Mixing element

• US 9,302,223 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Bui, Yung T., Xiang, Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): VANOY, TIMOTHY C
• Application Number:
  US14/303,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20150360176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/9431 Processes characterised by a specific device
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2132 using nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/3141 with additional mixing means other than injector mixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4316 the baffles being flat pieces of material, e.g. intermeshing, fixed to the wall or fixed on a central rod
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/431971 Mounted on the wall
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/20 a flow director or deflector
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2900/08 said parameters being related to the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2066 Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2892 Exhaust flow directors or the like, e.g. upstream of catalytic device

Abstract

A mixing element positioned at an exhaust inlet of a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) module is provided. The mixing element includes a base plate having a plurality of perforations thereon. The mixing element also includes a plurality of vanes connected to the base plate. Each of the plurality of vanes is spaced apart from one another. The plurality of vanes includes a plurality of flaps extending radially from the base plate. Each of the plurality of flaps has a planar configuration. The plurality of vanes also includes a plurality of blades attached to the plurality of flaps. Each of the plurality of blades extends axially with respect to an axis of the exhaust inlet. The blade has a curved configuration.

Claims

1. A mixing element positioned at an exhaust inlet of a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) module, the mixing element comprising:

a base plate having a plurality of perforations thereon; and

a plurality of vanes connected to the base plate, each of the plurality of vanes being spaced apart from one another, the plurality of vanes comprising;

a plurality of flaps extending radially from the base plate, wherein each of the plurality of flaps has a planar configuration; and

a plurality of blades attached to the plurality of flaps, each of the plurality of blades extending axially with respect to an axis of the exhaust inlet, each of the plurality of blades having a curved configuration.

2. The mixing element of claim 1, wherein the base plate defines a centrally disposed single hole therein.

3. The mixing element of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of fins extending radially from the base plate, each of the plurality of fins having a planar configuration.

4. The mixing element of claim 3, wherein the plurality of fins includes a first fin and second fin such that the first fin and the second fin extend from diametrically opposed locations on the base plate.

5. The mixing element of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of fins define a plurality of through holes therein.

6. The mixing element of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of flaps define a plurality of through holes therein.

7. The mixing element of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of blades define a plurality of through holes therein.

8. The mixing element of claim 1, wherein a pitch of each of the plurality of vanes as viewed from a first direction perpendicular to the base plate is any one of:

a clockwise direction; and

a counter clockwise direction.

9. The mixing element of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of perforations includes a tab punched out from the base plate.

10. An aftertreatment system comprising:

a reductant injector;

a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) module fluidly coupled to the reductant injector via an exhaust conduit, the SCR module positioned downstream of the reductant injector with respect to an exhaust gas flow; and

a mixing element disposed within the exhaust conduit, the mixing element positioned upstream of the SCR module with respect to the exhaust gas flow, the mixing element comprising;

a base plate having a plurality of perforations thereon; and

a plurality of vanes connected to the base plate, each of the plurality of vanes being spaced apart from one another, the plurality of vanes comprising;

a plurality of flaps extending radially from the base plate, wherein each of the plurality of flaps has a planar configuration; and

a plurality of blades attached to the plurality of flaps, each of the plurality of blades extending axially with respect to an axis of the exhaust conduit, each of the plurality of blades having a curved configuration.

11. The aftertreatment system of claim 10, wherein a diameter of the base plate is lesser than a diameter of the exhaust conduit.

12. The aftertreatment system of claim 10, wherein the base plate of the mixing element is disposed perpendicular to the exhaust gas flow.

13. The aftertreatment system of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of fins extending radially from the base plate, each of the plurality of fins having a planar configuration.

14. The aftertreatment system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of fins is attached to a wall of the exhaust conduit.

15. The aftertreatment system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of flaps is attached to a wall of the exhaust conduit.

16. The aftertreatment system of claim 10, wherein the base plate defines a centrally disposed single hole therein.

17. The aftertreatment system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of perforations includes a tab punched out from the base plate.

18. The aftertreatment system of claim 10, wherein a pitch of each of the plurality of vanes as viewed from a first direction perpendicular to the base plate is any one of:

a clockwise direction; and

a counter clockwise direction.