# US 2009/0260350 A1 · Enhanced aftertreatment apparatus regeneration using spatially controlled hydrogen-rich gas

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- Number: US 2009/0260350 A1
- Document ID: US20090260350A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/105,776
- Filed: 2008-04-18
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-18
- Inventors: Leslie Bromberg; Daniel Cohn; John B. Heywood; Victor Wong
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260350A1

## CPC

- F01N 3/0253: {adding fuel to exhaust gases}
- B01D 53/90: Injecting reactants
- B01D 53/9431: {Processes characterised by a specific device}
- B01D 53/96: Regeneration, reactivation or recycling of reactants
- C01B 3/34: by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
- F01N 3/0871: {using means for controlling, e.g. purging, the absorbents or adsorbents}
- F01N 3/2073: {Means for generating a reducing substance from the exhaust gases}
- F01N 3/36: Arrangements for supply of additional fuel
- F01N 13/009: {having two or more separate purifying devices arranged in series}
- B01D 2251/202: Hydrogen
- C01B 2203/025: containing a partial oxidation step
- C01B 2203/0861: by plasma
- C01B 2203/0883: by indirect heat exchange
- F01N 2240/28: a plasma reactor
- F01N 2240/30: a fuel reformer
- F01N 2290/00: Movable parts or members in exhaust systems for other than for control purposes
- F01N 2610/04: the substance being hydrogen
- F01N 2610/14: Arrangements for the supply of substances, e.g. conduits
- 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)
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}

## Abstract

Regeneration system in which a hydrogen-rich gas from an onboard reformer flows into an aftertreatment unit in a direction opposite to the flow of engine exhaust to regenerate the unit. The aftertreatment unit is segmented with independent regeneration capability for each segment. Regeneration is performed with hydrogen-rich gas produced by an onboard reformer. A hydrogen-rich gas switchbox is used to direct the flow of the reformate to the segment of the aftertreatment unit that is undergoing regeneration.

## Claims

### Claim 1

1) Regeneration system comprising:
an exhaust aftertreatment unit fitted to the exhaust of an internal combustion engine; and
a fuel reformer providing hydrogen-rich gas to the aftertreatment unit so as to obtain spatially selective regeneration of the aftertreatment unit; and
including a hydrogen-rich gas switchbox having associated valves and plumbing for controlling the flow of hydrogen-rich gas, wherein the valves in the switchbox are used to direct the flow of hydrogen-rich gas to the appropriate plumbing to regenerate the associated section of the aftertreatment unit.

### Claim 2

2) Regeneration system comprising:
an exhaust aftertreatment unit fitted to the exhaust of an internal combustion engine; and
a fuel reformer providing hydrogen-rich gas to the aftertreatment unit so as to obtain spatially selective regeneration of the aftertreatment unit wherein the engine exhaust is prevented from flowing in the region being regenerated by the hydrogen-rich gas flowing in an opposite direction to the exhaust flow.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2)

3) The regeneration system of claims 1 or 2 wherein the aftertreatment unit is segmented in sections that undergo independent regeneration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2)

4) The system of claims 1 or 2 wherein the aftertreatment device is a NOx trap.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2)

5) The system of claims 1 or 2 wherein the aftertreatment device is a diesel particulate filter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

6) The system of claim 2 further including a hydrogen-rich gas switchbox having associated valves and plumbing for controlling the flow of hydrogen-rich gas, wherein the valves in the switchbox are used to direct the flow of hydrogen-rich gas to the appropriate plumbing to regenerate the associated section of the aftertreatment unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

7) The system of claim 6 wherein the valves are butterfly valves.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

8) The system of claim 6 wherein the valves are poppet valves.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7, 8)

9) The system of claims 7 or 8 wherein the valves are actuated by either vacuum or compressed air.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

10) The system of claim 6 wherein the valves are sleeve valves.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

11) The system of claim 10 wherein the sleeve valve is made of flat surfaces, the moving part having one or more openings.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

12) The system of claim 11 wherein the sleeve valve surfaces are cylindrical shells with the moving part having one or more openings.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

13) The system of claim 11 wherein the moving part is driven by an electromagnetic actuator.

### Claim 14 (depends on 5)

14) The system of claim 5 wherein, during switching, there are two or more partially or fully open valves.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1, 2)

15) The system of claims 1 or 2 further including at least one regeneration sensor located upstream from the exhaust system, the sensor or sensors monitoring either reformate compounds or regeneration compounds.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1, 2)

16) The system of claims 1 or 2 wherein the fuel reformer operates over a wide range of oxygen-to-carbon ratios, from below partial oxidation to below full combustion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1, 2)

17) The system of claims 1 or 2 wherein there is a heat exchanger downstream from the reformer but upstream from the aftertreatment unit.

### Claim 18 (depends on 4)

18) The system of claim 4 wherein there is ammonia generated in the region that is being regenerated by the hydrogen rich gas, the ammonia re-entering other regions of the NOx trap that are not being regenerated by the hydrogen rich gas.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1, 2)

19) The system of claims 1 or 2 wherein a lean NOx catalyst and an SCR catalyst are both used and where the SCR catalyst is closer to the engine, so that the hydrogen rich gas passes over the lean NOx catalyst before it reaches the SCR catalyst.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1, 2)

20) The system of claims 1 or 2 wherein the fuel reformer is a plasmatron fuel reformer.