Dependence of Fuel Consumption on Engine Backpressure Generated by a DPF

In recent years, Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) systems have become the state-of-the-art technology to realize low particulate emission for light, medium or heavy-duty diesel vehicles. In addition to good filtration efficiency and thermo-mechanical robustness, the engine backpressure resulted from the DPF installation is an important parameter which directly impacts the fuel economy of the engine.

The goal of this experimental test series was to determine the dependence of fuel consumption on engine backpressure resulted from a DPF installed on a heavy-duty application. The testing was executed on a MY2003 Volvo D12 heavy-duty diesel engine in an engine test cell at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). Empty DPF cans were used with an exhaust valve to mimic the post turbo pressure levels for two different types of DPF materials at nine selected engine operating points of the European Stationary Cycle (ESC). Under these conditions, the engine fuel consumption was measured over extended time periods with a high-accuracy fuel flow meter. Analysis of the data quantified the increased fuel consumption related to increasing backpressure levels. For the nine selected ESC operating conditions evaluated in this study, fuel consumption savings of 0.4% to 2% were observed for the DPF material that yields lower engine backpressure over a US2007 certified heavy-duty cordierite DPF.