Author Topic: Particulate trap concept - help me brainstorm (Read 5749 times)

Mikeyworks · « **on:** December 10, 2004, 09:07:36 am »

I have had a thought in my head for a while now on how to reduce particulate emissions from my diesels.

A thought came to me when I saw my friend's Rainbow Vacuum. Can't you modify that design to capture the particulate?

Here;s my thought, the Rainbow vac operates (for those of you who don't know) by using a high power electric motor to spin a tubine/impeller inside the housing. It uses no bag, but rather water. As the turbine spins, it spins the water and air in the chamber and the dirt particles are forced into the water in suspension. Air only is then expelled out the exhaust port and the water can be poured out through the sink, toilet, yard, whatever.

Can't that design be incorporated to capture the particulate coming out our tail pipes? Can't I put a modified Rainbow Vac in line in my exhaust system, hook up the electricals and go with that? I know one of the big things with particulate traps is that they restrict exhaust gas flow. Well, the Rainbow's design actually would help to increase exhaust flow by pushing the air out the exhaust port on the system and returning it to the atmostphere. However, the particulates in the exhaust would be trapped in the water. They could be then discarded through the proper means.

There's the next issue, what would we have in this suspension? hydrocarbons, nitrate particles in water, what else? What is the proper means for disposal?

I don't think this would be that hard to fab up. In fact, I am contemplating buying an older Rainbow Vac off eBay and playing around with this idea....

Let me know what you think.

Mikey

farkman · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2004, 04:18:02 pm »

Mikey

One problem I see is the hot exhaust gases evaporating the water rather quickly. You could have better luck if you could cool the exhaust significantly or use something other than straight water, with a higher boiling point.

Or, an easier way to reduce particulate emissions is to use biodiesel

.

Mikeyworks · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2004, 05:35:17 pm »

I agree, the biodiesel is a better solution...but there is still some visible particulate coming out!!!!

Not that I hold my hand at the end of my tailpipe all the time, but how hot is the exhaust just after the muffler (I wouldn't want to put any more water vapor into the muffler and rust that sucker out). I think it would be cool enough for this device.

Mikey

web · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2004, 01:22:47 pm »

Exhaust flow may be a bit much for a rainbow vac type thingie to work well, especially at full noise.

To actually HELP exhaust flow anywhere above idle AND filter it well, you will need an extremely high powered rainbow vac, or several in parallel. It's roughly the "electric turbo" problem : just not possible with a standard vehicle electrical system.

Dr. Diesel · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2004, 07:50:17 pm »

i was kinda under the impression that the A3 1.9L IDI's use a soot trap of some sort, that most people call a cat converter. No idea if it's true or how it would work.

QuickTD · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2004, 08:42:04 pm »

Quote from: "Dr. Diesel"

i was kinda under the impression that the A3 1.9L IDI's use a soot trap of some sort, that most people call a cat converter. No idea if it's true or how it would work.

It is an oxidation catalytic convertor. It often acts as a soot trap, but I don't think that was the original plan. The core is a straight through ceramic honeycomb when not plugged with soot. They are generally a solid plugged mass when removed. I don't think stock 1.9TD's produce enough heat to light the thing off...