Recharge device and method for NH3 cartridge

• US 9,021,790 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2011
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Boyd, George D., Mella, Ramon A., Odom, Donald Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAINES, PATRICK DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/642,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20130205757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 602/74, 602/73, 602/95, 603/01, 423/213.2, 423/239.1
• US Class Current: 60/295
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/10 by application of pressure to material by screw-type feeders B65B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: C01C 1/006 making use of solid ammonia storage materials, e.g. complex ammine salts
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2450/30 Removable or rechangeable blocks or cartridges, e.g. for filters
• 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 2610/1406 Storage means for substances, e.g. tanks or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/208 Control of selective catalytic reduction [SCR], e.g. dosing of reducing agent
• 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

Abstract

A device and method relating to the storage and delivery of ammonia for use in an after-treatment device for NO_x reduction in an exhaust stream, is disclosed. The device includes a cartridge having an ammonia adsorbing and desorbing material contained therein, and a recharging device for use in recharging the material with ammonia after the ammonia is released to a pre-determined level. The method includes providing a sealable cartridge having an interior, providing a predetermined amount of an ammonia-containing material within the interior of the container, positioning a recharging device within the interior of the sealable cartridge, releasing ammonia gas from the ammonia-containing material into an after-treatment device for use in the exhaust system of a vehicle for the reduction of NO_x, introducing liquid ammonia into the recharging device, and recharging the ammonia-containing material for re-use in the exhaust system.

Claims

1. An assembly for storing and recharging ammonia for use in the treatment of NO_x in an exhaust stream, the assembly comprising:

a cartridge having an interior space;

a compacted ammonia adsorbing/desorbing material stored within the interior space of the cartridge; and

,

a recharging element positioned within the interior space of the cartridge and the ammonia adsorbing/desorbing material.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is a cylinder.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the ammonia adsorbing/desorbing material comprises a metal-ammine salt.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the ammonia adsorbing/desorbing material comprises a metal-ammine salt dispersed with a heat absorbing metal.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the metal-ammine salt comprises strontium chloride.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the ammonia adsorbing/desorbing material is rechargeable.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the recharging element is centrally located within the interior space of the cartridge.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the recharging element is a tube.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the recharging element is a spiral.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the recharging element has a length equal to a length of the cartridge.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the recharging element comprises a plurality of openings along its length.

12. A method for recharging an ammonia-containing material, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a sealable cartridge having an interior;

providing a predetermined amount of the material capable of adsorbing and desorbing ammonia within the interior of the cartridge;

positioning a recharging device within the interior of the sealable cartridge and through the material;

heating the material;

releasing ammonia gas from the material into an after-treatment device-for use in the reduction of NO_x in an exhaust stream of a vehicle;

reducing the ammonia gas from material from an original saturation level to a pre-determined level;

introducing liquid ammonia into the recharging device; and

,

recharging the material with ammonia.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises re-using the cartridge with the recharged material in the reduction of NO_x in an exhaust stream.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the recharging device comprises a plurality of openings along a length thereof.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of positioning the recharging device further comprises centrally locating the recharging device within the cartridge.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of positioning the recharging device further comprises passing the device centrally through the material.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of recharging the material comprises introducing liquid ammonia through the recharging device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of recharging further comprises saturating the material to a re-usable level with the liquid ammonia.

19. A method for reusing a material capable of adsorbing and desorbing ammonia

for use in the reduction of NOx in an exhaust stream, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a sealable canister having an interior;

providing a predetermined amount of an ammonia-containing material within the interior of the canister;

positioning a recharging element having a plurality of openings along a length thereof within the interior of the sealable canister and through the ammonia-containing material;

applying heat to the ammonia-containing material and desorbing ammonia gas from the

material to a pre-determined level and into an after-treatment device;

introducing liquid ammonia into the recharging element;

infusing the liquid ammonia from the openings of the recharging element into the ammonia-containing material;

recharging the ammonia-containing material with the liquid ammonia to a usable saturation level; and

,

re-using the recharged ammonia-containing material in the after-treatment device.