The market for diesel particulate filters (DPFs) has grown strongly in Europe as a result of Euro IV and Euro V emissions norms that stipulate strict particulate emissions levels. The market is forecast to generate revenues of EUR1.4bn in 2006, according to analysis by Frost & Sullivan.
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By 2012 the market is forecast to reach EUR3.3bn thanks to technology developments such as improvements in filtration efficiency and the wider use of advanced materials.
“Over the next two to three years, many new participants, including the US-based Dow Chemical Company, are anticipated to enter the European DPF market,” said Frost & Sullivan industry manager Kaushik Madhavan.
“Dow intends to commercialise its DPF technology for passenger vehicle application in Europe by 2008, having already showcased its DPF technology in the Audi R10 vehicle which recently won the American Le Mans endurance race.”
The entry of new participants will increase DPF volumes available in the market, thereby helping OEMs immensely in introducing DPFs in their diesel powered vehicles. This will also eliminate the likelihood of a temporary shortage of filters – a situation which was recently experienced by European OEMs. Then, suppliers were simply unable to cope with the high demand from OEMs who were eager to introduce DPFs into the market.
While these are positive developments, a primary challenge for both vehicle manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers remains the need to develop an integrated system approach, said the report. This approach is required for efficient regeneration and exhaust gas monitoring, particularly during unpredictable engine operating conditions. Under real-life operating conditions, the exhaust gas temperature in the particulate filter does not reach sufficiently high levels to ensure complete burning of the accumulated soot particles.
“To enable regeneration and to ensure complete reliability of the system in such situations, an integrated system approach is essential,” cautioned Madhavan. “A few of the important characteristics that must be included in such an approach are compatibility of the fuel-borne catalyst with DPF components, environmental friendliness, temperature stability and long-term stability to various types of diesel fuel.”
Promisingly for the market’s future, new technological solutions such as the diesel fuel vaporiser spin elements and external post-injection will offer vehicle manufacturers and suppliers new avenues to improve the efficiency of DPF technologies. At the same time, the use of advanced materials such as silicon bonded silicon carbide (Si-SiC) and aluminium titanate will enhance filtration efficiency, while maintaining the operating lifetime of the catalyst and the DPF.
“Also of significant importance in this context is the solution that combines selective catalyst reduction (SCR) and DPF technologies,” added Madhavan. “This treatment not only reduces particulate emission but also minimises the emission of oxides of nitrogen.”
