F2010A116
Periodically Regenerating Diesel Particulate Filter with Hydrogen Addition: Towards a Fuel Reformer - Diesel Engine Aftertreatment System
The introduction of various advanced diesel engine technologies over the last decades has allowed the diesel engine to exploit its main advantage which is fuel economy and has resulted in a substantial increase of the market share of diesel engines. However, control of diesel particulate matter (PM) and NOx emissions remains a significant challenge. Indeed, in order to meet the stringent PM and NOx emission limits proposed by future legislation, more efficient, durable and cost effective aftertreatment devices will be required. Ongoing research by the authors aims to develop a diesel emissions reduction system with enhanced performance by utilisation of hydrogen produced on-board in an exhaust gas assisted diesel fuel reformer. This type of fuel reforming process involves the on-board generation of hydrogen-containing gas by direct catalytic interaction of hydrocarbon fuels with engine exhaust gases. Part of the research involves the investigation of using reformate (i.e. hydrogen-containing gas) to promote the soot oxidation and hence improve the diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration process efficiency and expand the regeneration temperature window towards lower exhaust gas temperatures. The present paper presents the experimental investigation of DPF regeneration with addition of simulated reformate at different temperatures to the exhaust gas upstream of the DPF. The regeneration of both catalyst coated and un-coated DPFs has been investigated with addition of different metered quantities of simulated reformate. Initial results have shown that addition of quantities of reformate that result in hydrogen concentrations in the DPF feed gas in the range of 0.5-1.5% (vol.) assist the soot combustion with oxygen by rising the temperature due to the thermal energy content of the reformate and heat generation by reformate reactions in the DPF. The study has led to the development of guidelines related to the PM emissions aftertreatment for the exhaust gas fuel reforming process and the further study and development of a diesel engine - fuel reformer - aftertreatment system.
Keywords: Diesel Particulate Filter, Regeneration, Hydrogen
This abstract is supplemented by a PDF, which can be viewed here.
Poster presentation: Environmentally friendly vehicles