IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0778275
(2004-02-13)
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등록번호 |
US-7377101
(2008-05-27)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Mital,Rahul
- Stroia,Bradlee J.
- Yu,Robert C.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
13 인용 특허 :
46 |
초록
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The invention provides a NOx adsorber aftertreatment system for internal combustion engines which utilizes a plasma fuel converter operatively coupled to at least one NOx adsorber to aid in the regeneration of the NOx adsorber. Fuel and engine exhaust is injected into a plasma fuel converter upstrea
The invention provides a NOx adsorber aftertreatment system for internal combustion engines which utilizes a plasma fuel converter operatively coupled to at least one NOx adsorber to aid in the regeneration of the NOx adsorber. Fuel and engine exhaust is injected into a plasma fuel converter upstream of a NOx absorber producing reductant such as H2, and CO, which are inlet into the NOx absorber. Reductants such as H2 and CO acting along and together help to efficiently regenerate the NOx Adsorber which in turn releases exhausts products such as CO2 and N2. Using the reductants generated by the plasma fuel converter NOx adsorbers, catalytic soot filter, and the like can be regenerated at exhaust temperatures less than 250�� C. The plasma fuel converter, NOx adsorber regenerating aftertreatment system of the present invention may be used with any suitable control system.
대표청구항
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We claim: 1. A method of treating engine exhaust comprising the steps of: providing an exhaust aftertreatment system comprising: an engine exhaust outlet; an exhaust valve system having an exhaust valve inlet an exhaust valve first outlet and an exhaust valve second outlet; a plasma fuel converter
We claim: 1. A method of treating engine exhaust comprising the steps of: providing an exhaust aftertreatment system comprising: an engine exhaust outlet; an exhaust valve system having an exhaust valve inlet an exhaust valve first outlet and an exhaust valve second outlet; a plasma fuel converter (PFC) having a PFC inlet operatively coupled to the said exhaust valve first outlet, and a PFC outlet; a NOx adsorber having an adsorber inlet and an NOx adsorber outlet; a fuel tank having a fuel tank outlet; a fuel pump having a fuel pump inlet and a fuel pump outlet; a PFC fuel injector having a PFC injector inlet and a PFC fuel injector outlet; a reductant pump having a reductant pump inlet and a reductant pump outlet; and a tailpipe having a tailpipe inlet and a tailpipe outlet, wherein said fuel tank outlet is operatively linked to said fuel pump inlet, said fuel pump outlet is operatively linked to said PFC fuel injector input, said PFC fuel injector outlet is operatively linked to said PFC fuel inlet, said exhaust valve system inlet is operatively linked to said engine exhaust outlet, said exhaust valve first outlet is operatively linked to said PFC inlet, said exhaust valve system second outlet is operatively linked to said NOx adsorber input, said PFC outlet is operatively linked to said reductant pump inlet, said reductant pump outlet is operatively linked to said NOx adsorber inlet, said NOx adsorber outlet is operatively linked to said tailpipe inlet and said tailpipe outlet is operatively vented to the atmosphere; and supplying reductants produced by converting fuel in said PFC to said NOx adsorber. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said system further includes: a catalytic soot filter (CSF) having a CSF inlet and a CSF outlet, wherein said CSF inlet is operatively linked to said NOx adsorber outlet and said CSF outlet is operatively linked to said tailpipe inlet. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reductants are supplied to said NOx adsorber inlet continuously. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reductants are supplied to said NOx adsorber inlet intermittently. 5. The method of regenerating a NOx adsorber in accordance with claims 1, 2, 3, or 4 wherein said reductant includes: 20-30% hydrogen (H2); and 20-30% carbon monoxide (CO) and said reductant enriched exhaust is delivered to said NOx adsorber at a rate of 0-200 ml/minute. 6. An internal combustion engine exhaust gas aftertreatment system comprising: an internal combustion engine exhaust outlet; an exhaust valve system having an exhaust valve system inlet, an exhaust valve system first outlet and an exhaust valve system second outlet; a plasma fuel converter (PFC) having a PFC exhaust gas inlet and a PFC exhaust gas outlet; a NOx adsorber having a NOx adsorber inlet and a NOx adsorber outlet; wherein, said engine exhaust outlet is operatively liked to said exhaust valve system inlet, said exhaust valve system first outlet is operatively linked to said PFC exhaust gas inlet, said exhaust gas valve system second outlet is operatively linked to said NOx adsorber inlet, said PFC outlet is operatively linked to said NOx adsorber inlet, and said NOx adsorber outlet is operatively vented to the atmosphere; and a reductant pump having a reductant pump inlet and a reductant pump outlet wherein said reductant pump inlet is operatively linked to said PFC outlet and said reductant pump outlet is operatively linked to said NOx adsorber inlet. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein said exhaust valve system comprises: an engine exhaust crossover pipe, having an engine exhaust crossover pipe inlet, an engine exhaust crossover pipe first outlet, and an engine exhaust crossover pipe second outlet; a first 2-way valve having a first 2-way valve inlet, a first 2-way valve outlet; and a second 2-way valve having a second 2-way valve inlet, and a second 2-way valve outlet, wherein engine exhaust crossover pipe inlet is operatively linked to said internal combustion engine exhaust outlet, said first 2-way valve inlet is operatively linked to said exhaust crossover pipe first outlet, said first 2-way valve outlet is operatively liked to said PFC inlet, said second 2-way valve inlet is operatively linked to said exhaust crossover pipe second outlet, and said second 2-way valve outlet is operatively linked to said NOx adsorber inlet. 8. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 6, further comprising: a fuel tank having a fuel tank outlet; a fuel pump having a fuel pump inlet and a fuel pump outlet; a PFC fuel inlet on said PFC; and a fuel injector having a fuel injector inlet and a fuel injector outlet, wherein said fuel pump inlet is operatively linked to said fuel tank outlet, said fuel pump outlet is operatively linked to said fuel injector inlet, and said fuel injector outlet is operatively linked to said PFC fuel inlet. 9. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system of claim 6, further comprising: a tailpipe having a tailpipe inlet and a tailpipe outlet wherein said tailpipe inlet is operatively linked to said NOx adsorber outlet and said tailpipe outlet is vented to the atmosphere. 10. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 6, further comprising: a sulfur trap having a sulfur trap inlet and a sulfur trap outlet, wherein said sulfur trap inlet is operatively coupled to said internal combustion engine exhaust outlet and said sulfur trap outlet is operatively coupled to said exhaust valve system inlet. 11. The system of claim 6, wherein said exhaust valve system comprises a: a 3-way valve having a 3-way valve inlet, a 3-way valve first outlet, and a 3-way valve second outlet. 12. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 11, further comprising: a second 3-way exhaust valve having a second 3-way exhaust valve inlet, a second 3-way exhaust valve first outlet, and a second 3-way exhaust valve second outlet; and a second NOx adsorber having a second NOx adsorber inlet, and a second NOx adsorber outlet; and wherein said 3-way exhaust valve second outlet is operatively linked to said second 3-way exhaust valve inlet, said second 3-way exhaust valve first outlet is operatively linked to said NOx adsorber inlet, said second 3-way exhaust valve second outlet is operatively linked to said second NOx adsorber inlet, said PFC outlet is operatively linked to said second NOx adsorber inlet, and said second NOx adsorber outlet is operatively vented to the atmosphere. 13. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 6, further comprising: a catalytic soot filter having a catalytic soot filter inlet and a catalytic soot filter outlet, wherein said catalytic soot filter inlet is operatively coupled to said NOx adsorber output, and said catalytic soot filter outlet is operatively vented to the atmosphere. 14. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 13, further comprising: a 3-way reductant valve having a 3-way reductant valve inlet, a 3-way reductant valve first outlet, and a 3-way reductant valve second outlet, wherein said reductant valve inlet is operatively linked to said PFC outlet, said reductant valve first outlet is operatively linked to said NOx adsorber inlet and said reductant valve second outlet is operatively linked to said catalytic soot filter inlet. 15. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 6, further comprising: a heat exchanger having a heat exchanger inlet, a heat exchanger outlet, wherein said PFC outlet is operatively linked to said heat exchanger inlet and said heat exchanger outlet is operatively linked to said NOx adsorber inlet. 16. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 15, further comprising: a radiator having a radiator coolant inlet and an radiator coolant outlet; wherein said heat exchanger has an heat exchanger coolant inlet and an heat exchanger coolant output, and wherein said radiator coolant outlet is operatively linked to said heat exchanger coolant inlet, and said heat exchanger outlet is operatively linked to said radiator inlet. 17. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 16, wherein said radiator is the internal combustion engine radiator. 18. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 16, wherein said radiator is an exhaust gas to air radiator. 19. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 6, further comprising: a storage vessel having a storage vessel inlet and a storage vessel outlet, wherein said reductant pump inlet is operatively linked to said PFC outlet, said reductant pump outlet is operatively linked to said storage vessel inlet and said storage vessel outlet is operatively linked to said NOx adsorber inlet. 20. A method of regenerating NOx adsorber in an exhaust aftertreatment system, comprising the steps of: providing exhaust gas aftertreatment system of claim 19; and regenerating said NOx adsorber by continuously supplying exhaust gas enriched in reductants formed in said PFC to said NOx adsorber inlet. 21. A method of regenerating NOx adsorber in an exhaust aftertreatment system, comprising: providing the exhaust gas aftertreatment system of claim 19; regenerating said NOx adsorber by supplying exhaust gas enriched in reductants stored in said storage vessel as required to regenerate said NOx adsorbers. 22. A method of regenerating NOx adsorber in an exhaust aftertreatment system, comprising: providing the exhaust gas aftertreatment system of claim 19; and regenerating said NOx adsorber by intermittently supplying exhaust gas enriched in reductants formed in said PFC to said NOx adsorber inlet. 23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of: injecting a sacrificial amount of fuel into said plasma fuel converter continuously; and increasing the level of fuel injected into said PFC intermittently. 24. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 19, further comprising: a storage vessel second outlet; and a storage release valve having a pressure release valve inlet, and a pressure release valve outlet, wherein said storage release valve inlet is operatively linked to said storage vessel second outlet, and said pressure release valve outlet is vented to the atmosphere. 25. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 24, wherein said pressure release valve is set to exhaust reductants when said vessel internal pressures exceeds 100 psi. 26. