Exhaust Gas Heating Arrangement with Movable Support Structure

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exhaust gas heating arrangements for internal combustion engines face inefficiencies in heat transfer to exhaust gas, particularly during the starting phase, leading to prolonged periods where efficient exhaust gas purification is hindered due to low exhaust gas and catalytic converter temperatures.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates movably supported heating units within the exhaust gas heating arrangement, allowing for thermally induced expansion compensation and vibration prevention through flexible support structures and electrical connections, ensuring efficient heat transfer and mechanical stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If heating units are fixed rigidly in the heating unit housing, then mechanical stability is maintained, but thermally induced expansion causes overload and stress concentration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidstress concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing the heating units to move freely in the longitudinal direction to compensate for thermal expansion. This dynamic support system eliminates stress concentration while maintaining mechanical stability during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure changes its positional parameters in response to thermal expansion of the heating units. By allowing movement in the longitudinal direction, the support structure adapts to dimensional changes without creating stress concentration points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stress or pressure

If heating units are made movable to compensate for thermal expansion, then stress concentration is avoided, but mechanical stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestress concentrationVSAvoidmechanical stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing the heating units to move freely in the longitudinal direction to compensate for thermal expansion. This dynamic support system eliminates stress concentration while maintaining mechanical stability during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If heating units are supported movably, then thermally induced expansion is compensated, but vibration occurrence may increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal expansion compensationVSAvoidvibration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing the heating units to move freely in the longitudinal direction to compensate for thermal expansion. This dynamic support system eliminates stress concentration while maintaining mechanical stability during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution enables efficient heat transfer to exhaust gas, shortening the time for effective exhaust gas purification by maintaining mechanical stability and preventing overheating, thus enhancing pollutant reduction efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

By applying an electrical voltage to the heating conductor element, an electrical current flows through it. The heat generated due to the electrical resistance is transferred via the jacket to a heat transfer formation surrounding the jacket on its outer side.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The heat generated due to the electrical resistance is transferred via the jacket to a heat transfer formation surrounding the jacket on its outer side. Exhaust gas flowing through the heating unit housing flows along the surfaces of the heat transfer sections or connecting sections and thereby absorbs heat.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

Exhaust gas flowing through the heating unit housing in a direction substantially corresponding to the direction of a housing longitudinal axis flows along the surfaces of the heat transfer sections or connecting sections and thereby absorbs heat.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4001602B1Exhaust gas heating arrangement

Publication Date: 2024.02.14 PUREM GMBH

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AI summary

An exhaust gas heating arrangement for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine comprises a heating unit housing (16) through which exhaust gas flows and a plurality of heating units (32) arranged in the heating unit housing (16), elongated in the direction of a heating unit longitudinal axis (H), each with a first heating unit longitudinal end region (44) and a second heating unit longitudinal end region (46), wherein the heating units (32) are supported in their first heating unit longitudinal end regions (44) and their second heating unit longitudinal end regions (46) by means of a support structure (52) with respect to the heating unit housing (16), wherein at least one, preferably (32) each heating unit is movably supported on the support structure (52) in the heating unit longitudinal direction (H).