Design and Development of an Electrostatic Screen Battery for Emission Control (ESBEC)

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) cause engine backpressure and require thermal regeneration, leading to ultrafine particle emissions.
• Regeneration of DPFs releases aerosols, particularly in the 10-30 nm range, contributing to air pollution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and develop a novel diesel exhaust control device, the Electrostatic Screen Battery for Emissions Control (ESBEC).
• To achieve high particle collection efficiency without engine backpressure or thermal regeneration.

Main Methods:

• The ESBEC utilizes metal mesh screens coated with a superhydrophobic substance and a carbon fiber ionizer to charge particles.
• Screens are arranged in pairs with alternating high voltage and ground, creating electrostatic fields.
• Collected particles are removed using a liquid-based cleaning method, avoiding thermal regeneration.

Main Results:

• Prototype testing showed ~87% collection efficiency for 0.2 μm and ~95% for 1.2 μm polystyrene latex particles.
• Visual inspection confirmed particle deposition reduction with the ESBEC operating on actual diesel exhaust.

Conclusions:

• The ESBEC prototype demonstrates high efficiency in capturing diesel exhaust particles.
• The device eliminates the need for thermal regeneration and avoids increasing engine backpressure, offering an alternative to conventional DPFs.