APPLICATION OF A CERAMIC WALL FLOW FILTER TO UNDERGROUND DIESEL EMISSIONS REDUCTION

A large frontal area wall flow filter has been developed for application to heavy duty vehicles such as are utilized in underground workings. Laboratory and in-mine operation has defined critical operating parameters including: 1) soot removal efficiency, 2) initial back pressure and rate of pressure rise with operating time, 3) physical durability of filter units subjected to rigorous mining machine inertial forces and vibration, and 4) regeneration of filter units by in situ combustion of accumulated material. An analysis of the economic aspects of filter use in underground environments is presented.