Exhaust Gas Treatment Unit Flow Dividing Guide Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exhaust gas treatment units for motor vehicles face challenges in achieving a homogeneous exhaust gas mixture and efficient distribution of components over the cross-sectional area of the treatment body, particularly in compact designs and at low exhaust gas temperatures.

Innovation Solution

The proposed exhaust gas treatment unit features a supply line with an inlet and outlet, a housing forming an intermediate and outlet space, and a dividing device with guide elements that create a non-linear flow path and divide the exhaust gas into partial flows, ensuring thorough mixing and distribution without a large mixing space or high back pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the exhaust gas treatment unit is designed to be compact, then the installation space is reduced, but the homogeneity of the exhaust gas mixture and distribution over the cross-sectional area deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidhomogeneity of exhaust gas mixture
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust gas flow is divided into multiple partial flows using dividing devices with guide elements. The exhaust gas stream is segmented into at least two partial flows that are directed in opposite directions, enabling thorough mixing in a compact space without sacrificing homogeneity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a non-linear flow path with flow reversals that utilize three-dimensional space efficiently. By creating a complex flow pattern with reversals and divisions in multiple directions, the design achieves thorough mixing within a reduced volume by exploiting spatial dimensions rather than simply extending the mixing chamber length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If the exhaust gas treatment unit is designed compactly, then the size is reduced, but the distribution of exhaust gas components over the cross-sectional area deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunit sizeVSAvoiddistribution of exhaust gas components
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Dividing devices with guide elements segment the exhaust gas flow into multiple partial flows that are distributed across the cross-sectional area. This segmentation ensures that reducing agents are injected and mixed uniformly across the entire cross section, achieving even distribution in a compact configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide elements and dividing devices are positioned to create locally optimized flow patterns that ensure uniform distribution across different regions of the cross-sectional area. By controlling the local flow behavior through strategically placed guide elements, the patent achieves homogeneous distribution throughout the entire cross section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If mixing is achieved in a small space, then the unit size is reduced, but the back pressure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing spaceVSAvoidback pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic flow control through guide elements that direct partial flows in opposite directions, creating active mixing through flow interaction rather than passive diffusion. This dynamic approach achieves thorough mixing in a compact space without requiring excessive pressure to force gas through a long mixing chamber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The design utilizes pneumatic principles by leveraging the kinetic energy and flow dynamics of the exhaust gas itself to achieve mixing. The non-linear flow path with reversals and the dividing devices create turbulent mixing patterns that are driven by the gas flow characteristics rather than external mechanical means, reducing back pressure requirements.

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

This design achieves a highly homogeneous exhaust gas mixture and efficient distribution of reducing agents, such as urea-water solution, over the entire cross-sectional area, reducing the unit's size while maintaining low back pressure and effective treatment efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a dividing device having guide elements between the intermediate space and the outlet space, which is set up in such a way that the exhaust gas coming from the intermediate space is divided into at least two partial flows, which flow towards the outlet space via at least two openings formed in the dividing device can be guided in opposite directions into the outlet space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow division and direction control:

Implementation Method 2

an outlet space in the housing, which is arranged laterally to the supply line in such a way that a non-linear flow path is formed from the outlet opening of the supply line to the outlet space with at least one flow reversal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulent mixing: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP3033502B1Exhaust gas treatment unit comprising flow dividing and mixing guide elements
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP3033502B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3033502B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3033502B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to an exhaust gas treatment unit (1), comprising at least: a feed line (2) for exhaust gas having an inlet opening (3) and having an outlet opening (4); a housing (5), into which the feed line (2) extends with the outlet opening (4) and which forms an intermediate chamber (6), at least around the feed line (2); an outlet chamber (7) in the housing (5), which is arranged at the side of the feed line (2), wherein, further, a dividing device (8) is provided between the intermediate chamber (6) and the outlet chamber (7) and is equipped in such a way that the exhaust gas coming out of the intermediate chamber (6) is divided into at least two partial streams (9, 10), which can be led into the outlet chamber (7) in opposite directions via at least two openings (11, 12) formed in the dividing device (8). By means of the exhaust gas treatment unit according the invention good mixing and homogenization of the exhaust gas in a small overall space can be achieved, in particular if a reducing agent is injected, without generating an excessive back pressure in the process.