A diesel particulate filter regeneration model with a multi-step chemical reaction scheme

Abstract

Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) are considered necessary in order to meet future global diesel engine emissions legislation. Various regeneration methods have been developed to clean DPFs by periodic oxidation of trapped particulate matter (soot). To achieve this goal, it is important to understand the fundamentals of the regeneration process. Previous soot oxidation regeneration models relied on tunable chemical kinetic parameters to achieve agreement between model and experimental results. In the work reported in this paper, a multistep chemical reaction scheme is incorporated in a model to study the thermal regeneration process. The regeneration model does not require tunable parameters and its results compare well with experimental findings. The effects on regeneration of various gas species are also studied, in addition to O2 and N2, such as CO and H2O that are present in the exhaust gas. The model is also used to demonstrate the effects of quenching the regeneration process and its impact on partial filter regeneration.