Exhaust gas purification system

• US 20020134074A1
• Filed: 12/18/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Purem Abgassysteme GMBH & Co. KG. (Eberspacher Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Purem Abgassysteme GMBH & Co. KG. (Eberspacher Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Huthwohl, Georg, Funk, Alexander, Maurer, Bernd
• Granted Patent: US 6,739,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/286
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/9431 Processes characterised by a specific device
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/9495 Controlling the catalytic process
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2330/04 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/02 the substance being ammonia or urea
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/06 the substance being in the gaseous form
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1406 Storage means for substances, e.g. tanks or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2066 Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

An exhaust gas purification system for denoxing exhaust gases of a combustion unit on an SCR catalyst 2 utilizing ammonia (NH₃) additionally introduced into the exhaust gas flow before the SCR catalyst 2, comprising at least one reducing agent container 4, in which the NH₃ (5) to be supplied to the exhaust gas flow is stored, which container 4 is connected via a supply line 7 with the exhaust gas line 1, and is adapted so that at least one reducing agent container 4 is held in a docking device 15 as a portion of the exhaust gas purification system 3 and, via coupling means 20, 21, is connected with the supply line 7. Of coupling 20, 22 one coupling part 22 is associated with the docking device 15 and the other coupling part 20 with the container 4, so that both coupling parts 20, 22 can be engaged with one another via an axial movement directed toward one another. The docking device 15 and the at least one container 4 comprise cooperating guide means 21, 26, 27, 28 through which the container 4 under guidance can be brought into its specified position for joining the two coupling parts 20, 22.

Claims

1. An exhaust gas purification system for denoxing exhaust gases of an internal combustion unit on an SCR catalyst (2) using ammonia (NH₃) additionally introduced into the exhaust gas flow before an SCR catalyst (2), comprising at least one reducing agent container (4), in which the NH₃ (5) to be supplied to the exhaust gas flow is stored, which container (4) is connected via a supply line (7) to the exhaust gas line (1), wherein said container (4) is held in a docking device (15) as a portion of the exhaust gas purification system (3) and, via coupling means (20, 21), is connected with the supply line (7), of which coupling means (20, 21) one coupling part (22) is associated with the docking device (15) and the other coupling part (20) with said container (4), wherein both coupling parts (20, 22) can be engaged with one another by an axial movement directed toward one another, and the docking device (15) and said container(s) (4) comprise cooperating guide means (21, 26, 27, 28), through which said container(s) (4) can be brought into its specified position under guidance for joining the two coupling parts (20, 22).

2. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling part (22), associated with the docking device (15), is fastened on the docking device (15) with the decoupling of stresses.

3. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide means (21, 26, 27, 28) are adapted for placing the two coupling parts (20, 22) into engagement with one another, so that apart from the axial movement directed toward one another of the two coupling parts (20, 22), a rotational movement of the two coupling parts (20, 22) relative to one another can also be carried out.

4. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said guide means (21, 26, 27, 28) comprise a bayonet lock, wherein said container (4) is associated with an annular body (21), concentrically encircling the coupling part (20) associated with the said container (4), and further comprises at least one bayonet groove (28) and said docking device (15) is associated with an annular body (26), concentrically encircling the coupling part (22) associated with said docking device (15), and further comprises a number of guide pins (27) corresponding to the number of bayonet grooves (28).

5. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container (4) comprises a cylindrical shell and one coupling part (20) is disposed at the head end of said container (4), while at the foot end of said container, handle means (17) is disposed for handling said container (4) during its introduction into said docking device (15) and during the engaging of the two coupling parts (20, 22).

6. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means handle (17) comprise a ring encircling the base (B) at said foot and said container (4), with grip openings (G) included therein.

7. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said docking device (15) comprises guide rods (F) upon which said container (4) can be brought into its specified position and upon which the said container (4) rests.

8. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said container (4) is guided by four guide rods (F).

9. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said docking device (15) comprises a locking device (V) associated with each container (4), with which the said container (4) set into said docking device (15) is securely held in place.

10. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said locking device (V) comprises means (29) which form-fittingly extend into the openings associated with said container (4), in order to permit the locking of said locking device (V) only when the container (4) associated with that locking device (V) is in its specified position.

11. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein said locking device serves a locking arm pivotably articulated on said docking device (15).

12. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said exhaust gas purification system is adapted to remove NH₃ in its gaseous phase from the said container, and a heat source is associated with the reduction container, and adapted such that only a subregion of said container or of its contents is heatable by the heat source.

13. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said heat source is adapted to heat the contents of the said container free of contact therewith.

14. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 13, wherein with the said container a heat source for emitting high-emitting high-energy radiation is associated, which is adapted such that only a subregion of said container is located within the radiation emitted by said heat source.

15. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said heat source for emitting high-energy radiation comprises a source of IR radiation.

16. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said heat source compromises a transmitter for emitting microwave radiation as the high-energy radiation.

17. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the region heated by the heat source, of said container or of its contents, is disposed in its furthest reaches.

18. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in one of claims 1, 12, 13, or 17 wherein said exhaust gas purification system (3) is operatively connected to remove NH₃ in its liquid phase from said container (4), and that with the said container (4) removal means (6) are associated for removing liquid NH₃, and succeeding said removal means (6) in the direction of flow of the NH₃ into the supply line (7) is connected a metering device (8), and succeeding said metering device (8) is connected a vaporizer (10), which two elements are a portion of said docking device before the supply line (7) ends in the exhaust gas line (1).

19. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said metering device comprises a metering valve (8).

20. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein at the output of said vaporizer (10) is disposed a means (11) for hindering or preventing the escape of liquid NH₃ from said vaporizer (10).

21. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said means for preventing the escape of liquid NH₃ from the vaporizer comprises a float valve (11).

22. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said float valve (11) is connected a sensor for detecting the position of the float there.

23. The exhaust gas purification system as claimed in claims 18 or 20, wherein an air supply device (12) for supplying air into the supply line (7) succeeds said vaporizer (10).

24. Means for holding at least one reducing agent container (4) in the frame of a container changing system and connecting it to an exhaust gas purification system (3) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means form a docking device (15) and comprises a coupling device, of which coupling device one coupling part (22) is associated with said docking device (15) and the other coupling part (20) is associated with the said container (4) held in said docking device (15), wherein both coupling parts (20, 22) can be engaged with one another, and said docking device (15) and said container (4) comprise cooperating guide means (21, 26, 27, 28), through which said container (4) can be brought into its specified position under guidance for joining the two coupling parts (20, 22).

25. A reducing agent container for ammonia (NH₃) for application in an exhaust gas purification system (3) as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container (4) comprises a cylindrical shell and the one coupling part (20) is disposed on the head end of the said container (4), while at the foot end of said container handle means (17) are disposed for handling said container (4) for insertion into a docking device (15) and during the engaging of the two coupling parts (20, 22).

26. The container as claimed in claim 25, wherein said handle means (17) comprise a ring encircling the base (B) of said container (4), with grip openings (G) introduced therein.

27. The container as claimed in claim 25 or 26, wherein the outer surface of said container is blackened in the region of a local heating site, heated by a heat source.

28. The container as claimed in claim 25 wherein the inner surface in the region of a local heating site, heated by a heat source, of said container is equipped with means which promote the formation of vapor bubbles.

29. The container as claimed in claim 28, wherein the inner surface in the region of the local heating site of said container is roughened.

30. The container as claimed in claim 25, wherein said handle means are produced of a material having low thermal conductivity.