Exhaust Duct Bend Angle for SCR Mixing and Back Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current exhaust gas aftertreatment systems face challenges in reducing nitrogen oxide emissions and minimizing exhaust back pressure, particularly in diesel engines, where the arrangement of components like SCR catalytic converters and particle filters is limited by installation space and efficiency, leading to increased fuel consumption and emissions.

Innovation Solution

An exhaust aftertreatment device with a catalytic converter and particle filter arrangement that includes a bend of up to 60° in the exhaust gas duct, allowing for targeted swirl and turbulence, which enables even distribution of reducing agents and reduces back pressure, thereby eliminating the need for complex mixing elements and improving component heating and regeneration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the SCR catalytic converter and particle filter are arranged in an underbody position remote from the engine, then the exhaust gas aftertreatment components can be positioned away from the engine, but the installation space is limited and the back pressure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexhaust gas aftertreatment operating temperatureVSAvoidexhaust gas duct length
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust gas duct includes a bend with an angle of at most 60° between the catalytic converter and particle filter, creating a curved transition that reduces flow resistance and back pressure while maintaining compact installation space in the underbody position

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Stability of the object's composition

If multiple deflections are used to mix exhaust gas and reducing agent, then the mixing is improved, but the device complexity and back pressure increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform distribution of reducing agentVSAvoidexhaust gas duct complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single bend with an angle of at most 60° is used instead of multiple sharp deflections, creating sufficient turbulence for thorough mixing of exhaust gas and reducing agent while minimizing back pressure and simplifying the duct design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the exhaust gas duct is made as streamlined as possible, then the back pressure is reduced, but the mixing of reducing agent becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexhaust back pressureVSAvoiddistribution uniformity of reducing agent
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bend angle is optimized to at most 60°, creating a balance between streamlined flow (reducing back pressure) and sufficient turbulence (ensuring thorough mixing of reducing agent with exhaust gas)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The curved bend design creates controlled turbulence that enhances mixing while maintaining smoother flow compared to sharp angles, achieving both low back pressure and uniform reducing agent distribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

This configuration enhances the efficiency of exhaust gas treatment by reducing back pressure, increasing engine output, and shortening heating phases for components, ultimately lowering fuel consumption and emissions.

Implementation Method 1

An angle of the bend of 30° to 60° is preferred in order to introduce a targeted swirl and/or a targeted turbulence into the exhaust gas downstream of the first catalytic converter and upstream of the particle filter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

a catalytic converter for the selective, catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides (SCR catalytic converter)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 3

a particle filter for separating soot particles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 4

This mixing heats up the aqueous urea solution, with the aqueous urea solution releasing ammonia in the exhaust gas duct

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal decomposition: Thermolysis

Data Source

PatentEP3388646B1Exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine as well as an internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3388646B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3388646B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to an exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine, in whose exhaust system (12) a first catalyst (16) and a particulate filter (22) are arranged downstream of the first catalyst (16). The exhaust channel (14) between the first catalyst (16) and the particulate filter (22) is designed to have a bend of no more than 60° in order to minimize flow resistance and the associated increase in exhaust backpressure. This bend creates turbulence in the exhaust channel, enabling particularly efficient mixing of a reducing agent metered into the exhaust channel with the exhaust gas. This allows for increased effectiveness of a catalytic coating on the particulate filter (22).