SCR FLUID DISTRIBUTION AND CIRCULATION SYSTEM

• US 20130000743A1
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems LLC
• Inventors: Crary, Lynwood F.
• Application Number:
  US13/528,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20130000743A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/15.04
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/02 the substance being ammonia or urea
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1406 Storage means for substances, e.g. tanks or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1433 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/144 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1466 Means for venting air out of conduits or tanks
• 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: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0419 Fluid cleaning or flushing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85978 With pump

Abstract

A selective catalytic reduction system includes a fluid distribution system for supplying an exhaust gas reducing agent. The system includes a liquid storage tank and a fluid distribution module with a fluid pump that draws liquid reducing agent from the tank volume and provides the liquid at a module outlet port, while simultaneously discharging excess liquid from a circulation line outlet within the tank volume. The circulation line outlet can be located at a bottom portion of the tank volume near other distribution module components to promote liquid circulation around the module components during a fluid distribution period, to promote thawing of frozen reducing agent at and around the module components, and to ensure a continuous supply of liquid to the fluid pump. The distribution module is also capable of purging liquid from fluid lines located outside the storage tank and returning the purged liquid to the tank volume.

Claims

1. A fluid distribution module for use with a liquid storage tank, comprising:

a fluid pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, the pump inlet being configured to receive liquid from a bottom portion of an inner tank volume of the liquid storage tank, and the pump outlet being fluidly connected to a module outlet port;

a circulation line having an outlet for discharging fluid from the distribution module and into the tank volume, the circulation line outlet being located at the bottom portion of the tank volume and being fluidly connected to one of the pump outlet or a module inlet port; and

a circulation valve operable to prevent fluid flow from the tank volume to the circulation line, wherein the fluid distribution module is attached to the storage tank at a module opening formed in the storage tank.

2. The fluid distribution module of claim 1, further comprising:

a module inlet port fluidly connected to the circulation line; and

a purge vent line fluidly connecting a purge gas source to the circulation line at a location along the circulation line between the circulation valve and the module inlet port.

3. The fluid distribution module of claim 1, further comprising:

a second circulation line having an second outlet for discharging fluid from the distribution module and into the tank volume, the second circulation line being fluidly connected to the other of the pump outlet or a module inlet port; and

a second circulation valve operable to prevent fluid flow form the tank volume to the second circulation line.

4. The fluid distribution module of claim 3, wherein each of the circulation line outlets discharge fluid from the distribution module in a different direction.

5. The fluid distribution module of claim 1, wherein the circulation line is fluidly connected to the pump outlet.

6. The fluid distribution module of claim 1, further comprising a purge vent line fluidly connecting a purge gas source to the pump inlet via a valve that selectively allows fluid flow from the purge gas source to the pump inlet.

7. The fluid distribution module of claim 1, further comprising a valve manifold attached to the fluid pump, the valve manifold having at least one valve operable to alternate between an open position and a closed position when the fluid distribution system alternates between a fluid distribution period and a purge period.

8. The fluid distribution module of claim 7, wherein the valve manifold comprises:

an inlet valve that opens during the fluid distribution period to allow fluid flow from the tank volume to the pump inlet and closes during the purge period; and

a purge valve that opens during the purge period to allow fluid flow from the pump inlet to the tank volume and closes during the distribution period.

9. A fluid pump assembly for use with a fluid distribution module, comprising:

a fluid pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet;

a valve manifold including a manifold housing attached to the fluid pump so that the pump inlet and outlet are covered by the manifold housing;

an inlet line and a purge line formed in the manifold housing and fluidly connected with each other and with the pump inlet;

an inlet valve that is operable to prevent fluid flow from the pump inlet through the inlet line; and

a purge valve that is operable to prevent fluid flow to the pump inlet from the purge line, wherein at least one of the valves is in physical contact with the manifold housing.

10. The fluid pump assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

an outlet cavity formed in the manifold housing and fluidly connected to the pump outlet, the outlet cavity being configured for fluid connection to an outlet port of the fluid distribution module.

11. The fluid pump assembly of claim 10, wherein the outlet cavity is configured for fluid connection to a circulation line outlet.

12. The fluid pump assembly of claim 11, further comprising a circulation valve that is operable to prevent fluid flow from the circulation line outlet to the outlet cavity.

13. A method of purging an SCR system, comprising the steps of:

(a) pumping reducing agent from an inner tank volume of a liquid storage tank through a device supply line and toward a device that uses at least some of the reducing agent, the device supply line being located at least partly outside the storage tank;

(b) pumping excess reducing agent into the inner tank volume during step (a) through a circulation line fluidly connected to the device supply line;

(c) subsequently pumping reducing agent from the device supply line to the inner volume of the storage tank through an outlet immersed in reducing agent; and

(d) causing a purge gas to flow through the device supply line in the same direction as the reducing agent during step (c).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein step (c) comprises:

pumping the reducing agent through the device supply line in the opposite direction than in step (a); and

closing a circulation valve to prevent reducing agent from entering the circulation line from the inner tank volume.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said device is in an open position during step (c) so that the purge gas enters the device supply line through the device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

pumping the excess reducing agent through a return line and away from the device during step (b), the return line being located at least partly outside the storage tank;

placing said device into a closed position and opening a vent valve to allow the purge gas to flow into and through the return line during step (c).

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the purge gas flows through a vent gas inlet located inside the storage tank.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein step (c) comprises opening a vent valve and pumping the purge gas through the device supply line in the same direction as the reducing agent flows in step (a).