Technical features

The SMF^® consists of a combination of rust-proof metal powder and an equally heat-resistant expanded metal. The thin and porous metal foil made by sintering is stamped, folded and welded to form a three-dimensional filter concept that exploits the geometrical freedoms to the full. The key component comprises dozens, indeed hundreds, of filter pockets connected in parallel, in order to obtain a filter surface area large enough to perform the job in hand. Its good thermal conductivity and metallic flexibility protect the SMF^® against damage that could occur during thermal regeneration and enable it to store large amounts of soot without any noticeable increase in exhaust backpressure.

One particular result of HJS´s development work worth highlighting is the degree of flexibility offered by the filter design. Both the structure and the size of the filter can very easily be adapted to the circumstances and the requirements (e.g. available installation space) of the respective application. The clogging phenomenon known from conventional ceramic filters with their honeycomb structure is made impossible by the pocket-type construction.

The capacity of the SMF^® for holding non-regenerable particles, such as ash from engine-oil, is three to four times higher than that of conventional ceramic filter systems. This significantly increases the mileage before an HJS filter requires cleaning, including in the case of older vehicles and machines that suffer from particular high oil consumption. For whereas a ceramic filter requires cleaning after just a short period of operation, an SMF^® is capable of several years of operation before maintenance is needed. Another advantage of the SMF^®, which results from its special design and its use of sintered metal, is that it is far easier to clean. Whereas ceramic filter designs require complex cleaning equipment, the SMF^® can be cleared of residues using a standard high-pressure cleaner.