CATALYST ASSEMBLY WITH SENSING ADAPTER SYSTEM

• US 20160237874A1
• Filed: 02/12/2015
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lavalle, Joshua James, Spaulding, Dennis John
• Application Number:
  US14/621,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20160237874A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/008 Mounting or arrangement of exhaust sensors in or on exhaust apparatus sensor arrangements for engine control F02D41/1439
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2560/025 for measuring or detecting O2, e.g. lambda sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/101 Three-way catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/086 Sensor arrangements in the exhaust, e.g. for temperature, misfire, air/fuel ratio, oxygen sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A system includes a cylindrical portion coupled to a conically-shaped outlet portion of a three-way catalyst assembly. The cylindrical portion is coupled to the conically shaped outlet portion along a fluid flow path exiting the conically-shaped outlet portion. The cylindrical portion is coupled to a narrower end of the conically-shaped outlet portion. At least one oxygen sensor connection is disposed on the cylindrical portion to enable an oxygen sensor coupled to the at least one oxygen sensor connection to be disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion.

Claims

1. A catalyst assembly configured to mount along an exhaust flow path of a reciprocating combustion engine, comprising:

a housing having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, a central portion disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion and configured to house one or more catalyst elements, and a flow path through the inlet portion, the central portion, and the outlet portion, wherein the outlet portion has a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the central portion, and the outlet portion comprises a first annular wall having a first diameter that decreases from the first end to the second end;

a cylindrical portion coupled to and extending from the second end of the outlet; and

at least one oxygen sensor connection disposed on the cylindrical portion to enable an oxygen sensor coupled to the at least one oxygen sensor connection to be disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion.

2. The catalyst assembly of claim 1, wherein the first annular wall of the outlet portion comprises a conical wall.

3. The catalyst assembly of claim 1, wherein the central portion has a cross sectional area, the at least one oxygen sensor has a second diameter, and the ratio of the cross sectional area to the second diameter is 16.4:

1 m²/m to approximately 65.7;

1 m²/m.

4. The catalyst assembly of claim 1, comprising the at least one oxygen sensor.

5. The catalyst assembly of claim 1, wherein the outlet portion and the cylindrical portion form a single piece.

6. The catalyst assembly of claim 1, wherein the outlet portion and the cylindrical portion comprise separate pieces.

7. The catalyst assembly of claim 6, wherein the outlet portion and the cylindrical portion are permanently coupled.

8. The catalyst assembly of claim 6, wherein the cylindrical portion has a diameter and the ratio of the diameter and the second diameter is approximately 19.7:

1 to 34.5;

1.

11. The catalyst assembly of claim 1, wherein the catalyst assembly comprises a three-way catalyst assembly.

9. The catalyst assembly of 1, wherein the cylindrical portion comprises a second annular wall, and the at least one oxygen sensor connection is disposed along an upper half of the second annular wall.

10. The catalyst assembly of 1, comprising at least one additional non-oxygen sensor connection disposed on the cylindrical portion to enable the non-oxygen sensor coupled to the at least one non-oxygen sensor connection to be disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion.

12. A system, comprising:

a cylindrical portion configured to be coupled to a conically-shaped outlet portion of a three-way catalyst assembly along a fluid flow path exiting the conically-shaped outlet portion, wherein the cylindrical portion is configured to be coupled to a narrower end of the conically-shaped outlet portion; and

at least one oxygen sensor connection disposed on the cylindrical portion to enable an oxygen sensor coupled to the at least one oxygen sensor connection to be disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion.

13. The system of claim 12, comprising the three-way catalyst.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the three-way catalyst comprises an inlet portion and a central portion disposed between the inlet portion and the conically-shaped outlet portion, and wherein the central portion has a wider end of the conically-shaped outlet portion having a cross-sectional area, and the at least one oxygen sensor has a second diameter, and the ratio of the cross-sectional area to the second diameter is 16.4:

1 m²/m to approximately 65.7;

1 m²/m.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the cylindrical portion has a diameter, and the ratio of the diameter to the second diameter is approximately 19.7:

1 to 34.5;

1.

15. The system of 12, wherein the cylindrical portion comprises an annular wall, and the at least one oxygen sensor connection is disposed along an upper half of the annular wall.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the cylindrical portion comprises at least one non-oxygen sensor connection disposed along the upper half of the annular wall.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the cylindrical portion comprises two oxygen sensor connections and two non-oxygen sensor connections disposed along the upper half of the annular wall.

19. A catalyst assembly configured to mount along an exhaust flow path of a reciprocating combustion engine, comprising:

a housing having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, a central portion disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion and configured to house one or more catalyst elements, and a flow path through the inlet portion, the central portion, and the outlet portion, wherein the outlet portion has a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the central portion, and the outlet portion comprises a conical wall having a first diameter that decreases from the first end to the second end;

a cylindrical portion coupled to and extending from the second end of the outlet; and

at least one oxygen sensor connection disposed on the cylindrical portion to enable an oxygen sensor coupled to the at least one oxygen sensor connection to be disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion, wherein the central portion has a cross-sectional area adjacent the first end of the outlet portion, the at least one oxygen sensor has a second diameter, and the ratio of the cross sectional area to second diameter is 16.4;

1 m²/m to approximately 65.7;

1 m²/m.

20. The catalyst assembly of claim 19, wherein the catalyst assembly comprises a three-way catalyst.