Branson DPF Emissions Contols

[TractorNH]

It's an entirely passive system. There is no regen cycle. The dpf works kind of like a catalytic converter on an unleaded car. It gets heated up by the exhaust gas temperature, and there are chemical compounds inside the dpf filter that facilitate the burning or "cooking off" of the diesel exhaust particles. The slang term for this device is called a "soot cooker". There are no controls for this. There is a "data logger" that just looks at the incoming exhaust pressure, and the outgoing exhaust pressure, compares the two, and if they get too far apart (as in the dpf starts to get clogged), then it lights a light on your dashboard.

So is it actually a DPF or does it use a DOC like Mahindra? A DOC (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst) is what is like a catalytic converter used with a gas engine, constantly burning off the particles through temperature and the catalyst. A DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) actually captures the particles and then the regen burns them off, sometimes by directly injecting diesel fuel into the filter as well.

 

[ericm979]

They call it a DPF. The regen process is constant, and at a lower internal temp than the 1100 degrees cited earlier. Like half that. The Branson DPF may be a different design than DPFs that are subject to regen. The difference between a DPF and a DOC is that the DPF has a filter. It may or may not also have a catalyst section. The filter-only DPFs need high temp active regen. The catalyst can be used to turn nitrogen oxide into nitrogen dioxide which can oxidize soot using a different chemical reaction than it used in the high temp regen.

Here's that paper (actually it's slides) again:
https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/03/f9/2004_deer_chatterjee.pdf
slide3 shows a DPF cross section.

here's more on how DPFs work: Diesel Filter Regeneration
(dieselnet has a lot of good technical info)

So from this I think we can guess that the Branson DPF with its catalyst is more expensive than a regular non catalyst DPF, which may be why the low temp regen is not more popular. My dealer did tell me that the 25 series has more catalyst than the 20s.

Even in the parts of California with strict emissions testing, tractors are not tested. Makes sense as it's tough to get them to a test station and most are run for only a fraction of the time that the average road vehicle is run.

 

[ning]

the smell that came from exhaust when the DPF was complete annoyed the heck out of me. Stunk. A real acrid odor, like burn the hair outa your nose bad

I wonder what this was, because my 3520 with an intact DPF doesn't have much of a smell at all, and I'd've smelled it when I put it in or take it out of my container if there was a smell. I've run it hard doing heavy work, and I've had hours when it was not in the green range, and only once have I seen anything interesting - one day I kept the throttle around 2000 and I saw a bunch of gray smoke for a bit and realized it was probably hot enough to be cooking the DPF of the soot that had accumulated in the last couple days of light low-throttle work, but that passed after about 15 seconds. I didn't smell anything out of sorts then, and I've got a very sensitive nose.

 

[Hombre]

I wonder what this was, because my 3520 with an intact DPF doesn't have much of a smell at all, and I'd've smelled it when I put it in or take it out of my container if there was a smell. I've run it hard doing heavy work, and I've had hours when it was not in the green range, and only once have I seen anything interesting - one day I kept the throttle around 2000 and I saw a bunch of gray smoke for a bit and realized it was probably hot enough to be cooking the DPF of the soot that had accumulated in the last couple days of light low-throttle work, but that passed after about 15 seconds. I didn't smell anything out of sorts then, and I've got a very sensitive nose.

As do I (the nose thing) however as in most things I'm sure some of the things that may smell bad to me perhaps smell o.k. to you. Like diesel for one. I like the smell of a warm horse, cows stink, I think Hoppes #9 smells better than most after shave but my wife can't stand it, leather goods (as in saddles and tack) smell great to me, canvas not so much. My wife thinks Lilys smell wonderful, I think they smell horrible, they almost gag me. So, evidently our "smellers" are all different as to what we like/can stand or don't......my tractor with the DPF working stunk to high heaven to me, not constantly, but every once in a while I'd get a whiff and I'd have to cover my nose.......:drink: Now without the DPF everything is good, I get a bit of "diesel smoke" when it's starts up in the shop but that just smells like a good working motor to me.

 

[Cougsfan]

All I did was remove the DPF canister, drill some holes in the "filter" then knocked it out with a chisel and hammer, very easy to do. :

That is my current plan if I ever have a problem, but as I said, I have never had a problem yet, even in the winter.

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

As do I (the nose thing) however as in most things I'm sure some of the things that may smell bad to me perhaps smell o.k. to you. Like diesel for one. I like the smell of a warm horse, cows stink, I think Hoppes #9 smells better than most after shave but my wife can't stand it, leather goods (as in saddles and tack) smell great to me, canvas not so much. My wife thinks Lilys smell wonderful, I think they smell horrible, they almost gag me. So, evidently our "smellers" are all different as to what we like/can stand or don't......my tractor with the DPF working stunk to high heaven to me, not constantly, but every once in a while I'd get a whiff and I'd have to cover my nose.......:drink: Now without the DPF everything is good, I get a bit of "diesel smoke" when it's starts up in the shop but that just smells like a good working motor to me.

I'm with you. Mine stunk to high heaven with the soot cooker on it. Yeah I think cow crap doesn't stink either and I could sit in a leather shop all day.

 

[Aaron L]

Some posts here claim DPFs will last 5,000 engine hours. More posts claim DPF's will last 10,000 engine hours. No one really knows.....

The average residential tractor is used eighty engine hours per year.
5,000/80 = 62.5 years 10,000/80 = 125 years

How many hours per year do you forecast using your tractor?


Tractors survived Tier I, Tier II anf Tier III emission controls. Tractors will survive Tier IV emission controls.
Tier V standards have been promulgated and tractor producers are working to meet Tier V standards.

I expect electrically powered compact tractors within a few years, which will obviate the need for pollution controls on battery powered tractors.


VIDEO: No need to Panic! DPF's explained. - YouTube

Tier-V emissions standards for off road diesels are a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Tier-IV tractors are clean enough.
The idea of electric tractors has come up several times over the decades. Look up the Allis Chalmers fuel cell tractor. Battery powered electric vehicles are hardly zero-emissions vehicles, despite what people say. Production and eventual disposal of the batteries make more of a real environmental impact than the emissions of a modern fossil fuel (or biofuel) powered vehicle. Then there's the generation of the electricity that's used to charge those batteries. All electrical generation causes some degree of environmental impact. There's no such thing as a free lunch...

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

Tier-V emissions standards for off road diesels are a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Tier-IV tractors are clean enough.
The idea of electric tractors has come up several times over the decades. Look up the Allis Chalmers fuel cell tractor. Battery powered electric vehicles are hardly zero-emissions vehicles, despite what people say. Production and eventual disposal of the batteries make more of a real environmental impact than the emissions of a modern fossil fuel (or biofuel) powered vehicle. Then there's the generation of the electricity that's used to charge those batteries. All electrical generation causes some degree of environmental impact. There's no such thing as a free lunch...

Yep people think that that plug is clean energy but they don't see that coal power plant 200 miles away puking out the emission to produce it. And agree on the batteries disposal too. Lots of info about it just have to look for it. Doesn't matter even if you went back to plowing with a horse. Still emissions envolved in the rear end of the beast. Matter of fact I have a few emissions I let loose everyday myself. No free lunch here.

 

[LouNY]

But it is easier for big brother to control that single point instead of many individuals.
For any all reasons.

 

[Bama67]

Battery technology needs to get a whole lot better before I would consider an electric tractor.

That said I only have 22 hours on my turbo Branson 4015, seems to run exceptionally clean.
I don't rev it high as I'm supposed to.
If DPF becomes an issue, the emmissions will be like my old Dodge and mysteriously disappear.