Exhaust Gas Mixer Guide for Reactant Accrual

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exhaust gas aftertreatment systems face challenges in efficiently mixing reactants like urea without using compressed air, leading to reactant accrual on surfaces and reduced mixing efficiency due to turbulence.

Innovation Solution

A method and mixer design that utilizes a rotating flow of exhaust gas, an air-free doser, and a guide with a central opening to create a pressure difference, inhibiting turbulence and forming a laminar carrier flow around the doser to prevent reactant accrual.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If air-free dosing of reactant is used, then energy consumption is reduced and compressor is avoided, but reactant accrual occurs on doser tip and body

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidreactant accrual
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A guide structure with a central opening is introduced as an intermediary element between the doser and the exhaust gas flow. The guide defines a carrier flow that wraps around the doser, preventing reactant accrual without requiring compressed air. This mediator structure enables air-free dosing while eliminating the harmful accrual effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses the exhaust gas itself as a fluid carrier to create a protective flow around the doser. By utilizing the kinetic energy and pressure of the existing exhaust gas stream, a carrier flow is generated that prevents reactant accumulation on the doser surfaces, maintaining air-free dosing benefits while solving the accrual problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Device complexity

If reactant is sprayed without gas phase carrier, then compressor and air supply system are eliminated, but mixing efficiency deteriorates due to turbulence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompressor and air supply systemVSAvoidmixing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure acts as an intermediary that organizes the exhaust gas flow into a controlled carrier flow pattern. This carrier flow wraps around the doser in a laminar manner, providing a structured environment for reactant injection and mixing, thereby maintaining mixing efficiency without requiring external gas compression systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide structure modifies the flow parameters of the exhaust gas, transforming it into a controlled carrier flow with specific velocity and pressure characteristics. By changing the flow regime from turbulent to laminar in the region around the doser, the mixing efficiency is maintained while eliminating the need for complex compression systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If compressed air is used to disperse reactant, then mixing is easier and more efficient, but energy consumption increases and compressor is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereactant dispersionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust gas flow serves itself as the dispersing medium for the reactant. The guide structure enables the exhaust gas to automatically form a carrier flow that disperses the reactant effectively, eliminating the need for external compressed air systems while maintaining easy and efficient mixing operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the pneumatic properties of the exhaust gas flow to achieve reactant dispersion. By harnessing the pressure and velocity of the exhaust stream, the system creates an effective dispersing flow without requiring additional energy input from compressors, thereby maintaining ease of operation while reducing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

Enhances reactant dispersion by reducing turbulence, preventing accrual on surfaces, and maintaining efficient mixing without compressed air, thus improving energy efficiency and mixing quality.

Implementation Method 1

forming a pressure difference between a periphery of the guide and the mixing chamber around the guide. The side flow may be guided out of the rotating flow using the pressure difference to the carrier flow around the doser via the central opening.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

inhibiting by the guide turbulence from being transferred from the side flow to the carrier flow. The inhibiting of turbulence may make the carrier flow laminar around the doser.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence inhibition: Laminar Flow

Implementation Method 3

feeding a rotating flow of exhaust gas in a mixing pipe towards a turning end of a mixing chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP4197627B1Counter-flow reactant mixing for exhaust gas aftertreatment
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 PROVENTIA EMISSION CONTROL OY
  • EP4197627B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4197627B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3b
  • EP4197627B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~5

AI summary

A mixer and a method therein, including feeding a rotating flow (150) of exhaust gas in a mixing pipe (120) towards a turning end (112) of a mixing chamber (110); dosing reactant by a doser (170) against the rotating flow around a centreline (122) of the mixing pipe; maintaining a guide (180) around the doser such that a front face of the guide faces the rotating flow, and the guide defines a central opening (182) surrounding the doser; guiding a side flow (1b) out of the rotating flow to a carrier flow around the doser via the central opening; and inhibiting by the guide turbulence from being transferred from the side flow to the carrier flow.