Exhaust Purification Filter with Periodic Secondary Air Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exhaust purification systems fail to maintain high catalyst temperatures for effective combustion of soot due to continuous secondary air supply, leading to inadequate removal of harmful components like HC and CO.

Innovation Solution

A system that controls secondary air supply with a predetermined frequency and oxygen concentration amplitude to create a cycle of lean and non-lean states, maintaining catalyst temperature and promoting combustion through adsorption and oxidation heat cycles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If secondary air is continuously supplied to the filter, then oxygen is provided for soot combustion, but the exhaust gas temperature decreases and soot combustion is inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen concentrationVSAvoidexhaust gas temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by controlling the secondary air supply to oscillate at a specific frequency (0.05-2 Hz) rather than continuous supply. This periodic injection creates cycles of oxygen concentration variation that allow the catalyst to alternately adsorb oxygen during lean phases and release it during rich phases, maintaining catalyst temperature while providing necessary oxygen for soot combustion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If secondary air is supplied with high frequency, then oxygen is provided more frequently, but the catalyst temperature fluctuates excessively and combustion efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen supply frequencyVSAvoidcatalyst temperature stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the frequency parameter of secondary air supply to a specific range (0.05-2 Hz). This parameter optimization ensures that the oscillation frequency matches the catalyst's oxygen storage and release characteristics, maintaining stable catalyst temperature while achieving effective oxygen supply for soot combustion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If secondary air amplitude is increased to promote soot combustion, then more oxygen is available, but the temperature drops further and purification efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen concentration amplitudeVSAvoidexhaust gas temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses periodic action with controlled amplitude (0.5-5% oxygen concentration variation) to create optimal oscillation cycles. The periodic injection pattern with specific amplitude ensures sufficient oxygen availability during lean phases while limiting temperature drop, allowing the catalyst to maintain combustion functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Reliability

If the catalyst operates continuously in lean state, then oxygen storage capacity is maintained, but the cycle of adsorption and oxidation reactions cannot be generated and catalyst activity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen storage capacityVSAvoidcatalyst activity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by creating controlled oscillations between lean and rich states through frequency-controlled secondary air injection. This periodic variation enables the catalyst to cycle between oxygen adsorption (during lean phases) and oxygen release with oxidation reactions (during rich phases), maintaining both oxygen storage capacity and catalytic activity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 the purification of HC and CO by maintaining high catalyst temperatures, reducing T50 values by 5°C or more, thereby improving purification efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the exhaust purification catalyst generates adsorption heat by adsorbing O2 if the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

generates oxidation heat by oxidizing HC and CO using the adsorbed O2 if the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is not lean

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 3

The periodic secondary air enables generation of a cycle of the lean state and the non-lean state. The catalyst affixed to the filter can maintain a high temperature and promote the combustion function because the periodic secondary air enables generation of a cycle of the adsorption heat and the oxidation heat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExothermic reaction: Exothermic Reaction

Data Source

PatentEP4607008A1Exhaust purification device
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 MAZDA MOTOR CORP
  • EP4607008A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4607008A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4607008A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An exhaust purification device includes: a filter 33 including an OSC material; a secondary air supply passage 40 connected to the exhaust passage 30 upstream of the filter; a secondary air control valve 42 disposed in the secondary air supply passage and configured to provide periodicity to the secondary air supplied to the secondary air supply passage; and an ECU 100, wherein the ECU controls the secondary air control valve so as to supply secondary air with a predetermined frequency and a maximum amplitude of an oxygen concentration, and wherein the secondary air control valve is controlled so that when the frequency of the secondary air is fixed to a value of more than 0Hz and 1.5Hz or less, the maximum amplitude of the oxygen concentration is more than 0.50% and 3.0% or less.