Effects of lubricant components on ash-bridge deposition characteristics in the diesel particulate filter.

• A particulate loading and active regeneration cycle of the diesel particulate filter were performed on a burner. • Most ash-bridges were observed in the middle region of the diesel particulate filter channel. • Using Ca-based or Mg-based additive lubricants is beneficial to reduce the ash-bridge deposition. • When the blockage rate is greater than about 70%, the channels near the ash bridge are destroyed. Diesel particulate filter (DPF), an important after-treatment system, is widely used to trap particulates from diesel engines. After many active regenerations of the DPF, non-volatile ash may form an ash bridge phenomenon in the DPF channel. This paper studies the effects of lubricant components on ash-bridge deposition characteristics in the DPF. Four test lubricants were prepared based on the CK-4 standard lubricant with four different additives (Ca-based, Mg-based, compound, and Zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) additives), which were separately and proportionately blended into diesel fuel to form four different fuels. A particulate loading and active regeneration cycle of the DPF with those fuels were performed on a burner. The results show that mid-channel ash deposits (MCD) and the ash-bridge phenomenon were observed in the DPF with all four fuels, and the ash-bridge was mainly located in the middle region of the DPF channel. Mg-based or ZDDP additives can improve the ash-channel ratio (A: C) of the MCD. Ca- or Mg-based additives can reduce the distribution density of ash bridges and avoid sintering of DPF. Different shapes of ash bridges will cause different blockage rates in the DPF channel. When the blockage rate of the DPF channel is greater than about 70 %, DPF channels near the ash bridge are destroyed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]