Apparatus comprising the combination of filter apparatus and regeneration apparatus and process for regenerating the filter apparatus using the regeneration apparatus
AssigneeRegie Nationale des Usines Renault
InventorGerard Renevot
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and process for regeneration of clogged solid particle filters, particularly for diesel engines. There is periodically injected upstream from the clogged filter an organic liquid such as C.sub.x H.sub.y O.sub.z, of the ethyl or methyl alcohol type, having a low vaporization temperature, if necessary with water added. The organic liquid, after having been preheated and cracked to give rise to a very flammable mixture consisting essentially of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, is introduced in the path of the incident exhaust gases. The regeneration apparatus comprises two prechambers, each of which contains a glow plug. The burning of the flammable mixture regenerates the clogged filter.
Claims15
Apparatus for regenerating a clogged particle filter into which exhaust gas containing carbon particles from a hydrocarborn engine is introduced by way of a conduit in fluid communication with the particle filter, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a tank for containing an organic liquid;
- (b) a first prechamber in which the organic liquid is cracked;
- (c) a first fluid passageway in fluid communication with said tank and with said first prechamber;
- (d) a first glow plug disposed in said first prechamber;
- (e) a second prechamber located in said first fluid passageway between said tank and said first prechamber;
- (f) a second glow plug disposed in said second prechamber;
- and
- (g) a second fluid passageway in fluid communication with said first prechamber and adapted to be placed in communication with the conduit.
Apparatus for filtering carbon particles out of the exhaust gas of a hydrocarbon engine, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a particle filter device;
- (b) a conduit in fluid communication with said particle filter device;
- (c) a tank for containing an organic liquid;
- (d) a first prechamber in which the organic liquid is cracked;
- (e) a first fluid passageway in fluid communication with said tank and with said first prechamber;
- (f) a first glow plug disposed in said first prechamber;
- (g) a second prechamber located in said first fluid passageway between said tank and said first prechamber;
- (h) a second glow plug disposed in said second prechamber;
- and
- (i) a second fluid passageway in fluid communication with said first prechamber and with said conduit.
A method of regenerating a clogged particle filter into which exhaust gas containing carbon particles from a hydrocarbon engine is introduced by way of a conduit in fluid communication with the filter, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) cracking an organic fluid having the formula C.sub.x H.sub.y O.sub.z, wherein x, y, and z are positive integers, to obtain a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
- (b) heating the mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to a temperature at which it will cause combustion of the exhaust gas;
- (c) mixing the mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide with the exhaust gas at a point in the conduit between the engine and the filter, thereby causing combustion of the exhaust gas;
- and
- (d) causing the combusted exhaust gas to flow through the particle filter so as to burn off the carbon particles clogging the filter, thereby regenerating the clogged particle filter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.