Exhaust burner catalyst preheater

• US 5,339,630 A
• Filed: 08/28/1992
• Issued: 08/23/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Pettit, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hart, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US07/936,463
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 60/303, 60/286, 60/737, 60/748, 431/354, 431/158
• US Class Current: 60/303
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2033 using a fuel burner or introducing fuel into exhaust duct
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 9/00 Electrical control of exhaust gas treating apparatus monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus F01N11/00; conjoint electrical control of two or more combustion engine functions F02D43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 7/065 using gaseous or liquid fuel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A burner for heating an exhaust gas stream is disclosed having a combustor head with a fuel/air charge preparation apparatus comprising a fuel nozzle and dual vortex atomizer. The charge preparation apparatus is mounted on one side of a base member or partitioning member having an outlet through which the atomized fuel and air pass to a combustor chamber defined by a combustor tube fixed to a second side of the partition. The combustor tube has an ignitor and outlets for the burning fuel/air mixture. The outlets have flow directing louvers which function to direct the output in a predetermined direction to optimize mixing of the burner output with an exhaust gas stream. The combustor head is mounted through an opening in a housing which positions the combustor tube outlets in the exhaust stream.

Claims

1. A burner for heating an exhaust gas stream comprising a combustor head having a fuel/air charge preparation apparatus and a combustion chamber separated by a partition and operably connected through an opening in said partition, said charge preparation apparatus having means for the introduction of fuel and air and a dual vortex fuel/air mixing apparatus comprising a first vortex adjacent to and in communication with said fuel means having a series of vanes extending from the outer perimeter of said vortex to establish a series of orifices defining a centrally located vortex chamber, said series of vanes operable to direct pressurized air, from said air source through said series of orifices and into said vortex chamber to induce atomization of fuel introduced into said chamber by said fuel means, and a second vortex chamber, communicating with said first chamber through an opening extending therebetween and through which atomized fuel and air pass, said second vortex chamber having a series of vanes extending from the outer perimeter of said vortex to establish a series of orifices defining a centrally located vortex chamber, said series of vanes operable to direct pressurized air, from said air source through said series of orifices and into said vortex chamber to impart additional atomizing action to said fuel and air entering from said first vortex chamber through said opening, said second vortex chamber opening into said combustion chamber through said opening in said partition wherein said atomized fuel and air enter said combustion chamber, and ignition means in said combustion chamber operable to ignite said fuel and air entering said chamber through said opening in said partition, said combustion chamber having an outlet in communication with said exhaust stream for directing said burning fuel and air to mix therewith, said burner further comprising a burner housing having an exhaust gas inlet and outlet, and an opening located intermediate thereof, said opening having a mounting flange extending about the perimeter thereof, a corresponding mounting flange extending about said partition and engageable with said burner housing mounting flange to support said combustor head within said housing, and a burner air supply housing configured to sealingly cover said fuel/air charge preparation apparatus for supply of air to said first and second vortex, and to said exhaust gas stream, said air supply housing having a sealing flange extending thereabout and configured to engage said burner housing mounting flange and said partition mounting flange to fix said combustor head and said burner housing relative to one another, said burner further comprising a dilution air manifold extending into said exhaust gas stream and having a series of openings for release of dilution air into said stream, said dilution air manifold having an inlet end in communication with a through-hole in said partition mounting flange to facilitate the flow of air from said air supply housing to said manifold.

2. A burner for heating an exhaust gas stream comprising a combustor head having means for the introduction of fuel and air thereto, a combustor chamber defined by an elongated tubular member having a first end in communication with said fuel and air means, a combustion chamber having ignition means operable to ignite said fuel and air, and a second end having a series of outlets configured to direct burner output from said combusted fuel and air out of said combustor tube, said outlets having flow directing louvers operable to impart a predetermined flow direction to said burner output.

3. A burner for heating an exhaust gas stream comprising a combustor head having means for the introduction of fuel and air thereto, a combustor chamber defined by an elongated tubular member having a first end in communication with said fuel and air means, a combustion chamber having ignition means operable to ignite said fuel and air, and a second end having a series of outlets configured to direct burner output from said combusted fuel and air out of said combustor tube, said outlets having flow directing louvers operable to impart a predetermined flow direction to said burner output, said burner further comprising a housing having an exhaust gas inlet and outlet, and an opening located intermediate thereof, said opening having means for mounting said combustor head within said housing.