DPF Regeneration Relief with EnerBurn®
Let’s talk about the basics of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) and managing regeneration issues. As most heavy-duty truck owners know, DPFs were mandated in all new diesel road engines beginning in 2008. DPFs typically remove 85 percent or more of “soot” particles from diesel exhaust. The DPF traps soot and eventually becomes clogged. As the airflow through the filter decreases, pressure builds up until pressure sensors indicate higher than normal DPF “back pressure”. This triggers the Engine Control Module (ECM) to turn on engine warning lights that are designed to signal the driver to do something to clean out the filter, and soon. Driver intervention is needed before the ECM starts to cut back engine power, thus “de-rating” the engine by reducing rpm or by shutting off the engine altogether and leaving the driver stranded on a road side, with the potential for a big bill at the end of that road.
Exhaust airflow through the DPF must be restored in order to clear the ECM codes. Typically this is achieved by burning off the soot, a process known as DPF regeneration.
Over the time I’ve spent talking to trucking company owners, engine mechanics, and fleet managers I have put together my own glossary of “DPF Regen” terms as makes sense to me. Important disclaimer, I am not a diesel engine mechanic, and these are strictly my own definitions that have evolved over time through various sources of information.
• Passive regeneration - takes place without any additional heating from an on-board, auxiliary burner unit. Passive regeneration occurs while driving using the heat of the exhaust to burn off accumulated soot. Passive regeneration is greatly facilitated by the presence of an appropriate catalyst. The catalyst may or may not be present as a coating on the DPF filter itself. The problem with catalytic coatings on DPF filters is they lose effectiveness over time, i.e., they burn off or they become poisoned by contamination. EnerBurn® is a very cost-effective fuel-borne catalyst that can be introduced to enhance passive regeneration.
•“Parked” regeneration – a form of passive regeneration that can be manually deployed while the truck is not moving. The ECM revs the engine up to 1400 RPM while parked, in an attempt to raise the temperature of the exhaust high enough to burn off accumulated soot.
•Active regeneration – uses an auxiliary fuel injector and burner to increase the DPF exhaust gas temperatures to burn off soot. Active regeneration can be programmed via the ECM to deploy automatically while the truck is in motion.
•“Manual” regeneration – an active regeneration that can be deployed at will by the driver through a dashboard button.
• Forced regeneration – can be either a passive or active regeneration depending on the engine design. Forced regens are the last resort for clearing the DPF codes and require assistance from an engine service technician. Special equipment is used to take control of the ECM to “force” either an active burn-out or a “parked” regeneration.
EnerBurn® functions to introduce a very minute amount of a fuel borne catalyst into the engine and exhaust system, thereby lowering the soot combustion temperature and “cleaning” out the soot. This saves fuel as it typically takes ~2 gallons of diesel for each active regeneration cycle. It also extends the life of the DPF and other exhaust side components by lowering thermally induced metal stress and fatigue and related failures.
Your complete satisfaction with EnerBurn® as a cost-effective means of improving DPF regeneration performance and managing DPF regeneration issues is guaranteed by JKG Fuel Solutions. Become another satisfied customer – call JKG Fuel Solutions at (612) 209-3079 and get going with EnerBurn today!
For more information on how EnerBurn works in practical applications, visit Trucker Testimonials at www.betterdiesel.com.