AMMONIA GENERATING DEVICE

• US 20130327020A1
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faurecia Systemes D'Echappement (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Systemes D'Echappement (Faurecia SA)
• Inventors: Bartolo, Xavier, Gafforelli, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,869,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/274
• 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 2610/10 the substance being heated, e.g. by heating tank or supply line of the added substance
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/107 using glow plug heating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1406 Storage means for substances, e.g. tanks or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/08 for rendering innocuous using electric or electrostatic separators F01N3/01; chemical aspects B01D53/92
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2066 Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8376 Combined

Abstract

An ammonia generating device is used for the treatment of exhaust gases of internal combustion engines, particularly for motor vehicles. The device includes a tank having a body capable of releasing ammonia by desorption. The device is also provided with a first single connection member comprising an electrical connection to supply the device with electricity and a fluid connection to allow evacuation of the ammonia produced following the desorption reaction.

Claims

1. An ammonia generating device to be used for the treatment of exhaust gases of internal combustion engines, particularly for motor vehicles, comprising:

a tank having a body capable of releasing ammonia by desorption; and

a first single connection member comprising an electrical connection to supply the ammonia generating device with electricity and a fluid connection to allow evacuation of the ammonia produced following the desorption reaction.

2. The device according to claim 1, including a heating device disposed within the tank to heat the body in the tank and to thereby induce the desorption reaction.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the body that is capable of releasing ammonia is in a form of flat discs whose exterior diameter has a shape that is complementary to an interior wall of the tank.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the tank is disposed within a protective receptacle.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein dimensions of the protective receptacle are greater than dimensions of the tank such that a space is left between at least one wall of the tank and at least one wall of the protective receptacle.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the space is filled with an insulating foam to reduce a transfer of heat between walls of the tank and walls of the protective receptacle.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the protective receptacle comprises a discharge channel communicating with the space extending between the tank and the protective receptacle and adapted to evacuate the ammonia present in the space.

8. The device according to claim 1, including at least one gripping handle.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first single connection member is capable of cooperating with a second single connection member connected to an electrical power supply as well as to an exhaust line of an engine, said second single connection member comprising an electrical connection and a fluid connection, and wherein the engagement of the first and the second single connection members causes the engagement with one another of the electrical connection and the fluid connection belonging respectively to the first and second single connection members.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the first single connection member and the second single connection member are assembled by a locking/unlocking system to be controlled by a user.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the first single connection member and the second single connection member are assembled by of a locking/unlocking system, with a maneuvering of a gripping handle actuating the locking/unlocking system.

12. The device according to claim 1, including a memory element that is read/write accessible to obtain information and details specific to the ammonia generating device and wherein the memory element comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip.

13. A motor vehicle comprising:

an ammonia generating device to be used for the treatment of exhaust gases of internal combustion engines, the ammonia generating device including a tank having a body capable of releasing ammonia by desorption, and a first single connection member comprising an electrical connection to supply the ammonia generating device with electricity and a fluid connection to allow evacuation of the ammonia produced following the desorption reaction.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, including a locking mechanism designed for ensuring that the ammonia generating device is maintained in position in a housing mounted in the vehicle.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a lever controlling engagement of first and second single connection members in a manner to enable the engagement with one another of the electrical connection and the fluid connection belonging respectively to the first and second single connection members.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the lever controls the movement of pins intended to cooperate with openings provided in a wall of the ammonia generating device.

17. A method for operating an ammonia generating device disposed in a motor vehicle, the ammonia generating device including a tank having a body capable of releasing ammonia by desorption and a first single connection member comprising an electrical connection to supply the ammonia generating device with electricity and a fluid connection to allow evacuation of the ammonia produced following the desorption reaction, and wherein the first single connection member is capable of cooperating with a second single connection member connected to an electrical power supply as well as to an exhaust line of an engine, said second single connection member comprising an electrical connection and a fluid connection, and wherein the engagement of the first and the second single connection members causes the engagement with one another of the electrical connection and the fluid connection belonging respectively to the first and second single connection members, the method comprising the steps of:

in the course of a given step the first single connection member is disconnected from the second member single connection to allow removal of the ammonia generating device from the vehicle; and

in the course of a further step, the first single connection member is connected to the second single connection member to enable the engagement with one another of the electrical connection and the fluid connection belonging respectively to the first and second single connection members.