Patent ID: 7303602
Filing Date: 2007-12-04
Classification: B01D,F01N,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A diesel particulate filter system for removal of particulates from a diesel engine exhaust stream, the diesel particulate system comprising: a filter housed within a containment cavity between a cavity inlet for acceptance of the engine exhaust stream and a cavity outlet for exit of the engine exhaust stream such that gases of the engine exhaust stream pass through the filter and at least a portion of the particulates within the engine exhaust stream are entrapped within the filter; a target of microwave-absorbing material embedded within the filter, wherein the microwave-absorbing material has microwave heating characteristics such that upon exposure to microwave radiation the microwave-absorbing material heats above the combustion temperature of at least a portion of the particulates entrapped within the filter; and a microwave power source operatively connected to microwave input ports so as to excite at least one circularly polarized microwave mode within the containment cavity such that upon activation of the microwave power source, the target of microwave-absorbing material is heated in a pattern substantially without azimuthal variation and at least a portion of the particulates entrapped within the filter in adjacent relation to the microwave-absorbing material are vaporized thereby reducing accumulation of the particulates within the filter.