Numerical simulation for flow and pressure drop characteristics in asymmetrical channels of diesel particulate filter

The 3D model of a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) with asymmetrical channels was established in Fluent. Based on numerical model, the fluid flow and pressure drop characteristics were simulated, the soot loading process was analyzed, and the pressure drops in asymmetrical channels and symmetrical channels were compared. The results show that, along the inlet channels, the flow velocity magnitude increases at first and then decreases, while the static pressure decreases first and then increases. Along the outlet channels the flow velocity increases while the static pressure decreases. At the beginning of soot loading process, larger amount of soot loading is found in the downstream half of the channel. As the soot loading increase, the distribution of soot along the axial direction becomes uniform. The pressure drop in the asymmetrical channels is lower than that in the symmetrical channels. The coefficient of the absolute soot loading of the asymmetrical channels is above 0.3.As the inlet-to-outlet ratio increases, the influence of the inlet mass flow rate on the pressure drop becomes more significant. © 2016, Editorial Board of Jilin University. All right reserved.