SCR FLUID DISTRIBUTION AND CIRCULATION SYSTEM
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A fluid distribution module for use with a liquid storage tank, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A fluid pump assembly for use with a fluid distribution module, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of purging an SCR system, comprising the steps of:
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(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). - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification