Ejector pump enhanced high pressure EGR system

• US 5,611,203 A
• Filed: 10/17/1995
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cummins Engine IP Inc (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cummins Engine Company Incorporated (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sudhakar, Van, Henderson, Gregory H.
• Primary Examiner(s): KOCZO JR, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/544,148
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 60/605.2, 123/568, 417/198
• US Class Current: 60/605.2
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/06 Low pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust downstream of the turbocharger turbine and reintroduced into the intake system upstream of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/08 for engines having two or more intake charge compressors or exhaust gas turbines, e.g. a turbocharger combined with an additional compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/10 having means to increase the pressure difference between the exhaust and intake system, e.g. venturis, variable geometry turbines, check valves using pressure pulsations or throttles in the air intake or exhaust system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/19 Means for improving the mixing of air and recirculated exhaust gases, e.g. venturis or multiple openings to the intake system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/36 with means for adding fluids other than exhaust gas to the recirculation passage; with reformers
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/43 in which exhaust from only one cylinder or only a group of cylinders is directed to the intake of the engine

Abstract

An exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine by which a portion of exhaust gases produced by the engine is recirculated from an exhaust line of the engine into an intake line of the engine introduces the EGR exhaust gas flow into the intake passageway via a mixer ejector which is provided with mixer lobes and a diffuser downstream of the lobes. The mixer ejector enhances the momentum transfer from the intake flow to the exhaust flow, and in this way, the static pressure of the exhaust flow at the entrance to the mixing region is decreased, thereby increasing the differential pressure across the EGR tube and increasing the exhaust flow. In a second embodiment, in addition to, or instead of, using the special ejector construction of the first embodiment, an ejector pump is located in the EGR tube. The ejector in the EGR tube is connected to the vehicle air system compressor or turbocompressor and serves to pump the exhaust gases to the engine intake passageway. This embodiment enables a more precise controlling of the EGR rate to be obtained, and can provide more EGR flow that which could be obtained with an intake ejector or venturi alone.

Claims

1. An exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine by which a portion of exhaust gases produced by the engine is recirculated from an exhaust line of the engine into an intake line of the engine, said exhaust gas recirculation system comprising an exhaust gas recirculation line connecting the exhaust line of the engine to the intake line of the engine, a pressure differential means for drawing a secondary flow from said recirculation line into a primary flow in said intake line, and an ejector connected to a source of high pressure air, said ejector having a discharge end disposed in said recirculation line.

2. An exhaust gas recirculation system according to claim 1, wherein said pressure differential means comprises a venturi in said intake line.

3. An exhaust gas recirculation system according to claim 2, wherein said ejector is a lobed mixer type ejector which mixes exhaust gas in said exhaust gas recirculation line with air from said source of high pressure air upstream of a diffuser section of the exhaust gas recirculation line.

4. An exhaust gas recirculation system according to claim 1, wherein said pressure differential means comprises a second ejector, said second ejector extending into said intake line.

5. An exhaust gas recirculation system according to claim 4, wherein said second ejector is a lobed mixer type ejector which mixes said secondary flow from said exhaust gas recirculation line with said primary flow in a portion of said intake line located upstream of a diffuser section of the intake line.

6. An exhaust gas recirculation system according to claim 1, wherein said ejector is a lobed mixer type ejector which mixes exhaust gas in said exhaust gas recirculation line with air from said source of high pressure air upstream of a diffuser section of the exhaust gas recirculation line.

7. An exhaust gas recirculation system according to claim 6, wherein said source of high pressure air is a compressor of an exhaust gas powered turbocharger having at least one turbine, said exhaust line being connected to said at least one turbine downstream of said exhaust gas recirculation line, and said exhaust gas recirculation line being connected to the intake line downstream of said compressor.

8. An exhaust gas recirculation system according to claim 1, wherein said source of high pressure air is a compressor of an exhaust gas powered turbocharger having at least one turbine, said exhaust line being connected to said at least one turbine downstream of said exhaust gas recirculation line, and said exhaust gas recirculation line being connected to the intake line downstream of said compressor.