Numerical simulation of DPF thermal regeneration process based on an improved dynamic model

In this paper, an improved kinetics model of soot oxidation based on the traditional B-K model is employed to characterize the thermal regeneration process of diesel particulate filters (DPF). Considering the influence of specific surface area and inhibition factor on soot oxidation, the regeneration process is simulated and analyzed using the commercial FLUENT software combined with UDF method. The results show that soot particles react from the middle of the filter to both ends, and the temporal profile of soot mass in the thermal regeneration process could be divided into three sections: smooth reaction, rapid reaction, and late reaction. The regeneration time decreases with the increasing of the incoming oxygen volume fraction. When the thickness of the deposited soot layer is less than 0.1 mm, the regeneration time is prolonged as the thickness of the deposited layer decreases. When the thickness is more than 0.1 mm, the regeneration time shows the opposite trend with the thickness of the deposited layer. Meanwhile, the curve of maximum wall temperature changing with time is divided into heating, rapid-burning, and slow-burning regimes. The maximum wall temperature increases as the volume fraction of oxygen flow increases, and as the deposited layer thickness increases.