Ceramic Baffle Plate Mixing for Shorter SCR Exhaust Pipes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for mixing reducing agents in exhaust gas streams require significant installation space and suffer from high wear due to the chemical and thermal stress of the baffle plates, leading to increased maintenance costs and limited efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A ceramic baffle plate with irregularly arranged ceramic hard bodies and pores, positioned downstream of a mixing nozzle, is used to atomize and evaporate the reducing agent droplets efficiently, minimizing contact with pipe walls and reducing wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a straight exhaust pipe more than 1.5 m long is used to ensure complete evaporation of the reducing agent, then the evaporation completeness is improved, but the installation space requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevaporation completenessVSAvoidexhaust pipe length
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust pipe is segmented into multiple sections with baffle plates inserted at intervals. This segmentation creates multiple evaporation zones along the exhaust path, allowing complete evaporation of the reducing agent within a shorter overall pipe length by distributing the evaporation process across several localized zones rather than requiring a single long continuous path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Baffle plates are introduced as intermediary elements within the exhaust pipe. These baffle plates serve as mediators that disrupt the exhaust flow, forcing it to pass around and through the plates, thereby increasing the effective path length and providing additional surface area for evaporation without requiring the entire exhaust pipe to be excessively long.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If conventional baffle plates are used to mix the reducing agent, then the mixing efficiency is improved, but the wear on baffle plates increases due to chemical and thermal stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing efficiencyVSAvoidbaffle plate durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The baffle plates are constructed from composite materials that combine materials with complementary properties. This composite structure provides both the mechanical strength and chemical resistance needed to withstand the harsh exhaust environment while maintaining the flow disruption capability required for efficient mixing of the reducing agent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The material parameters of the baffle plates are specifically changed to match the harsh exhaust environment. The plates are made from materials with high temperature resistance and chemical inertness, allowing them to operate reliably in the high-temperature, chemically aggressive environment without significant wear or degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the reducing agent is injected directly into the exhaust stream, then the system complexity is reduced, but the mixing efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinjection system complexityVSAvoidmixing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The injection system is segmented into multiple injection points along the exhaust pipe rather than a single injection point. This segmentation allows the reducing agent to be introduced at multiple locations, improving mixing efficiency by distributing the injectant throughout the exhaust stream more effectively, while each individual injection point remains relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Baffle plates serve as intermediary elements that enhance the mixing process. When the reducing agent is injected, the baffle plates disrupt the exhaust flow and force the injectant to mix more thoroughly with the exhaust gas, thereby improving mixing efficiency without requiring complex injection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system requires less space, reduces wear on components, and enhances mixing efficiency while maintaining high chemical reaction effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

The disordered, porous surface of the impact plate is advantageous because the impacting liquid molecule chains are effectively atomized

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAtomization:

Implementation Method 2

a reducing agent is added and vaporized in the exhaust gas stream

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

The combustion system being equipped typically has an exhaust pipe that carries the hot exhaust gases from the combustion process to the SCR unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Implementation Method 4

The chemical reactions taking place in SCR systems reduce the nitrogen oxides

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 5

These catalysts can have different designs and preferably utilize materials with large effective surface areas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentEP4700216A1Device for mixing a reducing agent into an exhaust gas flow
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 DENK KERAMISCHE WERKSTÄTTEN EK
  • EP4700216A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4700216A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4700216A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to an arrangement for mixing a reducing agent into an exhaust gas stream. For this purpose, the arrangement has an exhaust gas guide pipe (04) with a central axis into which nitrogen oxide-containing combustion gases are introduced via an exhaust gas inlet to form an exhaust gas stream. Furthermore, a reducing agent feed (05) is provided, which is located in the exhaust gas guide pipe (04) and comprises a mixing nozzle (06) to which compressed air and reducing agent are supplied via supply lines (07) to spray a mist into the exhaust gas stream. A ceramic baffle plate (23) is arranged downstream with a fanning distance (lA) upstream of the mixing nozzle (06) so that the spray mist emitted by the mixing nozzle (06) directly impacts the baffle plate (23). The baffle plate (23) consists of rigidly connected, irregularly arranged hard bodies.Pores remain between the hard bodies; the strong bond between the hard bodies is created by an added binder. The softening temperature of the binder is chosen relative to the melting temperature of the pore-forming agent such that stable glass bonds are formed between the hard bodies during the ceramic firing process before the pore-forming agent burns off.