SBIR Phase II: Vibration-Based Cleaning for Ash Removal from Diesel Particulate Filters

这个小型企业创新研究第二阶段项目将开发一种基于振动的清洁系统，即EscaCleanTM，以去除和清除陶瓷过滤器上积累的污染物。该概念的可行性在第一阶段得到了证明，柴油机颗粒过滤器（DPF）是一个有前途的应用目标。几乎所有新的柴油发动机都配备了DPF，以满足严格的排放限制。DPF是一种安装在排气管中的多孔陶瓷蜂窝，可捕获高达99%的烟尘排放。随着时间的推移，灰尘积聚，堵塞DPF通道，对燃油经济性产生负面影响，并限制滤清器寿命。有效地去除灰分是具有挑战性的，因为它通常在通道的端部堵塞。目前的清洁系统是无效的，导致增加的燃料和维护成本，并减少这些昂贵的过滤器的寿命，可能花费超过5000美元。本研究将调查使用控制振动的目标和破碎的硬包装灰在DPF。第二阶段的工作将建立在第一阶段的工作基础上，特别是通过过滤器的非谐波激励来提高除灰率，并确保过滤器的完整性不受清洁方法的影响。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力将提高发动机效率并延长DPF部件寿命。超过33%的DPF不能使用当前可用的技术清洁到可接受的水平，并且几乎所有的清洁方法都会在DPF中留下一定量的残余灰分。尽管其效率低，但商业灰清洁系统是昂贵的。更有效的DPF清灰可以为最终用户节省大量的年度燃料和维护成本，并使排放控制系统能够更有效地运行。美国和欧洲的DPF清洁服务市场规模庞大且增长迅速，部分原因是日益严格的排放法规。FST提出的DPF清洁技术提供了一种更有效、更简单、更便宜的DPF清洁解决方案。它减少了DPF灰相关的燃油经济性影响，延长了过滤器清洁间隔，并提高了排放控制系统的耐用性和性能。该技术不仅限于排放控制应用，还适用于需要有效清洁过滤器的各种过滤应用。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will develop a vibration-based cleaning system, the AccelaCleanTM, to dislodge and remove contaminants accumulated on ceramic filters. The feasibility of the concept was demonstrated in Phase I, and diesel particulate filters (DPF) are targeted as a promising application. Nearly all new diesel engines are equipped with DPFs to meet stringent emissions limits. The DPF is a porous ceramic honeycomb mounted in the exhaust, and traps up to 99% of soot emissions. Over time, ash builds up, plugging the DPF channels, negatively impacting fuel economy, and limiting the filters life. Efficient removal of the ash is challenging, as it generally packs in plugs toward the end of the channels. Current cleaning systems are ineffective, resulting in added fuel and maintenance costs, and reducing the life of these expensive filters that may cost more than $5,000. This research will investigate the use of controlled vibrations to target and break-up hard-packed ash in the DPF. The Phase II work will build on the efforts of Phase I, specifically focusing on increasing ash removal rates through anharmonic excitation of the filter, and ensuring filter integrity is not compromised by the cleaning method. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will enable improved engine efficiency and extend DPF component life. Over 33% of DPFs can not be cleaned to acceptable levels using currently available technologies, and nearly all cleaning methods leave some amount of residual ash in the DPF. Despite their inefficiencies, commercial ash cleaning systems are expensive. More effective DPF ash cleaning can provide considerable annual fuel and maintenance cost savings to the end-user, and enables more effective emission control system operation. The US and European DPF cleaning service market is large and rapidly growing, due in part to increasingly stringent emissions regulations. FSTs proposed DPF cleaning technology provides a more effective, simpler, and less expensive DPF cleaning solution. It reduces DPF ash-related fuel economy impacts, extends filter cleaning intervals, and improves emission control system durability and performance. This technology is not limited to emission control applications, but a wide range of filtration applications where effective filter cleaning is required.