Multiscale methods for the fundamental understanding of diesel soot mitigation
Doctoral thesis, 2011

Current regulations for diesel exhaust emissions cannot be met by engine improvements alone, and for this reason the diesel particulate filter (DPF) is a widely used aftertreatment component for the control of diesel particulate matter (PM). The DPF functions by trapping PM and destroying it by oxidation. The oxidation of the solid portion of PM, or soot, is a complex and non-linear process which can occur either with or without catalysts. In addition, lubrication-derived, incombustible ash accumulates in the DPF and over time accounts for a majority of the trapped mass in the DPF on average. As soot and ash accumulate in the DPF, the pressure drop over the filter increases, which negatively affects the fuel economy. Improved understanding of the fundamental properties of soot and ash leads to more efficient aftertreatment components. The work in this thesis consisted of two related focus areas, including diesel soot oxidation and the effects of ash accumulation on the DPF. An experimental method was developed to study the kinetics of the non-catalytic oxidation of carbon by O2, while a theoretical model was constructed to describe the relationship between carbon microsctructure and reactivity. The catalytic oxidation of carbon by O2 was studied by means of a recent nanofabrication technique where the carbon-catalyst contact could be accurately controlled. In addition, a system of both novel and established experimental techniques was used in this thesis to add to the fundamental understanding of lubrication-derived ash accumulation in the DPF.

Nanofabrication

Catalyst

Soot

Aftertreatment

Carbon

Particulate Matter

Oxidation

Ash

Diesel Particulate Filter

KC
Opponent: Dr. Aleksey Yezerets

Author

Carl Justin Kamp

Competence Centre for Catalysis (KCK)

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemical Reaction Engineering

Experimental Method for Kinetic Studies of Gas-Solid Reactions: Oxidation of Carbonaceous Matter

Journal of Physical Chemistry C,; Vol. 115(2011)p. 16098-16108

Journal article

Current regulations for diesel exhaust emissions cannot be met by engine improvements alone. For this reason the diesel particulate filter (DPF) is a widely used aftertreatment component for the control of diesel particulate matter (PM). The DPF functions by trapping PM and destroying it by oxidation. The oxidation of the solid portion of PM (soot) is a complex and non-linear process which can occur either with or without catalysts. In addition, lubrication-derived, incombustible ash accumulates in the DPF and over time accounts for a majority of the trapped mass in the DPF on average. As soot and ash accumulate in the DPF, the filter pressure drop increases, which negatively affects fuel economy. Improved understanding of the fundamental properties of soot and ash leads to more efficient aftertreatment components. The work in this thesis consisted of two related focus areas, including diesel soot oxidation and the effects of ash accumulation on the DPF. An experimental method was developed to study the kinetics of the non-catalytic oxidation of carbon, while a theoretical model was constructed to describe the relationship between carbon microsctructure and reactivity. The catalytic oxidation of carbon was studied by means of a recent nanofabrication technique where the carbon-catalyst contact was controlled. Also, a system of both novel and established experimental techniques was used in this thesis to add to the fundamental understanding of ash accumulation in the DPF.

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (SO 2010-2017, EI 2018-)

Transport

Energy

Subject Categories

Chemical Process Engineering

ISBN

978-91-7385-616-4

Doktorsavhandlingar vid Chalmers tekniska högskola. Ny serie: 3297

KC

Opponent: Dr. Aleksey Yezerets

More information

Created

10/8/2017