Passive regeneration refers to the process of cleaning a diesel particulate filter using the heat of the exhaust gas alone. Diesel particulate matter will spontaneously combust when the temperature exceeds about 550 0C, but in most cases the exhaust gas of a diesel engine will never get that hot. Fortunately, using catalytic technology, the combustion temperature can be reduced substantially, and this facilitates passive regeneration within the range of exhaust gas temperatures which occur regularly in many engines.
The temperature of the exhaust gas of a diesel engine varies according to the load placed on the engine. To illustrate the point, here is a graph showing how the exhaust gas temperature varies with load on typical engines used in the marine and power generation sectors:
In order to work out whether a specific application is suitable for a passive DPF, the first question is whether the engine load follows a predictable pattern. In some applications, such as a ferry on a fixed route, a graph showing engine load against time will be very similar from one day to the next, whereas in the case of a standby generator there may be no pattern at all. If there is a predictable pattern, the next step is to install a datalogger and log the temperature over a period of typical use. The data obtained from this exercise will enable an expert to predict whether passive regeneration is a viable option, and if so, which version.
As mentioned above, catalytic technology is used to make passive regeneration practical. There are four options as to how this technology is deployed, as follows:
- A catalytic converter mounted upstream of the DPF oxidises nitrogen monoxide (NO) into nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The resulting NO2, which is an oxidising agent, gives up its spare oxygen atom to convert carbon in the diesel particulate matter into CO2. This technology is known as DOC+DPF (DOC refers to ‘Diesel Oxidation Catalyst’).
- A catalytic coating is applied to the filter itself, known as CDPF (Coated Diesel Particulate Filter).
- A catalytic converter is installed upstream of a coated filter, referred to as DOC+CDPF.
- A liquid known as a fuel-borne catalyst is mixed with the fuel, which results in small catalytic particles being incorporated into the diesel particulate matter.
The advantages and disadvantages of these approaches are summarised here
| Technology | Advantages | Disadvantages | Temperature threshold 0C |
| DOC+DPF | Recovers after long periods of low exhaust temperature. Catalytic converter and DPF can be replaced independently of each other. | Takes up more space than a coated filter. Requires ultra-low sulphur fuels. Slow regeneration. | 275 |
| CDPF | Single component saves space and cost. | Can become irreversibly blocked after long periods of low temperatures. Requires ultra-low sulphur fuels. Slow regeneration. | 300 |
| DOC+CDPF | Lowest regeneration temperature. Faster regeneration than options above. Recovers after long periods of low temperatures. | Additional up-front cost. Requires ultra-low sulphur fuels. | 250 |
| Fuel-borne catalyst | Lower up-front cost. Very rapid regeneration. Tolerates sulphur in the fuel. | Increased consumables cost. Filters require more frequent ash removal. | 450 |
