Ceramic particulate trap and method of making the same

摘要

A ceramic particulate trap is disclosed and manufactured from a plurality of ceramic support plates each having a plurality of grooves in an upper surface and a lower surface thereof extending in a direction of fluid flow. Each groove in the upper surface of the ceramic support plate having an open upstream end and a closed downstream end while each groove in the lower surface of the ceramic support plate includes a closed upstream end and an open downstream end. A ceramic foam layer is then placed on and supported by the ceramic support plates and spans the open surface of the plurality of grooves formed in the upper surface of the support plate. The support plate being manufactured by conventional relatively inexpensive extrusion processes provides structural support for the ceramic foam layer. As the fluid containing the entrained particulate matter passes through the open ends of the grooves in the top surface of the ceramic plate, this fluid is restricted to pass through the ceramic foam layer and into the corresponding grooves in the lower surface of the support plate positioned adjacent the first support plate. By doing so, the particulate matter entrained within the fluid will be trapped in the ceramic foam layer supported by the ceramic support plate.