The Effect of a Ceramic Trap on Diesel Particulate: Fractions

A study of the Corning ceramic diesel particulate trap was conducted to investigate the trap's overall effect on diesel particulate fractions (soluble organic fraction. SOF; solid fraction, SOL; and sulfate fraction. SO₄) under four different engine loads at 1680 rpm. The trap was found to filter the SOL fraction most efficiently with the SOF and SO₄ fraction following in respective order. The filter efficiency of all fractions increased with increasing engine load. Graphs illustrating filter efficiency versus engine load indicate the slope of the SOF filter efficiency was smaller in magnitude than the TPM and SOL and SO₄, fractions, which had similar slopes. The different slope of the SOF filter efficiency indicates other influences may be involved with the reduction in the SOF through the trap.

Particle size distribution measurements in diluted exhaust revealed particle formation downstream of the trap. The degree of particle formation was found to be dependent on both the dilute bulk stream SOL fraction and the hydrocarbon concentrations.