# US 11,028,758 B2 · Exhaust after-treatment system with adjustable flow path, and method for operating such an exhaust after-treatment system

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- Number: US 11,028,758 B2
- Document ID: US11028758B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/627,310
- Filed: 2017-07-24
- Published: 2020-05-28
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-24
- Assignees: Volvo Truck Corporation
- Applicants: Volvo Truck Corporation; Stephen Geyer
- Inventors: Stephen Geyer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028758B2

## CPC

- F01N 3/033: in combination with other devices {(with adsorbents or absorbents F01N3/0821)}
- F01N 9/002: {of filter regeneration}
- B01D 53/9477: {with catalysts positioned on separate bricks, e.g. exhaust systems}
- F01N 3/021: by means of filters
- F01N 3/08: for rendering innocuous (using electric or electrostatic separators F01N3/01; chemical aspects B01D53/92)
- F01N 3/0814: {combined with catalytic converters, e.g. NOx absorption/storage reduction catalysts}
- F01N 3/0835: {Hydrocarbons}
- F01N 3/0842: {Nitrogen oxides}
- F01N 3/103: {Oxidation catalysts for HC and CO only}
- F01N 3/2066: {Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]}
- F01N 3/2892: {Exhaust flow directors or the like, e.g. upstream of catalytic device}
- F01N 9/00: Electrical control of exhaust gas treating apparatus (monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus F01N11/00; conjoint electrical control of two or more combustion engine functions F02D43/00)
- F01N 11/002: {the diagnostic devices measuring or estimating temperature or pressure in, or downstream of the exhaust apparatus}
- F01N 13/009: {having two or more separate purifying devices arranged in series}
- F01N 13/011: {having two or more purifying devices arranged in parallel}
- B01D 53/9418: {for removing nitrogen oxides by selective catalytic reduction [SCR] using a reducing agent in a lean exhaust gas}
- B01D 53/9422: {for removing nitrogen oxides by NOx storage or reduction by cyclic switching between lean and rich exhaust gases (LNT, NSC, NSR)}
- B01D 53/944: {Simultaneously removing carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons or carbon making use of oxidation catalysts (three-way-catalysts [TWC] B01D53/9445)}
- B01D 53/9481: {Catalyst preceded by an adsorption device without catalytic function for temporary storage of contaminants, e.g. during cold start}
- B01D 2258/012: Diesel engines and lean burn gasoline engines
- F01N 2240/36: an exhaust flap
- F01N 2410/02: in case of high temperature, e.g. overheating of catalytic reactor
- F01N 2410/03: in case of low temperature
- F01N 2410/04: during regeneration period, e.g. of particle filter
- F01N 2560/06: the means being a temperature sensor
- F01N 2590/08: for heavy duty applications, e.g. trucks, buses, tractors, locomotives
- F01N 2900/0422: measuring the elapsed time
- F01N 2900/1602: Temperature of exhaust gas apparatus
- Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies
- Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems
- F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16)
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

