Apparatus and method for regenerating a particulate filter of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine
OwnerRudolf M. Smalinginventor
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Abstract
An apparatus for removing particulate soot from an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine includes a particulate filter assembly having a catalyst and a soot filter positioned downstream of the catalyst for trapping soot particles therein. Hydrogen gas is introduced into the exhaust gas at a location upstream of the catalyst. The catalyst catalyzes an exothermic oxidation reaction between the hydrogen gas and oxygen in the exhaust gas. Heat from this exothermic oxidation reaction is transferred to the soot filter thereby igniting the soot particles trapped therein. A method for regenerating a particulate filter assembly is also disclosed.
Claims45
An apparatus for removing particulate soot from an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a source of hydrogen gas,
- a catalyst configured to catalyze an exothermic oxidation reaction between the hydrogen gas and a gaseous component comprising oxygen, and
- a soot filter positioned proximate to the catalyst, wherein heat generated by the exothermic oxidation reaction is transferred to the soot filter.
An apparatus for removing particulate from an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a hydrogen generator configured to produce hydrogen gas, and
- a particulate filter assembly having a catalyst and a soot filter, the particulate filter assembly configured to receive (i) hydrogen gas from the hydrogen generator, and (ii) the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine.
An apparatus for removing particulate soot from an exhaust gas, comprising:
- a housing having a chamber and a hydrogen gas inlet,
- a catalyst positioned in the chamber at a position downstream of the hydrogen gas inlet, the catalyst being configured to catalyze an exothermic oxidation reaction between hydrogen gas and a gaseous component comprising oxygen, and
- a filter positioned in the chamber at a position downstream of the catalyst, the filter being configured to trap soot from the exhaust gas.
A method of regenerating a particulate filter comprising the steps of:
- advancing hydrogen gas into contact with a catalyst,
- generating heat from an exothermic oxidation reaction between the hydrogen gas and a gaseous component containing oxygen in the presence of the catalyst, and
- igniting particulate trapped in the particulate filter with the heat.
A method of regenerating a soot filter comprising the steps of:
- introducing hydrogen gas into an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine,
- advancing the hydrogen gas and the exhaust gas into contact with a catalyst,
- generating heat from a reaction between the hydrogen gas and the exhaust gas in the presence of the catalyst, and
- igniting soot trapped in the soot filter with the heat.
A method of regenerating a particulate carbon-based soot filter of a diesel engine, the method comprising the steps of:
- operating a fuel reformer to produce a reformate gas,
- introducing the reformate gas into an exhaust gas from the diesel engine,
- advancing the reformate gas and the exhaust gas through an oxidation catalyst to generate an exothermic reaction, and
- heating the soot filter with heat from the exothermic reaction to a sufficient temperature to ignite soot particulates trapped in the soot filter.
An apparatus for removing particulate soot from an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a source of an oxidizable gas,
- a catalyst configured to catalyze an exothermic oxidation reaction between the oxidizable gas and a gaseous component comprising oxygen, and
- a soot filter positioned proximate to the catalyst, wherein heat generated by the exothermic oxidation reaction is transferred to the soot filter.
An emission abatement assembly, comprising:
- a fuel reformer configured to reform hydrocarbon fuel into a reformate gas,
- a catalyst configured to catalyze an exothermic oxidation reaction between the reformate gas and a gaseous component comprising oxygen, and
- a soot filter positioned downstream of the catalyst, wherein heat generated by the exothermic oxidation reaction is transferred to the soot filter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.