Apparatus and method for onboard performance monitoring of exhaust gas particulate filter

1. A gas particulate treatment system comprising;

a gas filter;

a gas filter performance monitor positioned downstream of the gas filter, the gas filter performance monitor having a particulate trap associated therewith that is configured to collect particulates passing through the gas filter; and

a sensing apparatus positioned within the particulate trap and associated with the gas filter performance monitor configured to sense particulate collection in the particulate trap based on electromagnetic activity in the gas filter performance monitor.

2. The gas particulate treatment system of claim 1 , the particulate trap disposed in a microwave electromagnetic cavity.

3. The gas particulate treatment system of claim 2 , the sensing apparatus including at least one RF antenna configured to operate in a first mode to emit an RF signal into the microwave electromagnetic cavity and in a second mode to receive a reflection of the RF signal.

4. The gas particulate treatment system of claim 3 , the sensing apparatus including a controller configured to compare the RF signal with the reflection of the RF signal to determine particulate loading in the particulate trap.

5. The gas particulate treatment system of claim 4 , the controller configured to generate a notification signal indicating particulate loading in the particulate trap.

6. An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine comprising;

an exhaust conduit for collecting and transporting exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine;

an exhaust gas filter in fluid communication with the exhaust conduit and operable to remove exhaust gas particulate matter from the exhaust gas;

an exhaust gas filter performance monitor in fluid communication with the exhaust conduit and positioned downstream of the exhaust gas filter for receiving filtered exhaust gas therefrom, the exhaust gas filter performance monitor having a particulate trap located therein through which the filtered exhaust gas flows;

a particulate sensor positioned within the particulate trap configured to sense particulate collection therein based on electromagnetic activity in the exhaust gas performance monitor.

7. The exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine of claim 6 , the particulate trap of the exhaust gas filter monitor comprising a ceramic wall flow monolith filter media having a reflective metallic coating at inlet and outlet ends defining RF shorting screens to define a microwave electromagnetic cavity, having an electromagnetic signature, therebetween.

8. The exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine of claim 7 , the microwave electronic cavity including;

a sensing apparatus in communication therewith and configured, in a first mode to emit an RF signal into the microwave electromagnetic cavity and, in a second mode to receive a reflection of the RF signal; and

a controller configured to compare the RF signal with the reflection of the RF signal to determine particulate loading in the particulate trap.

9. The exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine of claim 8 , the controller configured to generate a notification signal indicating particulate loading in the particulate trap.

10. A method for monitoring the performance of an exhaust gas particulate filter for an internal combustion engine comprising;

disposing a gas filter performance monitor downstream of the exhaust gas particulate filter, the gas filter performance monitor having a particulate trap operable to collect particulates passing through the exhaust gas particulate filter;

disposing a sensing apparatus within the particulate trap of the gas filter performance monitor; and

operating the sensing apparatus to sense particulate collection in the particulate trap of the gas filter performance monitor based on electromagnetic activity in the gas filter performance monitor.

11. The method of determining performance of an exhaust gas particulate filter for an internal combustion engine of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of;

locating a reflective metallic coating at inlet and outlet ends of the gas filter performance monitor particulate trap to define RF shorting screens thereon and a microwave electronic cavity therebetween, the microwave electronic cavity having an electromagnetic signature.

12. The method of determining performance of an exhaust gas particulate filter for an internal combustion engine of claim 11 , further comprising the steps of;

operating the sensing apparatus in a first mode to emit an RF signal into the microwave electromagnetic cavity and in a second mode to receive a reflection of the RF signal; and

comparing the RF signal with the reflection of the RF signal to determine particulate loading in the particulate trap.