Performance of a ceramic diesel particulate trap over typical mining duty cycles using fuel additives

The performance of a ceramic wall-flow diesel particulate trap is described in relation to regeneration behaviour and emissions reduction from a typical mines heavy duty diesel engine. The use of fuel additives lowered particulate ignition temperature thresholds by approximately 150 deg C, and allowed frequent regeneration of the trap to occur when the engine was operated on a computer controlled engine dynamometer over simulated mine vehicle duty cycles. Thermal stress on the trap during regeneration was minimal. Use of the fuel additive had little effect on changing the trap efficiency for particulate emission reduction which remained generally in excess of 90% efficient. In addition, the fuel additives did not increase sulphate emissions, and reduced Ames mutagenic activity. This approach appears to offer a practical and effective means of diesel emissions control, for most mine lhd vehicles, without the need for additional trap regeneration systems, other than the use of fuel additives. For the covering abstract see IRRD 287303. (TRRL)