Numerical Simulation of a Diesel Particulate Filter During Loading and Regeneration

The objective of this study is to develop a numerical method to predict deposition and regeneration of soot in a particulate filter. The fluid dynamic and loading characteristics are described by one-dimensional differential conservation equations for mass and momentum for both inlet and outlet channel. For the inlet channel, the varying cross sectional area due to trapped soot is taken into account. The flow through the soot layer and the filter wall is approximated by Darcy’s law. The evolution of temperature of the gaseous and solid phase (soot layer and filter wall) is dealt with by one-dimensional conservation of energy. However, a two-dimensional approach was chosen for the distribution of species during regeneration within the soot layer. Under these assumptions, deposition and regeneration, the latter as thermal and fuel-additive regeneration, was predicted very satisfactorily.