Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R69358/01
Title:	High Frequency Ultra-Low Power Discharge Regeneration of Diesel Particulate Filters
Principal Investigator:	Garner, Professor CP
Other Investigators:	Hoare, Mr D Harry, Dr J
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Perkins Engines
Department:	Mechanical Engineering
Organisation:	Loughborough University
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 June 2002	Ends:	31 May 2005	Value (£):	237,118
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Combustion
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Transport Systems and Vehicles
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Diesel engines are very fuel-efficient but emit carbonaceous particulates that are potentially harmful. Forthcoming EU and US legislation requires these to be reduced to levels that at present cannot be achieved easily with conventional techniques. Particulate filters or traps, which can reduce particulate emissions by over 95%, are therefore considered necessary.An exciting new method for automatically and selectively regenerating diesel particulate filters or traps is proposed which uses electric discharges supplied with a voltage at high frequency. The discharge operating at a range of frequencies has been successfully used to clean carbon, from lightly and heavily loaded diesel particulate filters in free air at extremely low powers of the order of only 20 W. The ability to remove carbon at low particulate loading implies that the size of the filter can be reduced substantial ly.The proposed research will develop this novel filter regeneration system for use on a diesel engine. A set of detailed, controlled set of experiments will be carried out to provide fundamental data on the effects of discharge voltage, reduced oxygen and elevated temperatures found in diesel exhausts. The electrodes and electrical power system will be optimised with respect to frequency, voltage and current using models such as pSpice, and validated with experimental data.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.lboro.ac.uk