Heat-Up of Diesel Particulate Filters: 2D Continuum Modeling and Experimental Results

In this paper we discuss a continuum modeling approach to obtain a 2-dimensional description of the behavior of a wall flow diesel particulate filter (DPF) during heat -up. The model is used to solve for the spatial and temporal gradients of temperature observed in a DPF during the heat-up process. Laboratory scale experiments were conducted with filters of nominal length 6″ and diameters 2″ and 5.66″ to study the effect of operating conditions such as filter inlet temperatures and flow rate on different DPF materials. The validation studies show that the simulation results agree well with the experimental data. The validated model is used to make predictions of heat-up behavior and relate material properties and filter geometry to observed trends. The results of the model as applied to various DPF geometries and operating conditions are presented and the behavior of filters of varying thermal conductivity is also elucidated. Thus, modeling and experiments can be used in conjunction to provide a reliable and powerful tool to predict the performance of a diesel particulate filter.