Fuel supply component purging system

Abstract

A method of purging fuel supply components for a combustion chamber of a regeneration assembly is disclosed. A regeneration cycle is performed during which fuel is supplied from a fuel source to the combustion chamber with fuel supply components including a fuel supply circuit and at least one fuel injector unit. At least a first purging cycle is initiated to purge residual fuel from the fuel supply components. During the purging cycle, a flow of purging gas is directed to the at least one fuel injector unit to purge residual fuel from the at least one fuel injector unit. Also during the purging cycle, a flow of purging gas is directed to the fuel supply circuit to purge at least a portion of the fuel in the fuel supply circuit toward the fuel source.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present disclosure is directed to a fuel supply component purging system and, more particularly, to a system and method for purging a fuel supply circuit and / or a fuel injector unit for a regeneration assembly.BACKGROUND[0002]Engines, including diesel engines, gasoline engines, natural gas engines, and other engines known in the art, may exhaust a complex mixture of emissions. The emissions may include both gaseous and solid material, such as, for example, particulate matter. Particulate matter may include ash and unburned carbon particles generally referred to as soot.[0003]Environmental concerns have resulted in the development of systems to treat engine exhaust. Some of these systems may employ exhaust treatment devices, such as particulate filters, to remove particulate matter from the exhaust flow. A particulate filter may include filter material designed to capture particulate matter. After an extended period of use, however, the filter material may be...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]In still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a machine comprises an engine system including an engine and an exhaust flow path, a filter assembly in the exhaust flow path, and a regeneration assembly configured to regenerate the filter assembly and including a combustion chamber. The machine includes at least one fuel injector unit associated with the combustion chamber, and a fuel supply circuit configured to supply fuel from a fuel source to the at least one fuel injector unit. The machine also includes a source of purge air, and a purge air flow path in communication with the fuel supply circuit and the at least one fuel injector unit. The machine further includes a controller configured to control the flow of purge air from the source to purge fuel from the at least one fuel injector unit, and configured to control the flow of purge air to purge fuel within the fuel supply circuit toward the fuel source.

Problems solved by technology

Engines, including diesel engines, gasoline engines, natural gas engines, and other engines known in the art, may exhaust a complex mixture of emissions.

After an extended period of use, however, the filter material may become partially saturated with particulate matter, such as soot.

This partial saturation may hinder the ability of the particulate filter to remove particulates from the exhaust flow.

The increase in temperature results in oxidation of the collected particulate matter.

However, fuel may remain within the fuel supply circuit and the fuel injector unit.

Such a build-up of substances may inhibit proper operation of the fuel injector unit and / or fuel supply circuit, and may adversely affect performance of the regeneration assembly.

However, residual fuel may remain in the fuel supply circuit after regeneration, and may leak toward the fuel injector unit.

Moreover, valves in the fuel supply circuit may be subject to leakage, resulting in fuel seeping or leaking to the fuel injector unit after nozzle purging.

While the system of the '738 patent contemplates purging a fuel pump and fuel injector nozzle, there is no control strategy associated with purging.

The purging system of the '738 patent may be inefficient and potentially wasteful of fuel since the air pump must operate continuously between regeneration events, and since fuel may persistently leak past the solenoid valve and be forced into the burner.

The energy necessary to continuously drive the air pump, coupled with the potential waste of fuel that may leak past the solenoid valve, may result in unacceptable inefficiency.

In addition, the large wetted area to be purged in the system of the '738 patent coupled with constantly purging small amounts of fuel to the injection device may even increase the chance of carbon growth at the site of the injection device.

Images