Diesel particulate matter removal using DBD pulsed plasmas

A new DBD reactor made of uneven alumina and stainless steel plates has been developed for particulate matter (PM) removal from a diesel engine using pulsed plasma discharges. PM removal using 24 pairs of uneven alumina and stainless steel plates is the same as that using 32 pairs of flat alumina plates and mesh metal electrodes that we previously reported. A disturbed discharge uniformly has been obtained in spaces between the uneven alumina plates and stainless steel plates; however, it is difficult to get a uniform discharge using flat alumina plates and mesh metal electrodes. The discharge energy efficiency is 3.6 g/kWh at maximum, which is under improvement for an actual application.