Design and performance of a novel collector for diesel emissions control

Taewon Han, Gediminas Mainelis

Rutgers University

     Abstract Number: 406
     Last modified: April 4, 2011

Abstract
Diesel combustion engines are widely used in heavy-duty trucks, stationary engines, and power generation. However, diesel engines tend to have higher particulate matter emissions compared to gasoline engines. Thus, a number of diesel particulate filters (DPF) have been developed and implemented as viable devices to minimize diesel soot emission. While current DPFs can effectively capture exhaust particles, they add to engine backpressure due to their structure and accumulated particles during its operation. In addition, the collected diesel exhaust matter has to be periodically regenerated by burning it off which creates aerosol emission, especially in the 10–30 nano-meter size range and contributes to air pollution. In this research, we designed and developed a prototype for a novel diesel exhaust control device: the Electrostatic Screen Battery for emissions control (ESBEC). The device features high particle collection efficiency without adding to the exhaust backpressure and without the need for thermal regeneration of collected particles. The ESBEC consists of a series of metal mesh screens coated with a hydrophobic coating and an integrated carbon fiber ionizer for field-induced charging of exhaust particles. Multiple sets of two screens (e.g., 5 sets) form a battery in which one screen of each set is supplied with high voltage and the other is grounded, producing electrostatic field produced across the screens. The use of hydrophobic coating allows washing off the collected particles for continuous use of the Battery without the need for thermal regeneration.

The preliminary tests showed that the ESBEC can remove more than 95% of diesel exhaust particle mass produced by an electric power generator, while producing virtually zero backpressure. The wash-off of collected particles was also efficient. Upon further development, it is hoped that the ESBEC could be widely deployed in a variety of mobile and stationary sources to control diesel emissions.