Emission control system with controlled induction heating and methods for use therewith

• US 10,267,193 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2016
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Technology Emission Solutions Inc
• Original Assignee: Advanced Technology Emission Solutions Inc
• Inventors: Crawford, Robin, Douglas, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthias, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US15/343,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20170145886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2900/1602 Temperature of exhaust gas apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0892 Electric or magnetic treatment, e.g. dissociation of noxious components electric filters F01N3/01; regeneration of exhaust filters F01N3/023; heating catalytic converters F01N3/2006
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2013 using electric or magnetic heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 9/00 Electrical control of exhaust gas treating apparatus monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus F01N11/00; conjoint electrical control of two or more combustion engine functions F02D43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/108 for heating a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/365 using supplementary conductive or ferromagnetic pieces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a emission control system that includes a emission control substrate having a plurality of passages to facilitate at least one catalytic reaction in an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine. A magnetic field generator responds to a control signal by generating a magnetic field to inductively heat the emission control substrate. A magnetic shield is configured to direct at least a portion of the magnetic field to the emission control substrate. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. An emission control system comprising:

an emission control substrate having a plurality of passages to facilitate at least one catalytic reaction in an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine; and

a magnetic field generator that responds to a control signal by generating an magnetic field to inductively heat the emission control substrate, wherein the magnetic field generator includes;

at least one coil that radiates the magnetic field;

an oscillator configured to generate a power signal;

a power amplifier configured to amplify the power signal to generate an amplified power signal at an output of the power amplifier to drive the coil;

an impedance matching network configured to impedance match the output of the power amplifier to the at least one coil, wherein the impedance matching network includes a plurality of reactive impedances; and

a controller configured to adjust an impedance of the impedance matching network by adjusting an impedance of at least one of the plurality of reactive impedances to improve power transfer to the coil.

2. The emission control system of claim 1 wherein the controller further adjusts a frequency of the power signal to improve power transfer.

3. The emission control system of claim 2 wherein the controller monitors a coil current and adjusts the frequency of the power signal based on the coil current.

4. The emission control system of claim 1 wherein the controller further adjusts an amplitude of the amplifier power signal in response to the control signal.

5. The emission control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of reactive impedances is configured in a Pi-network or L-network configuration.

6. The emission control system of claim 5 wherein the controller monitors a coil current and adjusts the impedance of the impedance matching network based on the coil current.

7. The emission control system of claim 1 further comprising a magnetic shield configured to direct at least a portion of the magnetic field to the emission control substrate.

8. The emission control system of claim 1 wherein the at least one coil includes a plurality of coils and wherein the emission control system includes a controller that activates selected ones of the plurality of coils in response to the control signal.