EXHAUST-GAS AFTERTREATMENT DEVICE

• US 20120110989A1
• Filed: 11/08/2011
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Dahlgren, Jan, Laurell, Mats, Ovesson, Staffan
• Granted Patent: US 8,950,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/300
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/084 the gases flowing through the silencer two or more times longitudinally in opposite directions, e.g. using parallel or concentric tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/20 a flow director or deflector
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2470/22 Inlet and outlet tubes being positioned on the same side of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/005 for draining or otherwise eliminating condensates or moisture accumulating in the apparatus F01N3/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2006 Periodically heating or cooling catalytic reactors, e.g. at cold starting or overheating by electrically controlling the supply of combustible mixture or its constituents only F02D41/0235
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2013 using electric or magnetic heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2803 characterised by structure, by material or by manufacturing of catalyst support
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

An exhaust-gas aftertreatment device for an internal combustion engine is contemplated. The device may comprises a catalytic converter, wherein the catalytic converter comprises a tubular member which defines a volume within which a catalytic converter substrate is located, and wherein the volume with the catalytic converter substrate communicates with an inlet portion for receiving exhaust gas emissions from the internal combustion engine and with an outlet portion for discharging the exhaust gas emissions after catalytic conversion thereof in the volume.

Claims

1. An exhaust-gas aftertreatment device for an internal combustion engine comprising:

a catalytic converter having a tubular member which defines a volume within which a catalytic converter substrate is located;

wherein the volume with the catalytic converter substrate communicates with an inlet portion for receiving exhaust gas emissions from the internal combustion engine and with an outlet portion for discharging the exhaust gas emissions after catalytic conversion thereof in the volume;

a pipe member within the tubular member of the catalytic converter, which pipe member connects the inlet portion with the volume in the tubular member and guides the exhaust gas emissions from the inlet portion in a first direction of flow, and wherein the pipe member downstream opens into a deflector which deflects the exhaust gas emissions into the volume of the tubular member of the catalytic converter in a second direction of flow other than the first direction of flow; and

a collector positioned at the deflector for collecting excessive emissions in liquid form from the deflector.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein a cross-sectional area of the pipe member is less than a cross-sectional area of an inlet portion connected thereto.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the pipe member is located centrally in the tubular member of the catalytic converter, extending in the longitudinal direction thereof.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the pipe member has the same length as the tubular member of the catalytic converter.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein a cross-sectional area of the pipe member constitutes about 1-20% of a cross-sectional area of the tubular member of the catalytic converter.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the deflector is configured to collect emissions in liquid form and retain these emissions until the deflector has been heated such that the emissions evaporate into gaseous form.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein between the downstream end of the pipe member and the deflector there is provided a layer of porous material to absorb and thereby facilitate retention of emissions in liquid or particulate form.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the layer of porous material comprises an open cell structure.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the open cell structure is located at a distance from the side of the deflector means facing the flow of exhaust gas emissions.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the deflector is on the side facing the flow of exhaust gas emissions at least partly provided with a layer of porous material to absorb and thereby facilitate retention of emissions in liquid or particulate form.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the layer of porous material comprises a closed cell structure.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the deflector is on the side facing the flow of exhaust gas emissions at least partly provided with a grid to facilitate collection of emissions in liquid or particulate form.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the deflector is on the side facing the flow of exhaust gas emissions at least partly provided with at least one heater element to promote evaporation of emissions in liquid form into emissions in gaseous form.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the deflector comprises a dome-shaped cover having substantially the same diameter as the tubular member of the catalytic converter.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the dome-shaped cover is connected to the tubular member of the catalytic converter, covering the upstream end thereof and the downstream end of the pipe member.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the collector comprises a drain cup which is located at the bottom of the deflector means.

17. An exhaust-gas aftertreatment device for an internal combustion engine comprising:

a catalytic converter having a tubular member which defines a volume within which a catalytic converter substrate is located;

wherein the volume with the catalytic converter substrate communicates with an inlet portion for receiving exhaust gas emissions from the internal combustion engine and with an outlet portion for discharging the exhaust gas emissions after catalytic conversion thereof in the volume;

a pipe member within the tubular member of the catalytic converter, which pipe member connects the inlet portion with the volume in the tubular member and guides the exhaust gas emissions from the inlet portion in a first direction of flow, and wherein the pipe member downstream opens into a deflector which deflects the exhaust gas emissions into the volume of the tubular member of the catalytic converter in a second direction of flow other than the first direction of flow; and

wherein the deflector is on the side facing the flow of exhaust gas emissions at least partly provided with a layer of porous material to absorb and thereby facilitate retention of emissions in liquid or particulate form.

18. The device of claim 17 further comprising a collector positioned at the deflector for collecting excessive emissions in liquid form from the deflector.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the collector is shaped as a drain cup and is located at a bottom of the deflector.

20. An exhaust-gas aftertreatment device for an internal combustion engine comprising:

a catalytic converter having a tubular member which defines a volume within which a catalytic converter substrate is located;

wherein the volume with the catalytic converter substrate communicates with an inlet portion for receiving exhaust gas emissions from the internal combustion engine and with an outlet portion for discharging the exhaust gas emissions after catalytic conversion thereof in the volume;

a pipe member within the tubular member of the catalytic converter, which pipe member connects the inlet portion with the volume in the tubular member and guides the exhaust gas emissions from the inlet portion in a first direction of flow, and wherein the pipe member downstream opens into a deflector which deflects the exhaust gas emissions into the volume of the tubular member of the catalytic converter in a second direction of flow other than the first direction of flow;

wherein the deflector comprises a dome-shaped cover having substantially the same diameter as the tubular member of the catalytic converter;

wherein the deflector is on the side facing the flow of exhaust gas emissions at least partly provided with a layer of porous material to absorb and thereby facilitate retention of emissions in liquid or particulate form; and

a drain cup is located at a bottom of the deflector for collecting excessive emissions in liquid form from the deflector.