Abstract
Keywords - Particulate, ash, filter, tomography, non-destructive
Abstract - Nano sized dusts (PM10 and PM2.5) are one of the prominent sources of pollution in the urban areas; Vehicle ICEs contribute to this pollution with particulate emission, and diesel engines in particular. For this reason, EU and US legislations are issuing restrictive limitations for particulate emission. The diesel particulate emissions have then to be abated, by applying ceramic filters in the exhaust line. Nevertheless, a correct management strategy for such a device is extremely complicate, and moreover critical for engine proper operation. For this reason, the understanding of the soot and ash distribution inside the filters is mandatory. Industrial Computed Tomography is asserting as the best technology available on the market today for such purpose, being able to give detailed information on the soot/ash distribution patterns and even its relative concentration along the filters, without altering the functionality of the device, neither the distribution of the stored material.
In this paper the analysis procedure and some significant results of the detection of ash and particulate distribution in diesel particulate filters through X-ray Computed Tomography is described.