DPF cleaning 1: What you need to know about
DPF regeneration additives
(DPF清潔1：你需要知道關於DPF再生添加劑)
Anyone who drives a modern diesel car, van or truck knows what a diesel particulate filter is. And chances are you have probably suffered it as well. The DPF filter is a part of your vehicle which captures diesel particles and soot from the exhaust gases and eliminate them. Also, it keeps itself clean thanks to the DPF regeneration process.
任何有駕駛新型柴油轎車、貨車或卡車的人都知道甚麼是柴油微碳過濾器。而你也可能剛好有這方面的困擾。DPF過濾器是你車輛的一部分，能捕捉廢氣柴油碳粒及煤粒並清除他們。還有DPF的再生過程能夠維持其的清潔。
Source: Automate Training
In theory, the DPF is able to function indefinitely thanks to this regenerational ability, known as spontaneous regeneration.
理論上，DPF具有無限再生的能力，也就是自發性再生功能。
For this to occur, the DPF regeneration needs high temperatures (over 600 ºC) to remove soot and particulates properly. As a consequence, your vehicle can only reach these conditions on highways, motorways or the occasional country lane, where the car reaches higher speeds.
對於這個狀況，DPF再生需要高溫(超過600 ºC)以便確實的清除碳粒及煤粒。此外，你的車子只能在高速公路、快速道路或省道駕駛等高速駕駛的狀況下才能達到這個條件。
However, the reality is different: traffic jams and short trips in the city reduce the efficiency of this cleaning process.
然而，實際的狀況卻很不同：都市裡的塞車及短程駕駛降低了清潔的效果。
The real world requires a different way of using the car than what the engineers had in mind when designing the DPF. This reduction in high-temperature running is often what causes the feared DPF warning light to appear.
在現實生活車子的使用狀況與工程師在設計DPF時的想法是有所出入的。高溫行駛的狀況減少導致DPF出狀況並亮起警示燈。
My DPF light is flashing: what should I do?
(我的DPF清潔燈亮起，我該怎麼做?)
Your first impulse may be want to go straight to the garage. Although it is always recommended, ask yourself before the following questions:
- Do you mostly drive short distances?
- Do you mostly drive at low speeds?
- Is it the first time the DPF light appears?
- Does your car have low mileage?
你當下第一個反應應該想要直奔修車廠。雖然總是建議，你應該先問自己以下這些問題：
•你常常短程駕駛嗎?
•你常常低速行駛嗎?
•第一次DPF亮燈是甚麼時候?
•你車子的行駛里程數低嗎?
DPF warning light: Don’t panic
If three or more of these are true, then you should be able to solve your problem without needing a mechanic. So, all you need is a good additive to perform a proper DPF regeneration.
DPF警示燈亮起：不要緊張
如果3個或以上的答案是"對”，那麼你的問題應該可以不需要儀器就能解決。所以你所需要的好的添加劑讓DPF能確實有效的再生。
Additive-enhanced DPF regeneration(添加劑─提升DPF再生)
The easiest way to achieve a better and faster regeneration is by using a catalyst mixed in the fuel. The proper name for these kind of catalysts is Fuel Borne Catalyst (FBC). These catalysts contain one of the following:
最簡單且快速再生的方式是將觸媒混合到燃油中。這類型觸媒的正確名字是Fuel Borne Catalyst (FBC)燃油再生催化劑。這催化劑包括以下：
- Metal: A metal-oxide based fuel additive which survives combustion in the engine and enters the exhaust system.
金屬: 金屬氧化燃油添加劑，其能恢復引擎及整個廢氣系統的燃燒。
- Organometallic compound or organic salts: Combustion activate these compounds to produce metal oxides/sulphates in the exhaust gas.
有機金屬成分或有機鹽：藉由這些成分促使燃燒而在廢氣中產生金屬氧化物/硫酸鹽
Almost all FBCs are metal based, the most common being ferrocene (iron oxide), cerium (ceric oxide) and platinum (Adam’s catalyst).
幾乎大部分的FBCs都有金屬成分，最常見的是二茂鐵（氧化鐵），鈰（氧化鈰）和二氧化鉑（亞當斯催化劑）。
The main advantage of catalysts is that they burn off soot at much lower temperatures, but each catalyst has its own properties and benefits.
催化劑的優點是它們在很低的溫度就能夠燃燒成為碳，但每個催化劑都有它自己的特性及優點。
Seems like ferrocene is the most common element in the DPF cleaning additive market. However, cerium oxide can accelerate the process approximately twice faster than iron oxide does. This results in a faster and deeper removal.
就像二茂鐵是DPF清潔添加劑常見的元素。然而氧化鈰比氧化鐵可以加快這流程幾乎2倍的速度。能得到是更快速及深層清除。
Also, cerium oxide produces less ashes and produce a safer reaction for the rest of the car.
還有，氧化鈰所產生的灰份很少並且相對車子的其他部份是安全的。
Cerium oxide in 3D. Source: Wikipedia
Xenum additives for the DPF cleaning
(清潔DPF的Xenum添加劑)
After seeing the differences between the most common compounds, you will be wondering which one we use in our DPF cleaning additives at Xenum. This will be revealed in next week’s article! But here’s a hint: NexGen™
在看到這麼多常見物質間的不同，你會我們的XENUM清潔DPF的添加劑是用哪一種? 這會在下個星期的文章中說明! 但請這有個提示：NexGen™