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US 10,392,982 B2Granted
Emissions control substrate
AssigneeDENSO International America, Inc.
InventorEdward Szczepanski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Emissions control assemblies including substrates defining a plurality of channels that are configured to receive engine exhaust passing through the substrates, and heating elements configured to heat the substrates.
Claims9
An emissions control assembly comprising:
- a substrate defining a plurality of channels that are configured to receive engine exhaust gas passing through the substrate, the plurality of channels define first openings at a first end of the substrate that is an upstream end through which exhaust gas enters the substrate and second openings at a second end of the substrate that is a downstream end through which exhaust gas exits the substrate, the first end is opposite to the second end, an exterior surface of the substrate extends between the first end and the second end;
- a heating element configured to heat the substrate, the heating element is at the exterior surface of the substrate, the heating element includes a plurality of electrodes spaced apart about a flexible ceramic plate that is curved to match the exterior surface of the substrate;
- wherein the flexible ceramic plate is to retain heat within the substrate, the flexible ceramic plate includes a first portion covering a first half of the exterior surface of the substrate, and a second portion covering a second half of the exterior surface of the substrate;
- a sensor for measuring an exhaust gas temperature;
- and
- a controller configured to activate the heating element when the measured temperature of the exhaust gas is less than a target temperature of the exhaust gas.
3 more elements
An emissions control assembly comprising:
- a substrate defining a plurality of channels that are configured to receive engine exhaust gas passing through the substrate, the plurality of channels define first openings at a first end of the substrate that is an upstream end through which exhaust gas enters the substrate and second openings at a second end of the substrate that is a downstream end through which exhaust gas exits the substrate, the first end is opposite to the second end, an exterior surface of the substrate extends between the first end and the second end;
- a thermal energy distributor at the exterior surface of the substrate, the thermal energy distributor is configured to distribute heat across the exterior surface, the thermal energy distributor has a first thermal transfer coefficient that is greater than a second thermal transfer coefficient of the substrate, the thermal energy distributor includes a plurality of electrodes spaced apart about a flexible ceramic plate that is curved to match the exterior surface of the substrate;
- a heating element arranged on top of the thermal energy distributor configured to heat the substrate, the heating element is at the exterior surface of the substrate, the heating element includes a plurality of electrodes spaced apart about a flexible ceramic plate that is curved to match the exterior surface of the substrate;
- wherein the flexible ceramic plate is to retain heat within the substrate, the flexible ceramic plate includes a first portion covering a first half of the exterior surface of the substrate, and a second portion covering a second half of the exterior surface of the substrate;
- a sensor for measuring an exhaust gas temperature;
- and
- a controller configured to activate the heating element when the measured temperature of the exhaust gas is less than a target temperature of the exhaust gas.
4 more elements
A method for heating a substrate of an emissions control assembly comprising:
- measuring pressure of exhaust gas present in an exhaust system via a pressure sensor, at least one of proximate to and distal to an emissions control substrate of the exhaust system when the substrate is a particulate matter filter;
- measuring temperature of exhaust gas within the exhaust system and temperature of the substrate when the substrate is a catalytic converter via at least one temperature sensor;
- when the substrate is the particulate matter filter, activating a heating element configured to heat the substrate when the measured pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure;
- and
- when the substrate is the catalytic converter, activating the heating element when the measured temperature of exhaust gas is less than a lightoff temperature of a catalyst of the catalytic converter;
- wherein the substrate defines a plurality of channels that are configured to receive engine exhaust gas passing through the substrate, the plurality of channels define first openings at a first end of the substrate that is an upstream end through which exhaust gas enters the substrate and second openings at a second end of the substrate that is a downstream end through which exhaust gas exits the substrate, the first end is opposite to the second end, an exterior surface of the substrate extends between the first end and the second end;
- wherein the heating element is at the exterior surface of the substrate, the heating element includes a plurality of electrodes spaced apart about a flexible ceramic plate curved to match the exterior surface of the substrate;
- and
- wherein the flexible ceramic plate is to retain heat within the substrate, the flexible ceramic plate includes a first portion covering a first half of the exterior surface of the substrate, and a second portion covering a second half of the exterior surface of the substrate.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.