Traditionally, post injection of unburned diesel fuel into the combustion chamber provides the catalyst and raises temperatures. However, this has been found to cause oil dilution leading to premature engine wear or more frequent servicing.
Fuel Vaporizers go some way to solving this problem, lowering emissions whilst prolonging engine life. Rather than being injected directly into the combustion chamber, fuel is directed to the Fuel Vaporizer. The Vaporizer then uses an integrated, electrically heated glow plug to evaporate the fuel before injecting it into the exhaust gas stream ahead of the catalytic converter/ diesel oxidation catalyst. Vaporized hydrocarbons are then burnt on the catalytic converter, releasing energy from exothermal chemical reactions and raising the temperature before the DPF allowing for regeneration to occur without oil dilution or the need for additional cooling.
With the introduction of Fuel Vaporizers, vehicles can achieve more frequent DPF regeneration under lower loads and even at idle.
Fuel Vaporizers commonly feature on Ford passenger and commercial vehicles and whilst the technology boasts improved engine life and reliability, it is believed that many Ford DPF issues stem directly from the failure of this part. As such the demand for the component within the automotive aftermarket is on an upward trend that is predicted to continue over the coming years.