System for storing an additive solution and injecting it into the exhaust gases of an engine

• US 20100199648A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme) (Solvac SA)
• Original Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme) (Solvac SA)
• Inventors: Dougnier, Francois, Tipton, Larry, Op De Beeck, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 8,424,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/303
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/02 the substance being ammonia or urea
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/10 the substance being heated, e.g. by heating tank or supply line of the added substance
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/14 Arrangements for the supply of substances, e.g. conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1406 Storage means for substances, e.g. tanks or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1473 Overflow or return means for the substances, e.g. conduits or valves for the return path
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1493 Purging the reducing agent out of the conduits or nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2066 Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/36 Arrangements for supply of additional fuel
• 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

Abstract

System for storing an additive solution and injecting it into the exhaust gases of an engine, said system comprising two tanks for storing the solution and one pump for supplying the solution from these tanks to an injection line, these two tanks being in parallel and each being connected to the pump by a branch of a supply line, the branch (I) coming from the first tank (1) giving rise to lower pressure drops than the branch (II) coming from the other tank (2) so that the solution is normally withdrawn mainly from tank (1) and is withdrawn from tank (2), and only from the latter, when tank (1) is non-operational.

Claims

1. - A system for storing an additive solution and injecting it into the exhaust gases of an engine, said system comprising two tanks for storing the solution and one pump for supplying the solution from these tanks to an injection line, these two tanks being in parallel and each being connected to the pump by a branch of a supply line, wherein the branch (I) coming from the first tank (1) gives rise to lower pressure drops than the branch (II) coming from the other tank (2) so that the solution is normally withdrawn mainly from tank (1) and is withdrawn from tank (2), and only from the latter, when tank (1) is non-operational.

2. - The system according to claim 1, wherein tank (2) is a tank located outside of the volume of tank (1), wherein tank (2) has a smaller volume than tank (1), wherein tank (2) is located at a level above that of tank (1), and in that it wherein tank (2) comprises a fill pipe or opening and also an overflow line that opens into tank (1) and is of suitable location and geometry so that tank (1) is able to be filled by the overflowing of tank (2).

3. - The system according to claim 1, wherein tank (2) is located inside tank (1) and constitutes a reserve for the latter.

4. - The system according to claim 2, wherein the tank (2) is equipped with a heating device.

5. - The system according to claim 1, wherein the branches (I) and (II) are made up of sections of substantially cylindrical lines of different diameters.

6. - The system according to claim 5, wherein both branches (I, II) are connected to the pump by a common section and wherein the system comprises at least one non-return device in branch (I).

7. - The system according to claim 6, wherein the non-return device is a valve combined with a float that opens branch (I) as long as there is some additive solution in tank (1), and closes branch (I) when tank (1) is empty.

8. - The system according to claim 1, comprising a purge device and a non-return device in branch (II) in order to prevent liquid from returning to the system once the latter has been purged.

9. - The system according to claim 1, comprising a return line equipped with a non-return device.

10. - The system according to claim 1, wherein the pump is a rotary pump driven by a motor controlled by a controller comprising a Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID), regulator and a motor rotational speed controller, and wherein when branch (I) becomes non-operational and when the solution is supplied by branch (II) only, the controller is capable of adjusting the rotational speed of the motor so that the amount of solution fed into the exhaust gases is sufficient despite the higher pressure drops.