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Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) are essential components of modern diesel vehicles that reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality. However, DPFs also require regular maintenance and regeneration to prevent clogging and ensure optimal performance. Regeneration is the process of burning off the accumulated soot in the DPF, which can be done either automatically by the vehicle or manually by the user.
Intangles, an AI-powered, physics-based predictive maintenance platform, has recently launched a new feature that helps fleets optimize their DPF regeneration process and avoid costly breakdowns. The feature was unveiled at the American Trucking Associations Technology Maintenance Council’s Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition in New Orleans on Sunday.
What is Intangles’ DPF regeneration solution?
Intangles’ DPF regeneration solution is an advanced prognostic tool that is part of a larger suite of vehicle health tools designed to detect issues with vehicles well before a diagnostic trouble code is triggered. The solution is built on 60 terabytes of data and covers more than 2,000 engine configurations, according to Intangles’ President Alan McMillan.
The solution monitors and measures the percentage of soot in a vehicle’s DPF in real-time and informs the user of the quality of each DPF regeneration. It also provides insights into the impact of inefficient regeneration, such as reduced fuel efficiency, impaired engine performance, and shortened DPF life. Moreover, it guides users on how to optimize forced DPF regeneration, which is sometimes necessary when the vehicle’s operating conditions do not allow for automatic regeneration.
How does Intangles’ DPF regeneration solution work?
Intangles’ DPF regeneration solution uses proprietary hardware, adaptive algorithms, and scalable cloud infrastructure to create a digital twin of a vehicle’s DPF in the cloud. A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical object that can simulate its behavior and performance under different scenarios.
Once a digital twin is created, Intangles can test how the virtual DPF will perform under varying conditions, such as extreme cold weather, periods of prolonged idling, or stop/start driving situations, which can be particularly hard on DPF clogging. Based on the results, Intangles can predict the future performance of the DPF system and provide actionable recommendations to the user.
What are the benefits of Intangles’ DPF solution?
Intangles’ DPF regeneration solution offers several benefits to fleets, such as:
- Improved fuel efficiency: By keeping the DPF clean and regenerating it at the optimal time, the solution can help save fuel and reduce emissions.
- Enhanced engine performance: By preventing DPF clogging and ensuring adequate exhaust flow, the solution can help maintain engine power and torque.
- Extended DPF life: By avoiding excessive soot accumulation and thermal stress, the solution can help prolong the DPF’s lifespan and reduce replacement costs.
- Reduced downtime and maintenance costs: By detecting and preventing potential DPF failures, the solution can help avoid unplanned repairs and service interruptions.
How can fleets use Intangles’ DPF regeneration solution?
Fleets can use Intangles’ DPF regeneration solution by installing the hardware alongside any existing telematics device to simplify the integration, said McMillan. The hardware connects to the vehicle’s onboard diagnostics port and transmits data to the cloud, where the algorithms analyze and process it. The user can access the insights and recommendations through a web-based dashboard or a mobile app.
The solution is a new and innovative way to manage and optimize the DPF system in diesel vehicles. By leveraging AI, physics, and digital twin technology, the solution can help fleets improve their performance, efficiency, and profitability.
