Feasibility of Ceramic Foam as a Diesel Particulate Trap

A series of tests were run to evaluate the feasibility of using open-pore ceramic foams as a filter media for the trapping of automobile diesel particulate emissions. The effects of the two independent variables -- pore size and filter depth -- ware studied under steady state engine operating conditions.

Results of tests using a 1982 Oldsmobile 4.3 liter V-6 diesel engine with various ceramic foam diesel trap configurations are reported. Of particular concern were the relations between the independent variables and the trap collection efficiency, η_c, and pressure drop, Δ P.

Under the test conditions, a maximum trapping efficiency of 72.9% was achieved. This value is encouraging and further study of ceramic foam for this application is warranted.