Development of a Particulate Trap System for a Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine 880006

Concept feasibility of a burner-bypass particulate trap system for a heavy-duty diesel engine has been demonstrated. The success of this demonstration resulted from the development of a new method of controlling the thermal regeneration process which avoids melting, thermal cracking, and thermal fatigue of the cordierite ceramic trap element. Over 300 load and regeneration cycles, simulating more than 100,000 vehicle miles, were accumulated on a single trap element in engine dynamometer tests with no signs of trap deterioration. In vehicle tests with this trap system, vehicle performance was unaffected, exhaust noise was comparable to that of a production muffler, and the fuel economy penalty was less than one percent. Although this system shows promise for providing the durability required for the heavy-duty application, concerns about its cost and complexity remain.