Development and Testing of a Diesel Particulate Filter with an Electrical Regeneration Starting Module

Different particulate filter systems with an electrical heating for starting the filter regeneration were designed and tested to evaluate the parameters important for a successful filter and heating device layout. These results led to a new filter system with an improved electrical heating module. Particular emphasis was put on a modular design which allows a separate optimization of the different system parts with regard to function, durability and costs.

In this paper the different development steps are presented. Experimental results show the performance and limitations for electrically heated particulate traps. The analysis of the experiments was done on the one hand by using data such as temperatures, pressures and exhaust gas composition during the regeneration. On the other hand the assessment of the regeneration rate was done by weighing the filter and optically with non-destructive and partly destructive methods. All tests where carried out with a 4-cylinder 2-liter production engine for light duty application. Summarizing the results it can be stated that a filter regeneration can be achieved with much smaller energy demand using an electrical regeneration starting module compared to a regeneration with heating up the entire exhaust gas.