Reducing Soot Emissions from Diesel Engines Using One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma

Although the diesel engine is an energy-efficient machine, its exhaust emissions present serious health and environmental problems. The call for drastic reductions of exhaust soot has been heard throughout the world including the recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandate to reduce smog-causing nitrogen oxides from diesel powered vehicles by 95% and particulate matter (soot) by 90%. A regenerative diesel soot filter based on the patented One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP™) technology has been developed with a goal of meeting the standards and regulations as identified. This filter system consists of a porous metal filter, designed to capture the soot particles, and a plasma generating supply for soot destruction. The operation of the regenerative filter system includes trapping the soot particles, then destroying them by oxidation using the OAUGDP technology. The performance and estimated cost of a commercially manufactured, plasma-cleaned, soot filtration system is shown as competitive with alternative methods of soot control.