Patent ID: 8444729

Claim:
A method of operating an exhaust particulate filter system for an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of: feeding exhaust gases from an exhaust gas inlet of an exhaust particulate filter shell into a composite filtration unit positioned within the exhaust particulate filter shell, the composite filtration unit defining a longitudinal filter axis and having a plurality of filter elements which each include a fibrous metallic material having a particulate loading area; initiating regeneration of one of the filter elements via energizing an electrically powered heating element having a contact interface with the fibrous metallic material within the corresponding particulate loading area which defines a non-axial regeneration propagation profile, and such that heat is conducted from the energized heating element to particulate matter contacting the energized heating element within the particulate loading area; and propagating a regeneration flame about the one of the filter elements according to the non-axial regeneration propagation profile.