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	This graph shows the number concentration of solid particles for an uncracked and a cracked DPF. In this example, a small crack in the DPF increased the number of particles by a factor of three for the same engine operating condition.
	An ultra-high sensitivity particle detection system consisting of a dilution system, catalytic stripper, and condensation particle counter, along with the control system. This system is readily adaptable to be used with any combustion source.

The Particle Leak Sniffer™ was launched by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to detect solid exhaust particle leaks from high efficiency exhaust particle filters such as diesel particle filters (DPF) and gasoline particle filters (GPF). Particle leaks can be caused by:

• Filter cracks

• Canning defects

• Fuel-borne catalyst particles passing through

• Other problems

The Particle Leak Sniffer combines particle counting with SwRI's catalytic stripper technology, using a unique dilution strategy. The sensitivity of the method is capable of differentiating particle leaks with equivalent mass of much less than one picogram per cubic meter (<<< 1 pg/m³).

The Particle Leak Sniffer covers particle size ranging from 5 nanometers (nm) to 1,000 nm, detecting more than 99.9 percent of combustion-generated particles. We work with clients to establish a threshold where the leak becomes significant.

Applications

The Particle Leak Sniffer is suitable for:

• Drop-to-idle regeneration testing for filter and canning leaks

• DPF solid particle number efficiency evaluation

• DPF inspection and maintenance programs using a defined solid particle concentration threshold

• Solid particle number emission measurement

• Other R&D and QA/QC applications

For more information about the Particle Leak Sniffer or  ultra-high sensitivity particle leak detection from DPFs, or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Imad Khalek, Ph.D., at ikhalek@swri.org or (210) 522-2536.

particleleakdetection.swri.org

| Emissions R&D | Engine, Emissions & Vehicle Research Division | SwRI Home |

Southwest Research Institute^® (SwRI^®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

December 28, 2012