Method and arrangement for controlling exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine

• US 5,950,420 A
• Filed: 08/20/1997
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Geiger, Istvan
• Primary Examiner(s): ARGENBRIGHT, TONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/914,976
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 60/274, 60/278, 60/279, 60/286, 60/303, 60/311
• US Class Current: 60/274
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/023 using means for regenerating the filters, e.g. by burning trapped particles by electrically controlling the supply of combustible mixture or its constituents only F02D41/0235
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0233 periodically cleaning filter by blowing a gas through the filter in a direction opposite to exhaust flow, e.g. exposing filter to engine air intake
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/025 using fuel burner or by adding fuel to exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 5/02 the devices using heat
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 9/002 of filter regeneration, e.g. detection of clogging
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/00 Engines characterised by provision of pumps driven at least for part of the time by exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/05 High pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust system upstream of the turbine and reintroduced into the intake system downstream of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An internal combustion engine has a particle filter in an exhaust gas line for filtering solid particles contained in the exhaust gas, and includes a supplementary burner to which the solid particles are supplied from the filter and in which the particles are burned. The combustion gases from the supplementary burner are introduced into the air intake line for the engine, permitting a reduction in solid particles emitted into the environment when the NO_x. content of the exhaust gases is reduced.

Claims

1. A method for controlling exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine having a particle filter in an exhaust gas line from the internal combustion engine for filtering solid particles contained in the exhaust gas comprising:

supplying solid particles from the filter to a supplementary burner in which the particles are burned;

transmitting combustion gases from the supplementary burner into an air intake line for the internal combustion engine; and

introducing the combustion gases from the supplementary burner into the air intake line at a location downstream of an airflow meter with respect to the direction of flow of the fresh air in the air intake line.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the engine includes an exhaust gas turbocharger having a turbine in the exhaust gas line and a compressor in the air intake line and including the step of:

introducing the combustion gases from the supplementary burner into the air intake line at a location upstream of the compressor in the direction of flow of the fresh air in the air intake line.

3. A method according to claim 1 including the step of:

recirculating some of the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine from the exhaust gas line into the air intake line through a valve and an exhaust gas recirculation line.

4. A method according to claim 1 including the step of:

conveying particles from the particle filter to the supplementary burner by an air stream.

5. A method according to claim 1 including the step of:

supplying particles from the filter to the supplementary burner when a predetermined particle content in the particle filter is exceeded.

6. A method according to claim 1 including the step of:

turning on the supplementary burner when the particles from the particle filter are supplied to the supplementary burner.

7. A method according to claim 1 including the step of:

utilizing the heat energy released as a result of the combustion of the particles for heating a vehicle interior.

8. A method according to claim 1 including the step of:

utilizing the heat energy released as a result of the combustion of the particles for heating the internal combustion engine or for increasing the operating temperature of the internal combustion engine.

9. An arrangement for controlling exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine comprising:

an internal combustion engine having an air intake line and an exhaust line;

a particle filter in the exhaust gas line for filtering solid particles contained in exhaust gases;

a supplementary burner for burning solid particles supplied from the filter;

a combustion gas line for conveying combustion gases from the supplementary burner for transmittal to the air intake line; and

an airflow meter in the air intake line;

wherein combustion gases from the supplementary burner are introduced into the air intake line at a location downstream of the airflow meter in the direction of flow of the fresh air in the air intake line.

10. An arrangement according to claim 9 including an exhaust gas turbocharger having a turbine in the exhaust line and a compressor in the air intake line and wherein combustion gases from the supplementary burner are introduced into the air intake line upstream of the compressor in the direction of flow of the fresh air in the air intake line.

11. An arrangement according to claim 9 including an exhaust gas recirculation line and a valve for recirculating some of the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine from the exhaust gas line into the air intake line.

12. An arrangement according to claim 9 wherein the internal combustion engine is a compression ignition engine.

13. An arrangement according to claim 9 wherein, when a predetermined particle content in the particle filter is exceeded, the particles are supplied to the supplementary burner.

14. An arrangement according to claim 9 wherein the supplementary burner is turned on and off as a function of the quantity of particles supplied to the burner from the particle filter.

15. An arrangement according to claim 9 wherein the particles are conveyed by an air stream from the particle filter to the supplementary burner.

16. An arrangement for controlling exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine comprising:

an internal combustion engine having an air intake line and an exhaust line;

a particle filter in the exhaust gas line for filtering solid particles contained in exhaust gases;

a supplementary burner for burning solid particles supplied from the filter;

a combustion gas line for conveying combustion gases from the supplementary burner for transmittal to the air intake line; and

a Venturi tube for drawing combustion gases from the supplementary burner into the air intake line.