An exhaust after-treatment system includes a first set of exhaust after-treatment components, a second set of exhaust after-treatment components, an inlet to the exhaust after-treatment system, an outlet from the exhaust after-treatment system, and a valve and conduit arrangement configurable in a plurality of modes, in a first mode, exhaust gas entering the inlet flows through the second set of exhaust after-treatment components, then through the first set of exhaust after-treatment components, and then through the outlet. In a second mode, exhaust gas entering the inlet flows through the second set of exhaust after-treatment components without flowing through the first set of exhaust after-treatment components, and then through the outlet in a third mode, exhaust gas entering the inlet flows through the first set of exhaust after-treatment components, then through the second set of exhaust after-treatment components, and then through the outlet.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An exhaust after-treatment system, comprising:
a first set of exhaust after-treatment components;
a second set of exhaust after-treatment components, the first set of exhaust after-treatment components comprising different types of exhaust after-treatment components than the second set of exhaust after-treatment components;
an inlet to the exhaust after-treatment system;
an outlet from the exhaust after-treatment system; and
a valve and conduit arrangement configurable in a plurality of modes such that
in a first mode, exhaust gas entering the inlet flows through the second set of exhaust after-treatment components, then through the first set of exhaust after-treatment components, and then through the outlet,
in a second mode, exhaust gas entering the inlet flows through the second set of exhaust after-treatment components without flowing through the first set of exhaust after-treatment components, and then through the outlet, and
in a third mode wherein exhaust gas entering the inlet flows through the first set of exhaust after-treatment components, then through the second set of exhaust after-treatment components, and then through the outlet;
at least one sensor for detecting at least one operating condition; and
a controller configured to receive a signal from the at least one sensor corresponding to the at least one operating condition, the controller being configured to automatically configure the valve and conduit arrangement in the first mode when the at least one operating condition is in a first condition including that a temperature measured at the inlet is below a predetermined temperature, and to configure the valve and conduit arrangement in the second mode when the at least one operating condition is in a second condition including that the temperature measured at the inlet is above the predetermined temperature.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The exhaust after-treatment system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically configure the valve and conduit arrangement in the third mode when the at least one operating condition is in a third condition.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The exhaust after-treatment system as set forth in claim 2, wherein at least one component of the first set of exhaust after-treatment components is an emissions absorbing component that absorbs emissions in a first temperature range and releases absorbed emissions in a second temperature range above the first temperature range, and the third condition of the at least one operating condition is a determination that loading of the emissions absorbing component with absorbed emissions is at or above a predetermined level.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The exhaust after-treatment system asset forth in claim 1, wherein the first set of exhaust after-treatment components comprises one or more of a NOx trap, a passive NOx absorber, and a hydrocarbon absorber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The exhaust after-treatment system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the second set of exhaust after-treatment components comprises one or more of a diesel oxidation catalyst, a diesel particulate filter, and a selective catalytic reduction catalyst.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The exhaust after-treatment system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first set of exhaust after-treatment components comprises one or more first set components, each of which first set components function optimally at below 200° C.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The exhaust after-treatment system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the second set of exhaust after-treatment components comprises one or more second set components, each of which second set components function optimally at above 200° C.

### Claim 8

A method for operating an exhaust after-treatment system, the exhaust after-treatment system comprising a first set of exhaust after-treatment components, a second set of exhaust after-treatment components, the first set of exhaust after-treatment components comprising different types of exhaust after-treatment components than the second set of exhaust after-treatment components, an inlet to the exhaust after-treatment system, an outlet from the exhaust after-treatment system, and a valve and conduit arrangement configurable in a plurality of modes, comprising:
configuring the valve and conduit arrangement in a first mode such that exhaust gas entering the inlet flows through the second set of exhaust after-treatment components, then through the first set of exhaust after-treatment components, and then through the outlet,
configuring the valve and conduit arrangement in a second mode such that exhaust gas entering the inlet flows through the second set of exhaust after-treatment components without flowing through the first set of exhaust after-treatment components, and then through the outlet, and
configuring the valve and conduit arrangement in a third mode wherein exhaust gas entering the inlet flows through the first set of exhaust after-treatment components, then through the second set of exhaust after-treatment components, and then through the outlet,
wherein the exhaust after-treatment system comprises at least one sensor for detecting at least one operating condition, and a controller configured to receive a signal from the at least one sensor corresponding to the at least one operating condition, the method comprising
automatically configuring, via the controller, the valve and conduit arrangement in the first mode when the at least one operating condition is in a first condition including that a temperature measured at the inlet is below a predetermined temperature, and
automatically configuring, via the controller, the valve and conduit arrangement in the second mode when the at least one operating condition is in a second condition including that the temperature measured at the inlet is above the predetermined temperature.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method as set forth in claim 8, comprising automatically configuring, via the controller, the valve and conduit arrangement in the third mode when the at least one operating condition is in a third condition.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the third condition is that regeneration of at least one component of the first set of components is required.