Cummins

Diesel Particulate Filter

A monolithic (Cordierite) filter

Senior Design Group #5

                 The project assigned to our group was to develop a sensor that is capable of measuring the amount of particle matter accumulated in a diesel particle filter. Our corporate sponsor, Cummins Inc. (represented by Mr. Roger England) specified that our measurement system had to operate while the truck was in motion, measure soot with an accuracy of + ½ gram per liter, range in diameter size from 9 inches to 13 inches, be fairly reproducible, capable of directly measuring the amount of soot in the filter, able to fit and operate on the vertical stack of a semi-truck, cost effective, durable, and able to withstand high temperatures.  We focused our research on discovering previously developed ideas, as well as developing a firm understanding of diesel soot, the diesel particulate filter, and diesel engines.  We then determined the best way to apply scientific principles to this research to solve our problem. After generating several concepts we decided to place our main focus on a method where we correlate exhaust system temperature measurements with the amount of soot collected in the filter.  This concept is based on the theory that the heat capacity of the filter system will increase proportionally with the soot collected.  With the calculations we collected and the research we performed we feel that we are fully prepared to design and operate an experiment to optimize the performance of our Temperature Measurement Method solution to our Cummins Inc. proposed problem.  While performing our long term Temperature Measurement Method research, our sponsor has suggested that we collect industry solutions as well.