Validation of a Model and Development of a Simulator for Predicting the Pressure Drop of Diesel Particulate Filters 2001-01-0911

As demand for wall-flow Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) increases, accurate predictions of DPF behavior, and in particular their pressure drop, under a wide range of operating conditions bears significant engineering applications. In this work, validation of a model and development of a simulator for predicting the pressure drop of clean and particulate-loaded DPFs are presented. The model, based on a previously developed theory, has been validated extensively in this work. The validation range includes utilizing a large matrix of wall-flow filters varying in their size, cell density and wall thickness, each positioned downstream of light or heavy duty Diesel engines; it also covers a wide range of engine operating conditions such as engine load, flow rate, flow temperature and filter soot loading conditions. The validated model was then incorporated into a DPF pressure drop simulator. A unique feature of this simulator is the inclusion of a database of Diesel particulate packing densities and particulate layer permeabilities and their systematic dependence on filter operating conditions. Reliably predicting filter pressure drop under all practical conditions, this simulator has proven to be a valuable tool for realistic engineering applications of Diesel particulate filters.