A Consortium to Optimize Lubricant and Diesel Engines
for Robust Emission Aftertreatment Systems
A Revealing Look Inside Passive and Active
DPF Regeneration:
In-Situ Optical Analysis of Ash Formation
and Transport
October 17, 2011
Alexander Sappok, Ifran Govani, Carl Kamp,
Victor W. Wong
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Sloan Automotive Laboratory
Cambridge, MA
Ash Impacts on Particulate Filter Performance
Particle filters (DPF, GPF) trap incombustible “ASH” emissions.
Ash alters DPF performance over filter’s useful life.
DPF Ash PM
• Total pressure drop
• Pressure drop response
• Catalyst performance
• Soot storage capacity
• Soot distribution
Fuel Economy (ΔP & Regen)
Filter Life (Plugging)
Understanding fundamental ash properties is critical !
Engine-Out Ash Precursors Small (< 100nm) A1 A2 Soot A2 A1 100 nm S Zn P s t n u o C 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Soot A. Sappok DEER 2006, SAE2007-01-0318 DPF Ash (Ca) Metal Oxides 10-30nm A. Mayer (SAE2012-01-0841) (SAE2010-01-0792) Image: Adapted from ORNL K. Hanamura (SAE2011-01-0602) Ash Agglomerates Grow Larger in DPF (1-10 μm) DPFDPF Image: Adapted from ORNL 900 nm 900 nm A. Sappok, DEER 2006, SAE2007-01-0318 Ash Particle Growth in DPF K. Aravelli, DEER 2007 Ash Agglomerates Porous/Hollow ~ 100 nm ~ 1 μm 1 μm 2 μm C. Kamp, DEER 2011, SAE2012-01-0836 Impacts Efficiency and Performance Ash Build-Up in the DPF is a Dynamic Process ~ 100 μm ~ 10 μm ~ 0.1 μm VChannel VWall Ash Properties Impacted by Regeneration Regeneration may exert large impact on ash morphology and distribution SAE 2009-01-2882 Initial Results Show Soot-Ash Interactions During Regen DEER 2011 Initial Optical Studies Conditions • Stereo Microscope • Soot Oxidation • Existing Ash Layer • Air • No Flow • 600 °C Optical Setup for Regeneration Visualization Studies Gasket Quartz Glass 27mm by 1.44mm Slit in Matting and One Channel of the DPF Channel View Bare and Ash-Loaded Filter Evaluation Sequence 3. PM Loading (Cummins, Yanmar) 1. Ash Loading Accelerated ash loading system Simulate over 180K miles Utilize full-size DPFs Significant validation and comparison with field DPFs 4. Optical Bench Regeneration ΔP, T Sensors 2. Core Sample Preparation DPF Core FTIR