Method for starting the operation of a device for providing a liquid additive

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016017782-A1
Application number	US-201414772676-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 25, 2014
Priority date	Mar 4, 2013
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for starting operation of a device for providing a liquid additive, the device having at least one preheating element and at least one PTC heating element, includes: a) heating by the at least one preheating element; b) conducting heat from the at least one preheating element to the at least one PTC heating element such that a temperature of the at least one PTC heating element is raised; and c) heating by the at least one PTC heating element when the temperature of the PTC heating element has been raised.

First claim

1 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . A method for starting operation of a device ( 1 ) for providing a liquid additive, the device ( 1 ) having at least one preheating element ( 2 ) and at least one PTC heating element ( 3 ), the method comprising:
a) heating by the at least one preheating element ( 2 ); b) conducting heat from the at least one preheating element ( 2 ) to the at least one PTC heating element ( 3 ) such that a temperature of the at least one PTC heating element ( 3 ) is raised; and c) heating by the at least one PTC heating element ( 3 ) when the temperature of the PTC heating element ( 3 ) has been raised.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein, at low temperatures, the electrical resistance of the at least one preheating element ( 2 ) is greater than the electrical resistance of the at least one PTC heating element ( 3 ).

13 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one preheating element ( 2 ) is a drive coil ( 5 ) of a pump ( 4 ) configured to deliver the liquid additive in the device ( 1 ).

14 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein before step a), a reference temperature for the at least one PTC heating element ( 3 ) is determined, and steps a) and b) are performed only when said reference temperature lies below a predefined threshold temperature ( 6 ).

15 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein, before step c), a reference temperature for the at least one PTC heating element ( 3 ) is determined, and wherein step c) is first initiated when the reference temperature for the PTC heating element ( 3 ) is higher than a predefined minimum temperature ( 25 ).

16 . A device ( 1 ) for providing a liquid additive, comprising:
a PTC heating element ( 3 ) configured to melt frozen liquid additive in the device ( 1 ); and a preheating element ( 2 ) configured to preheat the at least one PTC heating element ( 3 ) in a targeted manner.

17 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 16 , wherein the preheating element ( 2 ) is a drive coil ( 5 ) of a pump ( 4 ) configured to deliver the liquid additive in the device ( 1 ).

18 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 16 , further comprising a heat-conducting structure ( 7 ) configured to conduct heat from the preheating element ( 2 ) to the PTC heating element ( 3 ).

19 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 16 , wherein the device ( 1 ) forms an installation unit ( 9 ) insertable into a tank ( 10 ) for liquid additive, wherein the at least one PTC heating element ( 3 ) is configured to melt at least a starting volume of frozen liquid additive in the tank ( 10 ).

20 . A motor vehicle ( 19 ), comprising:
an internal combustion engine ( 20 ); an exhaust-gas treatment device ( 21 ) configured to purify exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine ( 20 ); and a device ( 1 ) according to claim 16 configured to provide a liquid additive for the exhaust-gas treatment device ( 21 ).

Assignees

• Continental Automotive Gmbh

Inventors

• Maguin Georges

Classifications

• F01N2240/16

  an electric heater, i.e. a resistance heater · CPC title

• F01N3/2066 Primary

  Selective catalytic reduction [SCR] · CPC title

• F01N3/2013 Primary

  using electric or magnetic heating means · CPC title

• F01N2610/1486

  Means to prevent the substance from freezing · CPC title

• Y02A50/20

  Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters · CPC title