All diesel particulate filters need to be cleaned (or ‘regenerated’) to remove the accumulated soot, but a distinction needs to be made between routine and exceptional cleaning.
Routine cleaning may take place with the filter removed or in-situ. If the filter is removed for routine cleaning the best way to do this is in a kiln with an air supply. In-situ cleaning is also done thermally but the exact details of how this is achieved probably don’t matter too much to the average user, since it will either be done automatically or initiated via a user-friendly process.
However, even filters which depend on in-situ routine cleaning occasionally need to be removed for cleaning. This can be due to a variety of causes:
- There is an accumulation of ash which needs to be removed
- There has been a malfunction in the engine, turbo or filter control system which has resulted in it becoming clogged with soot or oil
In these situations, cleaning is best carried out using a combination of a thermal process and pressurized air, followed by testing to ensure that the filter is clean and undamaged. Blackthorn can offer this service to its customers.
