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As demand for wall-flow Diesel particulate filters (DPF) increases, accurate predictions of DPF behavior, and in particular of the accumulated soot mass, under a wide range of operating conditions become important. This effort is currently hampered by a lack of a systematic knowledge of the accumulated particulate deposit microstructural properties. In this work, an experimental and theoretical study of the growth process of soot cakes in honeycomb ceramic filters is presented. Particular features of the present work are the application of first- principles measurement and simulation methodology for accurate determination of soot cake packing density and permeability, and their systematic dependence on the filter operating conditions represented by the Peclet number for mass transfer. The proposed measurement methodology has been also validated using various filters on different Diesel engines.

As demand for wall-flow Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) increases, accurate predictions of DPF behavior, and in particular their pressure drop, under a wide range of operating conditions bears significant engineering applications. In this work, validation of a model and development of a simulator for predicting the pressure drop of clean and particulate-loaded DPFs are presented. The model, based on a previously developed theory, has been validated extensively in this work. The validation range includes utilizing a large matrix of wall-flow filters varying in their size, cell density and wall thickness, each positioned downstream of light or heavy duty Diesel engines; it also covers a wide range of engine operating conditions such as engine load, flow rate, flow temperature and filter soot loading conditions. The validated model was then incorporated into a DPF pressure drop simulator.

Low temperature Diesel exhaust operations such as during low-load cycles are some of the most difficult conditions for SCR of NOx. This, along with newer regulations targeting substantial reduction of the tailpipe NOx such as California-2024/2027 NOx regulations, adds to challenges of high efficiency SCR of NOx in low temperature operations. A novel design, low-cost, low-energy Electrically Heated Mixer (EHM™), energized via the 12, 24 or 48 V vehicle electrical system, is used to accelerate formation of reductants (ammonia, isocyanic acid) in low temperature exhaust (low load cycles), so to enable high efficiency SCR of NOx in most challenging SCR conditions, while also mitigating urea deposit formation. EHM™ is also used to heat the cooler exhaust flow during engine cold-start. It easily fits common exhaust configurations and can be utilized on light, medium or heavy duty Diesel aftertreatment systems, on- or non-road or in stationary systems.

When used with injecting urea-water solution forming ammonia, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalyst is a proven technology for greatly reducing tailpipe emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from Diesel engines. However, one major shortcoming of an SCR-based system is forming damaging urea deposits (crystals) in low temperature exhaust operations, especially exacerbated during lower exhaust temperature operations or higher injection rates. Deposits reduce SCR efficiency, damage exhaust components, and induce high concentration ammonia slips. We describe here an Electrically Heated Mixer (EHM™) demonstrated on a Diesel engine markedly inhibiting deposit formation in urea SCR systems, both in low (near 200 °C) and higher exhaust temperature operations and for both low and high urea injection rates in various, realistic engine operations. Engine test runs were conducted in long durations, 10 to 20 hours each, for a total of nearly 100 hours.