Fundamental Modeling and Experimental Studies of DPF Operation

Mark  Stewart, PNNL

Even as widespread commercial deployment of diesel particulate filters takes place around the world, a continuing need exists for improved understanding of the principles that govern effective soot filtration and oxidation.  Such understanding could help accelerate the optimization of soot filtration systems and help diagnose field operational issues as DPFs are exposed to countless combinations of engines, fuels and driving conditions.

Experiments and simulations have been conducted to help isolate various complexities associated with real DPF operation.  Filtration experiments using artificial aerosols and lab-generated soot help to eliminate some of the variability and uncertainty associated with real diesel soot.  Such techniques may also offer new possibilities for characterizing DPF behavior.  Development continues on methods for performing simulations of filtration and regeneration at the scale of individual filter pores.  Improvements in these modeling tools may allow better guidance of future substrate development.