Compact radial exterior exhaust assisted decomposition reactor pipe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016160728-A1
Application number	US-201414561646-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 5, 2014
Priority date	Dec 5, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Various embodiments provide for apparatuses and systems involving a reactor pipe configured to receive reductant from an injector into a flow of exhaust exiting an engine. The reactor pipe comprises an inlet portion, a plurality of louvers, an outlet portion, and a radial loop. The inlet portion is structured to receive the flow exiting the engine into the reactor pipe. The louvers are structured to alter a direction of the flow. Further, the radial loop is configured to extend between the inlet portion and the outlet portion and receives the flow of exhaust through the inlet portion. The radial loop also directs the flow of the exhaust toward the outlet portion and reduces the velocity of the flow of the exhaust such that the reductant has an increased amount of time to react with the exhaust.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A reactor pipe configured to receive an injection of reductant from an injector into a flow of exhaust exiting an engine, the reactor pipe comprising:
an inlet portion structured to receive the flow of exhaust exiting the engine into the reactor pipe; a plurality of louvers positioned proximate the inlet portion, the plurality of louvers structured to alter a direction of a flow of exhaust; an outlet portion in fluid communication with a selective catalytic reduction catalyst and structured to allow the flow of exhaust to exit the reactor pipe and enter the selective catalytic reduction catalyst; and a radial loop extending between the inlet portion and the outlet portion, the radial loop receiving the flow of exhaust through the inlet portion and directing the flow of exhaust toward the outlet portion, the radial loop configured to reduce the velocity of the flow of exhaust such that the reductant has increased time to react with the exhaust.

2 . The reactor pipe of claim 1 , wherein the inlet portion is shaped so as to prevent a stagnation of the flow of exhaust at a point where the exhaust enters the reactor pipe.

3 . The reactor pipe of claim 1 , wherein the inlet portion is fluidly connected to a particulate filter positioned upstream of the reactor pipe, the inlet portion being structured to prevent a stagnation of the flow of exhaust at a point at an exit wall of the particulate filter and to alter the direction of the flow of exhaust so as to provide a smooth transition out of the particulate filter into the reactor pipe.

4 . The reactor pipe of claim 1 , wherein the inlet portion is fluidly connected to an oxidation catalyst positioned upstream of the reactor pipe, the inlet portion being structured to prevent a stagnation of the flow of exhaust at a point at an exit wall of the oxidation catalyst and to alter the direction of the flow of exhaust to provide a smooth transition out of the oxidation catalyst into the reactor pipe.

5 . The reactor pipe of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of louvers are structured to condition a portion of the flow of exhaust into exhaust assisted ports in the injector such that droplets of the reactant entrains with the flow of exhaust.

6 . The reactor pipe of claim 1 , wherein the outlet portion comprises a contoured shape, the contoured shape guiding the flow of exhaust as the outlet portion expands to a receiving surface of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst.

7 . The reactor pipe of claim 1 , wherein the injector is configured to inject the reductant at increased rates for the production of high nitrogen oxide within the exhaust.

8 . The reactor pipe of claim 1 , wherein the radial loop curves around an outer surface of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst in-line with a particulate filter.

9 . The reactor pipe of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of perforated plates structured to uniformly distribute the reductant over a face of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst.

10 . The reactor pipe of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of perforated plates are structured to open incrementally to a plurality of different positions.

11 . The reactor pipe of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of perforated plates are positioned proximate the outlet portion.

12 . The reactor pipe of claim 1 , wherein the radial loop has a helical shape.

13 . The reactor pipe of claim 1 , wherein the radial loop has a non-helical shape.

14 . An aftertreatment system, comprising:
an injector structured to inject a reductant into exhaust received from an engine; a catalyst positioned downstream of the injector, the catalyst structured to treat the exhaust; and a reactor pipe positioned upstream of the catalyst, the reactor pipe structured to receive the reductant from the injector, the reactor pipe comprising:
an inlet portion structured to receive a flow of the exhaust,
a plurality of louvers positioned proximate the inlet portion, the plurality of louvers structured to redirect flow of the exhaust,
an outlet portion structured to allow the exhaust to exit the reactor pipe, and
a radial loop extending between the inlet portion and the outlet portion, the radial loop receiving the exhaust into the inlet portion and directing the exhaust toward the outlet portion, wherein the radial loop is configured to reduce the velocity of the exhaust such that the reductant has increased time to react with the exhaust.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the reactor pipe further comprises one or more perforated plates positioned proximate the outlet portion, the plurality of perforated plates structured to uniformly distribute the reductant over a face of the catalyst.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the injector is located on an outer surface of the reactor pipe.

17 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising an oxidation catalyst in fluid communication with the reactor pipe and positioned upstream of the reactor pipe.

18 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising a diesel particulate filter in fluid communication with the reactor pipe and positioned upstream of the reactor pipe.

19 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the radial loop has a helical shape.

20 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the radial loop has a non-helical shape

21 . An engine system, comprising:
an engine; and an aftertreatment system in fluid communication with the engine and structured to treat exhaust exiting the engine, the aftertreatment system including:
a selective catalytic reduction catalyst positioned downstream of the engine and structured to receive the exhaust from the engine, and
a reactor pipe in fluid communication with the engine and the selective catalytic reduction catalyst, the reactor pipe positioned upstream of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst, the reactor pipe comprising:
an inlet portion structured to receive the exhaust,
a plurality of louvers positioned proximate the inlet portion, the plurality of louvers structured to adjust the direction of a flow of the exhaust,
an outlet portion structured to allow the exhaust to exit the reactor pipe,
one or more perforated plates positioned proximate the outlet portion, the one or more perforated plates configured to open incrementally to a plurality of different positions, and
a radial loop extending between the inlet portion and the outlet portion, the radial loop receiving the exhaust from the inlet portion and directing the exhaust toward the outlet portion, wherein the radial loop is configured to reduce the velocity of the exhaust such that inserted reductant has increased time to react with the exhaust.

22 . The engine system of claim 21 , wherein the radial loop curves around an outer surface of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst and in-line with a particulate filter.

23 . The engine system of claim 21 , wherein the radial loop is configured to reduce the speed of the flow of exhaust.

24 . The engine system of claim 21 , further comprising an oxidation catalyst in fluid communication with the reactor pipe and positioned upstream of the reactor pipe.

25 . The engine system of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of perforated plates are configured to uniformly distribute the reductant over a face of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst.

26 . The engine system of claim 21 , wherein the radial loop has a helical

Assignees

• Cummins Emission Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Mitchell Douglas A
• Johnson Ryan M
• Jagtap Kartiki
• Mittapalli Mahendra
• Chiruta Mihai

Classifications

• Y02T10/12

  Improving ICE efficiencies · CPC title

• F01N3/021

  by means of filters · CPC title

• F01N3/2066 Primary

  Selective catalytic reduction [SCR] · CPC title

• F01N3/2896 Primary

  Liquid catalyst carrier · CPC title

• B01F25/314

  wherein additional components are introduced at the circumference of the conduit · CPC title