TRAP FOR EXHAUST SYSTEM

• US 20100031645A1
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Surnilla, Gopichandra, Bidner, David Karl, Jahr, Ken O., Kerns, James Michael, Roth, John M., Clark, Timothy Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,464,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/309
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/02 by using resonance
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/023 Helmholtz resonators
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/20 a flow director or deflector
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/22 a condensation chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/005 for draining or otherwise eliminating condensates or moisture accumulating in the apparatus F01N3/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0807 by using absorbents or adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0842 Nitrogen oxides
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0207 changing valve lift or valve lift and timing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0219 by shifting the phase, i.e. the opening periods of the valves are constant
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/15 in relation to engine exhaust purifying apparatus

Abstract

A system for trapping liquid exhaust during a cold start of an internal combustion engine is provided. As one example, a system includes, an exhaust inlet, an exchange area fluidly coupled downstream of said exhaust inlet, a trap coupled to said exchange area having a liquid exhaust chamber for collection of liquid exhaust, and a catalytic converter fluidly coupled downstream to said exchange area. In another example, a method includes condensing, at least partly, exhaust from the engine in an exchange area in an exhaust system into liquid exhaust, collecting liquid exhaust into a trap disposed in the exchange area, and evaporating the liquid exhaust into the exchange area after an evaporation temperature is reached in the trap.

Claims

1. A system for trapping liquid exhaust during a cold start of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

an exhaust inlet;

an exchange area fluidly coupled downstream of said exhaust inlet;

a trap coupled to said exchange area having a liquid exhaust chamber for collection of liquid exhaust; and

a catalytic converter fluidly coupled downstream to said exchange area.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a baffle disposed between the exhaust inlet and the catalytic converter.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heater coupled to the trap.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the trap further includes a heat shield.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the trap further comprises a drain opening to the exchange area to passively receive liquid exhaust from the exchange area.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a portion of the exchange area is at least partially sloped to enable flow of the liquid exhaust into the trap.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the trap is a Helmholtz resonator.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an engine controller coupled to at least one of the said engine, said inlet, and said catalytic converter.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the catalytic converter includes a NO_x trap

10. A device for the trapping liquid exhaust during cold start, comprising:

a drain opening into an exchange area of an exhaust system; and

a chamber fluidly coupled to the drain, where the chamber is adapted to receive gravity dripped liquid exhaust from the exchange area.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising a passageway fluidly linking the drain and the chamber.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the passageway is adapted to enable evaporation of the liquid exhaust and release of the evaporated liquid exhaust into the exchange area.

13. The device of claim 10, further comprising a heat shield at least partially insulating the chamber.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the chamber is a Helmholtz resonator.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the chamber is bulbous.

16. A method of operating an internal combustion engine during cold start, comprising:

condensing, at least partly, exhaust from the engine in an exchange area in an exhaust system into liquid exhaust;

collecting liquid exhaust into a trap disposed in the exchange area; and

evaporating the liquid exhaust into the exchange area after an evaporation temperature is reached in the trap.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein evaporating the liquid exhaust is delayed until after the catalytic converter is at a light off condition.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising increasing the centrifugal action of the exhaust in the exchange area.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the exhaust is E85 exhaust.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising reducing and oxidizing the evaporated liquid exhaust in a catalytic converter.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the catalytic converter includes a NO_x trap.