Woodward Governor Company and Tenneco Inc. announced today that the companies entered into a joint development agreement to develop a range of low-emission aftertreatment burner systems with Woodward SmartFire combustion control systems for regeneration of diesel particulate filters (DPFs).

The new aftertreatment burner system with the SmartFire control technology will be designed to raise exhaust gas temperatures to the necessary levels for the diesel particulate filter to burn off built-up particulate matter. The goal is to develop the technology initially for on-highway medium-duty diesel vehicles, Class 3 and above. These vehicles are often used in situations where the engines don't run long enough or at hot enough temperatures to regenerate a diesel particulate filter with conventional technology.

The new diesel aftertreatment systems with the SmartFire control technology will be designed to help original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) meet current and future global emissions requirements while maintaining engine performance. The global market for active DPF regeneration systems is expected to grow significantly by 2012 as new emissions regulations become effective, first in Japan, followed by North America and Europe.

There is also significant opportunity within the diesel retrofit market where regeneration on urban vehicles is difficult to achieve with today's current technology.

"Together Woodward and Tenneco plan to bring this diesel aftertreatment regeneration technology to our customers to help them meet increasingly stringent emission standards. This agreement builds on our Energy Control and Optimization Solutions Strategy by expanding our advanced combustion control capabilities into adjacent markets, such as on-highway diesel trucks," said Chad Preiss, Woodward vice president, general manager Industrial Controls.

"We're very happy to be working with Woodward on a next-generation diesel particulate filter regeneration technology that will fill a gap in the market place and will further enhance Tenneco's leadership in diesel aftertreatment systems," said Lois Boyd, vice president and general manager, commercial vehicle segment. "A diesel particulate filter that incorporates Woodward's SmartFire control technology will allow us to offer a unique and effective emissions control solution for vehicles that run at relatively lower temperatures."

The system will be designed to independently monitor the DPF condition and start the regeneration process by igniting built-up particulates under any engine condition. The temperature will be carefully controlled to rise and maintain at the regeneration temperature until the DPF has fully regenerated.

By Woodward