Pilot-Scale Experiments of Continuous Regeneration of Ceramic Diesel Particulate Filter in Marine Diesel Engine Using Nonthermal Plasma-Induced Radicals

As the regulations governing diesel engine emissions have become more stringent, it has become difficult to fulfill these new requirements by only using techniques that improve combustion. Therefore, more effective aftertreatment technology is needed, particularly for particulate matter. Although ceramic diesel particulate filter (DPF) is a leading technology in automobiles, their implementation in marine diesel engines operated with marine diesel oil (A-heavy fuel oil) containing sulfur presents a problem, in terms of soot removal or regeneration. In this study, a pilot-scale experiment is performed to establish a method implementing nonthermal-plasma-induced radicals for DPF regeneration of marine diesel engines. The pressure difference decreases only when plasma is turned on, and DPF regeneration is realized at 320 °C. The amount of ozone required for regeneration is determined under various engine operating conditions, and the basic characteristics of regeneration are elucidated. The plasma energy required for emission control of the entire gas is approximately 5% of the generated power of the marine engine.