Overview of Diesel particulate filter systems sizing approaches

Although application of Diesel particulate filters in modern automotive Diesel engines is commonplace, their introduction to large Diesels as locomotive or marine engines is moving at a slower pace. One important reason for this delay is the large volume of filter required which is not easy to accommodate in this type of equipment. Thus, rational sizing of the filters becomes essential in these applications. It is observed that DPF systems for large Diesel engines are usually oversized. Possible reasons are discussed in this paper. With the present status of technology and the concern for compact and cost-optimized exhaust treatment systems a new design methodology is needed. This paper summarizes progress in the specific fields of application and attempts to formulate a filter sizing methodology that would lead to feasible solutions with regard to space requirements and backpressure penalty.