Filter element with discrete heat generators and method of manufacture

A microwave regenerable filter element comprising:

• a filter media for filtering particulates from an exhaust gas;
• and
• a plurality of discrete heat generators disposed in said filter media, each of said plurality of discrete heat generators being adapted to absorb microwave energy and convert the microwave energy into heat;
• wherein said plurality of discrete heat generators are disposed in a spatial array in a manner that density of said plurality of discrete heat generators varies radially away from a central axis of said filter element.

A microwave regenerable filter element comprising:

• a filter media for filtering particulates from an exhaust gas;
• and
• a plurality of discrete heat generators disposed in said filter media, each of said plurality of discrete heat generators being adapted to absorb microwave energy and convert the microwave energy into heat;
• wherein each of said plurality of discrete heat generators have a length dimension of substantially ½ of a microwave wavelength.

A microwave regenerable filter element comprising:

• a filter media for filtering particulates from an exhaust gas;
• and
• a plurality of discrete heat generators disposed in said filter media, each of said plurality of discrete heat generators being adapted to absorb microwave energy and convert the microwave energy into heat;
• wherein each of said plurality of discrete heat generators have a width dimension of substantially ⅛ of a microwave wavelength.

A microwave regenerable filter element comprising:

• a filter media for filtering particulates from an exhaust gas;
• and
• a plurality of discrete heat generators disposed in said filter media, each of said plurality of discrete heat generators being adapted to absorb microwave energy and convert the microwave energy into heat;
• wherein each of said plurality of discrete heat generators are comprised of a plurality of microwave absorption fibers attached together to form each of said plurality of discrete heat generators;
• wherein each of said plurality of microwave absorption fibers are bundled in a substantially planar shape that has a length dimension and a width dimension which are substantially larger than a thickness dimension.

A microwave regenerable filter element comprising:

• a filter media for filtering particulates from an exhaust gas;
• and
• a plurality of discrete heat generators disposed in said filter media, each of said plurality of discrete heat generators being adapted to absorb microwave energy and convert the microwave energy into heat;
• wherein said plurality of discrete heat generators are disposed in a spatial array in a manner that density of said plurality of discrete heat generators varies axially along a central axis of said filter element.

A method of manufacturing a microwave regenerable filter element comprising the steps of:

• providing a filter media for filtering particulates from an exhaust gas;
• and
• providing a plurality of discrete heat generators disposed in said filter media in a spatial array, each of said plurality of discrete heat generators being adapted to absorb microwave energy and convert the microwave energy into heat;
• wherein said plurality of discrete heat generators are substantially planar shaped having a length dimension and a width dimension which are substantially larger than a thickness dimension.

A method of manufacturing a microwave regenerable filter element comprising the steps of:

• providing a filter media for filtering particulates from an exhaust gas;
• providing a plurality of discrete heat generators disposed in said filter media in a spatial array, each of said plurality of discrete heat generators being adapted to absorb microwave energy and convert the microwave energy into heat;
• and
• providing each of said plurality of discrete heat generators in a predetermined manner such that density of said plurality of discrete heat generators in said spatial array varies radially away from a central axis of said filter element.

A method of manufacturing a microwave regenerable filter element comprising the steps of:

• providing a filter media for filtering particulates from an exhaust gas;
• providing a plurality of discrete heat generators disposed in said filter media in a spatial array, each of said plurality of discrete heat generators being adapted to absorb microwave energy and convert the microwave energy into heat;
• and
• providing each of said plurality of discrete heat generators in a predetermined manner such that density of said plurality of discrete heat generators in said spatial array varies axially along a central axis of said filter element.