Analysis of Changes in Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) in Vehicles With Compression Ignition Engines

The purpose of this study was the discussion of the research conducted on the randomly selected samples of the DPFs, acquired from vehicles equipped with compression-ignition engines. The samples used in analyses were not catalogued in accordance with the vehicle make, which resulted from the method of acquisition. The elemental composition of the filters was estimated by means of the NITON XL3t 800 Analyzer spectroscope, using roentgen fluorescence, due to which the spectra allowing for identification of elements and their percentage composition in the tested samples were obtained. The second part of the research is constituted by the analyses conducted at the National Centre for Nuclear Research, where the radioisotope concentration was determined in the DPF samples using the multichannel gamma-ray spectrometry method, through measurement of the filters' spectra with the help of the high-resolution HPGe (High-purity Germanium) Detector and multi-channel pulse amplitude analyser. Tests of the DPF fragments planned for utilisation indicated changes taking place during operation and varying elemental composition. The difference in the amount of solid particles in exhaust gases of vehicles equipped with a DPF against exhaust gases of vehicles without a DPF was illustrated, as well as the basic reasons of their premature saturation.