Experimental Investigations of Porosity, Diameter and Length of Ceramic Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)

Diesel engine is the most efficient power plant among all known types of internal combustion engines. The Diesel engine is a major candidate to become the power plant of the future. Environmental benefits of Diesel such as low green house gas emissions are balanced by growing concern with emission of Nitrogen oxide (NOx) and Diesel Particulates (PM). The concern over Diesel particulate has increased in recent year because of health concerns. The objective of this research work is to identify the possibility of development of foam type diesel particulate filters (DPF) with indigenous ceramic materials which are easily available and cheaper. While developing the foam type diesel particulate filters, the main aim is to develop required porous structure for DPF with substantial strength, with low back pressure to minimize loss of engine performance, and with high trapping efficiency to reduce the particulate matter. The objective of this research work is also to investigate the effect of new developed filters without any regeneration arrangement and without any control or monitoring system, on the reduction of dry particulate matter and on the performance of diesel engine in terms of parameters like smoke density, back pressure, brake thermal efficiency and brake power. Use of DPF reduces smoke density with back pressure in acceptable limit. Parameters like brake power loss, increase in brake specific fuel consumption and decrease in brake thermal efficiency are caused by increased engine back pressure created by installation of the DPF system. This power penalty is within permissible limits, but can be further reduced by incorporating a regeneration system.