Development of a Self-Cleaning Particle Trap for Diesel Engine Particulate Control

A rotating, self-cleaning particulate trap device has been developed and tested coupled with the exhaust of a single cylinder compression ignition engine. This trap design does not require thermal regeneration to burn the collected particles. Instead, it involves a continuous self-cleaning process, thereby eliminating some of the most persistent problems associated with material failure during regeneration. Captured particulates are blown out of the trap in a reverse flow configuration and they are collected on a fabric filter. Initial tests at high engine loadings showed that the system performs satisfactorily, although further improvements are necessary to render the device suitable for long term applications. Numerical modelling techniques are also employed to study the flow patterns in the trap assembly and aid in the optimization of the system.