摘要 |
A solid particulate filtering apparatus employs a plurality of unidirectional flow type honeycomb filter elements operating in parallel to provide improved particulate loading and useful operating time than was provided by the single, long, narrow type of unidirectional flow filter previously employed. The effective collective diameter of the plurality of elements is greater than their effective length and, preferably, their individual effective diameters approximate or exceed their individual effective lengths to maximize the improved particulate loading capacity and operating time characteristics of the apparatus. The plurality of smaller elements are also subjected to lower thermally induced stresses than would be a single larger filter of the same effective aspect ratio and the described filter housing fosters flow about the outside of the elements further reducing the occurrence of stresses induced by thermal gradients within the filters. The apparatus is particularly useful for diesel engine exhaust and other solid particulate filtering applications involving fluids at elevated temperatures. A method of filtering solid particulates from fluids by use of the apparatus comprises dividing a contaminated-fluid-carrying conduit into an upstream portion of a downstream portion with a partition, then positioning the plurality of filter elements through the partition, and thereafter passing the fluid through the conduit and filters. |