Exhaust fluid filter including hydrocarbon detection witness media
An aftertreatment system includes an exhaust reductant tank configured to store an exhaust reductant. A filter is fluidically coupled to the exhaust reductant tank. The aftertreatment system includes a hydrocarbon detection device configured to indicate the presence of a hydrocarbon in the exhaust reductant. A catalyst is included in the system and configured to treat the exhaust reductant flowing through the system. The hydrocarbon detection device can include a hydrophobic paper, and can be disposed in the filter.
1. A method for detecting hydrocarbons in an aftertreatment system having a reductant filter with a filter element disposed within an internal volume defined by at least one wall of the reductant filter, the method comprising:
exposing powder or particulates disposed within the internal volume to reductant within the internal volume; and
determining that the powder or particulates have provided an indication of presence of a hydrocarbon in the reductant within the internal volume.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing the reductant filter in response to determining that the powder or particulates have provided the indication.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing at least some of the reductant from a reductant tank in response to determining that the powder or particulates have provided the indication.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the powder or particulates are configured to provide the indication in response to absorbing the hydrocarbon.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication is a change in color.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the powder or particulates are configured to provide the indication in response to the reductant having a concentration of the hydrocarbon of between 0.025% by weight and 1% by weight, inclusive.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising viewing the powder or particulates through a viewing portion in the at least one wall, the viewing portion being at least one of transparent or translucent.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filter element has a pore size of 10 microns, 5 microns, or 1 micron.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the powder or particulates comprises at least one of: wax, a styrene maleic anhydride copolymer, siloxane, nylon, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, cellulose, or polymethyl methacrylate.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filter element is configured to filter at least one of dust, an organic particle, a crystal, or a solid particulate, from the reductant.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filter element is formed from at least one of: cotton or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the powder or particulates comprises a plurality of hydrophobic non-polar groups.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
changing the reductant filter in response to determining that the powder or particulates have provided the indication; and
removing at least some of the reductant from a reductant tank in response to determining that the powder or particulates have provided the indication.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising viewing the powder or particulates through a viewing portion in the at least one wall, the viewing portion being at least one of transparent or translucent.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing at least some of the reductant from a reductant tank in response to determining that the powder or particulates have provided the indication;
wherein the powder or particulates are configured to provide the indication in response to absorbing the hydrocarbon; and
wherein the indication is a change in color.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
viewing the powder or particulates through a viewing portion in the at least one wall, the viewing portion being at least one of transparent or translucent; and
changing the reductant filter in response to determining that the powder or particulates have provided the indication.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the indication is a change in color.
18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
viewing the powder or particulates through a viewing portion in the at least one wall, the viewing portion being at least one of transparent or translucent; and
removing at least some of the reductant from a reductant tank in response to determining that the powder or particulates have provided the indication.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the indication is a change in color.