Honeycomb Filter End Aggregate Layer Crack Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Honeycomb filters used in diesel particulate filters (DPFs) face issues with crack generation in plugged portions due to heat during regeneration, which affects their durability and performance.

Innovation Solution

A honeycomb filter design featuring end aggregate layers made of particulate aggregate material with a thickness of 0.5 to 5 mm on the surfaces of first plugged portions, along with porous collecting layers on the inflow-cell-side surfaces, to reduce direct contact between deposited PM and plugged portions, thereby minimizing heat conduction and crack formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If collecting layers are formed on the surfaces of partition walls on the side of inflow cells to increase PM deposition capacity, then the number of regeneration treatment times can be decreased, but the amount of heat generated during regeneration increases, causing cracks in plugged portions

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePM deposition capacityVSAvoidcrack resistance in plugged portions
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An end aggregate layer is introduced as an intermediary between the collected PM and the plugged portion. This layer acts as a heat insulator that prevents direct heat conduction from the PM to the plugged portion during regeneration, thereby preventing cracks while maintaining PM collection capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter structure uses composite material configuration with different layers serving different functions: the collecting layer (porous material with smaller particle diameter) for PM separation and the end aggregate layer (particulate aggregate material) for thermal insulation, creating a multi-functional composite structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the thickness of end aggregate layers is increased to improve heat insulation, then crack generation is suppressed, but the pressure drop increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrack resistance in plugged portionsVSAvoidpressure drop
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The thickness of the end aggregate layer is optimized within a specific range (0.5 to 5 mm) to achieve the right balance between heat insulation performance and pressure drop. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient thermal protection while maintaining acceptable flow characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The proposed design effectively suppresses crack generation in plugged portions during regeneration, maintaining filter integrity and performance even with increased PM deposition, while also reducing pressure drop and improving PM collection efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

minimizing heat conduction and crack formation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a porous collecting layer formed on the surfaces of the partition walls on the side of the inflow cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2366445B1Honeycomb filter
Publication Date: 2014.02.26 NGK INSULATORS LTD
  • EP2366445B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2366445B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2366445B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

There is disclosed a honeycomb filter which can suppress generation of cracks in plugged portions due to heat generated by burning of a PM during regeneration. The honeycomb filter comprises a honeycomb basal body 2 including porous partition walls 6 arranged to form a plurality of cells disposed in parallel with one another and including inflow cells 4a into which a fluid can flow and outflow cells which are formed adjacent to the inflow cells 4a and out of which the fluid can flow; first plugged portions with which one end 5b of each of the inflow cells 4a is plugged; second plugged portions 3b with which the other end 5a of each of the outflow cells is plugged; porous collecting layers formed on the surfaces of the partition walls 6 on the side of the inflow cells 4a; and end aggregate layers made of a particulate aggregate material and formed on the surfaces of the first plugged portions on the side of the inflow cells, and a thickness of the end aggregate layers is from 0.5 to 5 mm.