to decompose at around. PTC heaters are often used to achieve this.
Safety and storage
The urea solution is clear, non-toxic and safe to handle. Since urea has corrosive impact on metals like Aluminium, DEF is stored and transported in special containers. These containers are typically made of stainless steel. On the other hand vehicle’s Selective catalytic reduction systems and DEF dispensers are designed in a manner that there is no corrosive impact of urea on them. It is recommended that DEF be stored in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area that is out of direct sunlight. Bulk volumes of DEF are compatible for storage within polyethylene containers, fiberglass reinforced plastic, and steel tanks. DEF is also often handled in intermediate bulk containers for storage and shipping. Diesel exhaust fluid is offered to consumers through a variety of quantities ranging from containers for single or repeated small usage, up to bulk carriers for consumers requiring a large amount of DEF. As of 2013, a number of truck stops added DEF pumps that dispense DEF. These are usually adjacent to fuel pumps so the driver can fill both tanks without moving the truck. In Europe, increasing numbers of fuel stations offer AdBlue pumps not only for large commercial vehicles, but for passenger cars as well.
