Thermal Energy Management Methods Applied to Diesel Exhaust System Tailpipes

Diesel Particulate Filter Systems offer excellent opportunities to reduce the emitted soot through their filtration potential, but periodic burning of the collected soot is necessary. This is referred to as Regeneration, which occurs every few hundred miles and requires gas temperatures to increase to nearly 600°C. As the soot burns, it creates an exothermic response, increasing DPF exit temperatures potentially to 800°C or higher. Such extremes create thermal management concerns as the hot gases exit the tailpipe, particularly during low speeds or idling conditions. Methods to manage such thermal concerns are presented in this study, evaluating passive and active options.