Reducing NOx emissions from an engine by temperature-controlled urea injection

A safe, reliable SCR system for reducing NOx emissions from a lean-burn internal combustion engine utilizes urea in aqueous solution. Overheating and hydrolysis of the solution are prevented by maintaining the temperature of the urea solution sufficiently low that it is not permitted sufficient time at elevated temperature to hydrolyze the urea to such an extent that solids precipitate. In a preferred embodiment, an injector system similar to those used for fuel injection provides a constant feed to injectors and a return line. The feed and injection can be controlled to provide sufficient urea for NOx reduction and sufficient cooling capacity for the feed and injection system to avoid hydrolysis and deposits of hydrolysis products.