This excerpt was originally posted on the John Deere, Straightforward Blog June 20, 2011. You can view the original post here.
Additional Key Terms You Should Know
Earlier this year, we introduced an initial glossary of terms commonly used when speaking about emissions to help our readers “talk the talk” when it comes to Interim Tier 4 emissions requirements. This month, we’ve added some additional terms to our glossary to help you better understand the topic of regeneration as it relates to emissions regulations.
Exhaust Filter Regeneration – the “burning off” of particulate matter (PM) from diesel engines.
John Deere has determined that cooled EGR, combined with exhaust filter technology, is the right choice to meet emissions regulations because it is simple, more proven, and more cost effective.
The John Deere exhaust filter is integrated into the engine design to provide a convenient and reliable solution. The engine control unit (ECU) and exhaust temperature management (ETM) system work together to continuously regenerate, or clean, the exhaust filter.
Passive Regeneration – a natural exhaust filter cleaning process. It occurs during normal engine operating conditions, which is the most fuel-efficient way to clean. Passive regeneration does not impact machine operation or require operator involvement.
Active Regeneration – If passive regeneration cannot be achieved, then particulate matter (PM) must be removed using active regeneration, an automatic cleaning process. This requires injecting fuel in the exhaust stream and elevating exhaust temperatures to clean the filter. Remember, active regeneration cleaning only occurs when passive regeneration is not possible based on temperature, load, and speed. It serves as a backup system. In most cases, active regeneration does not impact machine operation or require operator involvement.
For more information on the topic of regeneration, this video breaks down the process of regeneration to help alleviate your concerns and better understand its impact on IT4 engine machine operation.
We hope you continue to use this guide as an ongoing resource, and please post a comment if there is a specific term you would like us to define or further explain.