Preechar Karin

Micro- and macroscopic visualization of particulate matter trapping and regeneration processes in wall-flow diesel particulate filters

Abstract Particulate matter trapping and regeneration processes in wall-flow diesel particulate filters (DPFs) without catalysts were investigated through micro- and macroscopic visualization experiment. The vertical walls of a small DPF were polished using a lapping process to create a mirror-like surface on each ceramic particle grain. Using an all-in-focus optical microscope, micro-scale flow pores inside the DPF wall could be clearly observed from the polished surface to a depth of 100 μm. Furthermore, a real-time video with a speed of 30 frames per second could be sharply recorded. Through the microscopic cross-sectional view, transition from depth filtration to surface filtration could be observed clearly. Only surface pores opened on the wall surface were related to the filtration depth, i.e. the penetration depth. During regeneration of the DPF without catalyst, after a particulate (soot) cake was burnt out, the particulates trapped inside the surface pores were oxidized. On the other hand, using a half-cylindrical-shaped, wall-flow DPF, the overall trapping phenomena and regeneration process were clarified through a long-distance focusing lens camera. Diesel particulates were trapped almost uniformly over the entire surface of an inflow channel of the DPF in the direction of the channel flow, while the trapped particulates were not necessarily oxidized uniformly since there was a large temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet of the flow channel. The regeneration patterns were strongly dependent on the initial particulate mass and the inlet temperature of the working gas, including the microscopic phenomena in each location. Consequently, microscopic surface pores played a significant role in the regeneration process as well as in the beginning of trapping. Furthermore, at a macroscopic level, a uniform temperature and wall-flow distributions were found to be significant for quick regeneration.

Spray Visualization of Biodiesel and Diesel in a High Pressure Chamber

The present research attempted to characterize fuel spray pattern, such as spray angle, spray penetration and their mixture formation by recourse to images analysis. Diesel and biodiesel were used to investigate via a single hole injector (solinoild type) in a constant volume high-pressure chamber. In this experimental study, the spray characteristics of diesel and biodiesel fuel were comparatively evaluated. Initial conditions were ambient temperature, ambient density of 21 kg/m3, injection durations varied from 0.5 and 1 ms and rail pressure of 400 and 800 bar. The series of images were captured by high speed video camera with resolution of 7,500 frames per second and shutter speed of 1/10,000 sec under Schlieren photography technique. The result showed the biodiesel spray penetration was longer than that of the diesel, and spray angle of biodiesel in start injection was larger than biodiesel. From the results, it can be concluded that the higher the density and viscosity of biodiesel, the stronger the effect on the spray mixture formation.