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US 7,739,869 B2Granted
Diesel particulate filter performance using sonic particle agglomeration
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsMagdi Kaiser Khair, Martin B. Treuhaft, Imad S. Abdul-Khalek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for improving the performance of diesel particulate filters. Before entering the filter, the exhaust gas is subjected to sonic waves to agglomerate the particles.
Claims15
A method for reducing particulate emissions from engine exhaust, comprising:
- Placing an acoustic generator on the exhaust line downstream the engine;
- Wherein the acoustic generator is tube-shaped having a top end, a bottom end, and a long wall, the acoustic generator further having a first transducer at the top end and a second transducer at the bottom end, the acoustic generator further having an entry port in its long wall near the bottom end for receiving engine exhaust and an exit port in its long wall near the top end for exhausting the engine exhaust;
- Placing a particulate filter proximate the exit port;
- generating mechanical waves in the exhaust line upstream the filter, such that the first transducer emits acoustic waves from the top end and the second transducer emits acoustic waves from the bottom end, thereby producing interfering standing waves along the length of the acoustic generator;
- and
- using the particulate filter to filter the engine exhaust.
3 more elements
A system for reducing particulate emissions from engine exhaust in an exhaust line from an engine, comprising:
- a particulate filter to filter the particulates in the exhaust line;
- a mechanical wave generator in the exhaust line upstream the filter;
- wherein the generator is tube-shaped having a top end, a bottom end, and a long wall, the acoustic generator further having a first transducer at the top end and a second transducer at the bottom end, such that the transducers are configured to generate interfering standing waves along the length of the wave generator;
- Wherein the acoustic generator further has an entry port in its long wall near the bottom end for receiving engine exhaust, and has an exit port in its long wall near the top end for exhausting the engine exhaust;
- and
- a control unit operable to deliver control signals to the transducers.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.