Aftertreatment system implementing low-temperature SCR

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9512760-B2
Application number	US-201514599337-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2015
Priority date	Dec 15, 2014
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

An aftertreatment system for an engine is disclosed. The aftertreatment system may include an exhaust passage configured to receive an exhaust flow from the engine, and an injector disposed in the exhaust passage and configured to inject reductant into the exhaust flow. The aftertreatment system may also include a bypass conduit fluidly connected to the exhaust passage downstream of the injector, at least one valve disposed in the bypass conduit and configured to divert exhaust gases from the exhaust passage into the bypass conduit, and a reductant storage device disposed in the bypass conduit and configured to store ammonia in the exhaust gases. The aftertreatment system may also include a control module configured to selectively operate the at least one valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aftertreatment system for an engine, comprising:
an exhaust passage configured to receive an exhaust flow from the engine;
an injector disposed in the exhaust passage and configured to inject a reductant into the exhaust flow;
a bypass conduit fluidly connected to the exhaust passage downstream of the injector;
at least one valve disposed in the bypass conduit and configured to divert exhaust gases from the exhaust passage into the bypass conduit;
a reductant storage device disposed in the bypass conduit and configured to store ammonia in the exhaust gases;
a control module configured to selectively operate the at least one valve;
a first sensor configured to indicate a temperature of the exhaust flow; and
a second sensor configured to indicate a temperature of the reductant storage device, wherein the first and second sensors are electronically connected to the control module;
wherein the control module is further configured to open the at least one valve when:
the temperature of the exhaust flow is above a first threshold; and
the temperature of the reductant storage device is above a release temperature.

2. The aftertreatment system of claim 1 , further including a heater disposed in the bypass conduit and configured to heat the reductant storage device, wherein the heater is electronically connected to the control module.

3. The aftertreatment system of claim 2 , wherein the control module is further configured to selectively open the at least one valve based on a power output of the heater.

4. The aftertreatment system of claim 2 , wherein the control module is further configured to activate the heater when the temperature of the reductant storage device is below a release temperature.

5. The aftertreatment system of claim 1 , further including a cooling device disposed in the bypass conduit and configured to cool the reductant storage device, wherein the cooling device is in communication with the control module.

6. The aftertreatment system of claim 5 , wherein the control module is further configured to activate the cooling device when the temperature of the reductant storage device is above a storage temperature.

7. The aftertreatment system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to:
determine an ammonia concentration downstream of the reductant storage device; and
selectively operate the at least one valve based on the ammonia concentration.

8. The aftertreatment system of claim 1 , further including a reduction device disposed in the exhaust passage downstream of the bypass conduit and configured to receive ammonia released from the reductant storage device.

9. A method of treating exhaust from an engine, comprising:
receiving an exhaust flow from the engine;
selectively injecting a reductant into the exhaust flow;
directing the exhaust flow and reductant to a reduction device;
selectively diverting exhaust gases to a reductant storage device;
selectively releasing ammonia from the reductant storage device to the reduction device;
determining a temperature of the exhaust flow; and
determining a temperature of the reductant storage device, wherein:
diverting the exhaust gases includes diverting the exhaust gases when:
the temperature of the exhaust flow is above a first threshold; and
the temperature of the reductant storage device is above a release temperature.

10. The method of claim 9 , further including inhibiting the exhaust gases from being diverted when the temperature of the exhaust flow is above a second threshold.

11. The method of claim 9 , further including selectively heating the reductant storage device when the temperature of the reductant storage device is above the release temperature.

12. The method of claim 11 , further including monitoring a power used to heat the reductant storage device, wherein diverting the exhaust gases includes diverting the exhaust gases based on the power.

13. The method of claim 9 , further including:
determining a reductant concentration downstream of the reductant storage device; and
inhibiting exhaust gases from being diverted based on the reductant concentration.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein injecting the reductant includes injecting the reductant when the temperature of the exhaust flow is greater than or equal to a minimum injection temperature.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein selectively releasing ammonia from the reductant storage device includes selectively releasing ammonia from the reductant storage device when the temperature of the exhaust flow is above the first threshold.

16. The method of claim 9 , further including selectively cooling the reductant storage device when the temperature of the reductant storage device is above a storage temperature.

17. An engine comprising:
an engine block at least partially defining a plurality of cylinders;
an exhaust system connected to the engine and including:
an exhaust passage configured to receive an exhaust flow from the plurality of cylinders;
a first sensor configured to indicate a temperature of the exhaust flow;
an injector disposed in the exhaust passage and configured to inject a reductant into the exhaust flow;
a bypass conduit fluidly connected to the exhaust passage downstream of the injector;
at least one valve disposed in the bypass conduit and configured to divert exhaust gases from the exhaust passage into the bypass conduit;
a reductant storage device disposed in the bypass conduit and configured to store ammonia from the exhaust gases;
a second sensor configured to indicate a temperature of the reductant storage device;
a control module configured to selectively operate the at least one valve based on the temperature of the exhaust flow and on the temperature of the reductant storage device; and
a reduction device disposed in the exhaust passage downstream of the bypass conduit and configured to receive ammonia released from the reductant storage device.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Clayton Jr Robert Dale
• Paulson Thomas Edward

Classifications

• F01N2560/021

  for measuring or detecting ammonia NH3 · CPC title

• F01N2900/1602

  Temperature of exhaust gas apparatus · CPC title

• F01N3/2013

  using electric or magnetic heating means · CPC title

• F01N2610/146

  Control thereof, e.g. control of injectors or injection valves · CPC title

• F01N3/2053 Primary

  By-passing catalytic reactors, e.g. to prevent overheating · CPC title