# US 2014/0190148 A1 · METHODS FOR NOx REDUCTION USING EXHAUST-GAS CONDENSATE > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190148 A1 - Document ID: US20140190148A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/148,584 - Filed: 2014-01-06 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Helmut Hans Ruhland; Werner Willems; Claudia Katharina Herudek; Claudia Conee; Guohui Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190148A1 ## CPC - F02M 26/29: Constructional details of the coolers, e.g. pipes, plates, ribs, insulation or materials - F01N 3/005: {for draining or otherwise eliminating condensates or moisture accumulating in the apparatus (F01N3/02 takes precedence)} - F02M 25/0222: {Water recovery or storage} - F02M 25/028: into the charge intakes - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - 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) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract The system and methods described allow for reduce emissions by using a recirculation device within an engine that connects an air feed line to an exhaust line while cooling the exhaust-gas to form a condensate for further cooling the engine system. In one particular example, a cooling unit is described that cools the exhaust-gas stream flowing there through and collects a condensate out of the exhaust-gas stream for injection back into the air feed line via an injecting device. In this way, an injection of water may be made to reduce NOx emissions during vehicle operations, and the outlay for storage of water on board the vehicle may be eliminated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An engine, comprising: an air feed line, an exhaust line for discharging exhaust-gas, and a recirculation device that couples the exhaust line and the air feed line, the recirculation device including a cooling unit for cooling the exhaust-gas stream, a condensate collecting device for collecting condensate out of the exhaust-gas stream, and an injection device for injecting said condensate back into the air feed line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The engine of claim 1, further including an exhaust-gas recirculation means for recirculating at least a portion of the exhaust-gas to the air feed line, wherein the exhaust-gas recirculation means includes one or more branches off of the exhaust line, and wherein the one or more branches off of the exhaust line are arranged upstream of the cooling unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The engine of claim 1, further including a compressor within the air feed line, wherein the injection device is arranged downstream of the compressor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The engine of claim 1, wherein the exhaust line within the cooling unit meanders to increase an exposed surface area of the exhaust line while increasing a residence time of the exhaust-gas within the cooling unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The engine of claim 1, wherein the cooling unit comprises at least one of a heat exchanger and a compression refrigerator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The engine of claim 1, wherein the cooling unit is configured to connect to a compression refrigerator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The engine of claim 1, wherein the condensate collecting device further includes a means for storing a buffer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The engine of claim 7, wherein a discharge device is included within the condensate collecting device to discharge at least a portion of condensate to an ambient environment in response to a discharge signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The engine of claim 8, further including discharging the condensate during the engine drive cycle, wherein the cooling unit of the recirculation device is coupled to a vehicle air-conditioning system. ### Claim 10 A method for regulating an engine temperature, comprising: recirculating a first portion of an exhaust-gas stream from an exhaust line to an air feed line via one or more exhaust-gas recirculation lines; cooling a second portion of the exhaust-gas stream in a cooling unit of a recirculation device that couples the exhaust line of the engine to the air feed line, wherein the recirculation device is located downstream of the one or more exhaust-gas recirculation lines, and wherein the recirculation device is arranged parallel to the one or more exhaust-gas recirculation lines; collecting condensate from the second portion of the exhaust-gas stream in a condensate collecting device; injecting an amount of the condensate collected into the air feed line based on one or more engine operating conditions; and adjusting a mixing valve to adjust a degree of exhaust-gas recirculation from the one or more exhaust-gas recirculation lines based on the amount of condensate injected. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further including directing a third portion of the exhaust-gas stream to an exhaust-gas outlet of the engine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first portion of the exhaust-gas stream is recirculated without injecting condensate in response to an engine temperature exceeding a first temperature threshold. ### Claim 13 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein condensate is injected in combination with the first portion of the exhaust-gas stream in response to an engine temperature exceeding a second temperature threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further including directing a flow of air over the cooling unit of the recirculation device via an air-conditioning system and into a vehicle cabin to lower a cabin temperature. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the injecting of condensate into the air feed line is based on a flow of air through the air feed line. ### Claim 16 A method for an engine, comprising: cooling an engine exhaust-gas stream with a cooling unit within a condensate recirculation device coupling an exhaust line to an air intake system; collecting condensate from the cooled exhaust-gas stream in a condensate collecting device, and introducing the collected condensate into the air intake system to admix with an airflow while admixing recirculated exhaust gas in parallel to the condensate admixing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further including adjusting an amount of condensate directed to the air intake system based on an amount of exhaust-gas recirculation, wherein the exhaust-gas is recirculated via a line located upstream of the condensate recirculation device and arranged parallel thereto. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the amount of exhaust-gas recirculation is reduced responsive to an increase in the amount of condensate introduced into the intake air intake system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further including receiving a discharge signal indicating a temperature below a freezing threshold, and discharging at least a portion of the collected condensate to an ambient environment in response to the discharge signal. ### Claim 20 A method comprising cooling exhaust gas with a cooler and collecting condensate therein, the condensate directed through a first line and injected to intake air, the first line directing only liquid condensate and not exhaust gas; while recirculating exhaust gas through a second line to the intake in parallel with the first line, the second line upstream of the first line, an EGR valve in the second line adjusted responsive to an amount of the liquid injection.