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 19, further comprising: a second storage vessel outlet; a second NOx adsorber having a second NOx adsorber inlet, and a second NOx adsorber outlet; a first reductant injector having a first reductant injector inlet and first reductant injector outlet; and a second reductant injector having a second reductant injector inlet and second reductant injector outlet, wherein said storage vessel first outlet is operatively linked to said first reductant injector inlet, said first reductant injector outlet is operatively linked to said NOx adsorber inlet, said second storage vessel outlet is operatively linked to said second reductant injector inlet, said second reductant injector outlet is operatively linked to said second NOx adsorber inlet, and said second NOx adsorber outlet is operatively vented to the atmosphere. 27. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 26, further comprising: a crossover pipe having a crossover pipe first inlet, a crossover pipe second inlet, and a crossover pipe outlet; a CSF having a CSF inlet and a CSF outlet; and a tailpipe having a tailpipe inlet and a tailpipe outlet, wherein said crossover pipe first inlet is operatively linked to said NOx adsorber outlet, said crossover pipe second inlet is operatively linked to said second NOx adsorber outlet, said crossover pipe outlet is operatively linked to said CSF inlet, said CSF outlet is operatively linked to said tailpipe inlet, and said tailpipe outlet is operatively vented to the atmosphere. 28. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 19, further comprising: a 3-way reductant valve having a 3-way reductant valve inlet, 3-way reductant valve first outlet, and a 3-way reductant valve second outlet; a second NOx adsorber having a second NOx adsorber inlet and a second NOx adsorber outlet; wherein said 3-way reductant valve inlet is operatively linked to said reductant pump, said 3-way reductant valve first outlet is operatively linked to said first NOx adsorber inlet, said 3-way reductant valve second outlet is operatively linked to said second NOx adsorber inlet, and said second NOx adsorber outlet is operatively linked to the atmosphere. 29. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 28, further including: a crossover pipe having a crossover pipe first inlet, a crossover pipe second inlet, and a crossover pipe outlet; and a CSF having a CSF inlet and a CSF outlet; wherein said first NOx adsorber outlet is operatively linked to said crossover pipe first inlet, said second NOx adsorber outlet is operatively linked to said crossover pipe second inlet, said crossover pipe outlet is operatively linked to said CSF input, said CSF outlet is operatively vented to the atmosphere. 30. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 29, further comprising: a tailpipe having a tailpipe inlet and a tailpipe outlet wherein said tailpipe inlet is operatively linked to said CSF outlet, and said tailpipe outlet is vented to the atmosphere. 31. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 30, further comprising: a NOx sensor having a NOx sensor input and a NOx sensor data output, wherein said NOx sensor input is operatively linked to said exhaust gas valve second output. 32. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 31, further comprising: a controller having a controller sensor data input, and a controller command output, wherein said controller data input is operatively linked to said is operatively linked to said exhaust valve system, said PFC, said reductant pump, and said NOx sensor data output. 33. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 32, wherein said exhaust valve system is a proportional 3-way valve. 34. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 32, wherein said valve system is a pair of 2-way valves. 35. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 32, further comprising: a sulfur trap having a sulfur trap inlet and a sulfur trap outlet wherein said sulfur trap inlet is operatively coupled to a source of engine exhaust and said sulfur trap outlet is operatively coupled to said exhaust valve inlet. 36. An exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 32, further comprising: a first NOx sensor having a first NOx sensor input, and a first NOx sensor data output; a second NOx sensor having a second NOx sensor input and a second NOx sensor data output; and an exhaust gas sensor having an exhaust gas sensor input, an exhaust gas sensor data output, wherein said first NOx sensor input is operatively linked to said 3-way exhaust valve second outlet and said first NOx sensor data output is operatively linked to said controller data input, said second NOx sensor input is operatively linked to said second NOx adsorber outlet, and said exhaust gas sensor data output is operatively linked to controller data input. 37. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according claim 36, further comprising: a controller having a controller sensor data inlet and a controller command output, wherein said controller command output is operatively linked to said exhaust valve system, said PFC, said reductant pump, and said controller sensor data input is said first NOx sensor data outlet, said second NOx sensor data outlet, and said exhaust sensor data outlet. 38. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 37, further comprising; a catalytic soot filter having a catalytic soot filter inlet operatively coupled to said first and said second NOx adsorber outputs. 39. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 37, further comprising: a third NOx sensor having a third NOx sensor input, a third NOx sensor data output, wherein said third NOx sensor input is operatively linked to the outlet of said second NOx adsorber outlet. 40. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system according to claim 39, further comprising: a controller having a controller sensor data input, and a controller command output, wherein said controller command output is operatively linked to said exhaust valve system, said PFC, said reductant pump, and said controller sensor data input is operatively linked to said first NOx sensor data output, said second NOx sensor data output, said third NOx sensor data output and said exhaust sensor data output.
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