Modelling of Particulate Matter Transformations and Capture Efficiency

Journal article, 2014

In the current work, a comprehensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed for an accurate description of the transport and transformation of automotive particulate matter (PM) in monolithic reactors. The model accounts for the developing gas flow, the evaporation of hydrocarbons (HCs) from the particles, and the adsorption of HCs in the washcoat, as well as motion, shrinkage, and deposition of particles in the channel. The comprehensive CFD model is used to validate a simplified tanks-in-series approach with a conceptual model for PM transformations. In the development of more detailed and accurate chemical kinetics for the reactions of PM in filters, it will be necessary to also predict the time-resolved properties of the particles collected in the filter (e. g., reactivity, amount of adsorbed HCs). It is shown in this work how the data necessary to construct such models can be obtained in situ with the aid of the conceptual model and PM measurements over an inert open substrate.