Gasoline Particulate Filter Air Injection for Low-NOx Soot Regeneration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passive and active regeneration techniques for particulate filters in gasoline engines are inefficient and can increase NOx emissions, necessitating improved methods for soot removal.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system with an air injection assembly that passively regenerates particulate filters by injecting air into the exhaust system during deceleration, utilizing low exhaust pressure and high air flow to burn soot, reducing THC and CO emissions while avoiding active regeneration's NOx increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If active regeneration techniques are used to remove soot from particulate filters, then soot removal efficiency is improved, but nitrogen oxide emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using traditional active regeneration that increases NOx emissions, the patent inverts the approach by utilizing exhaust gas recirculation to create a reducing atmosphere that passively regenerates the filter during normal operation, thereby reducing soot without increasing NOx emissions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the exhaust gas by recirculating a portion of the exhaust back into the combustion chamber, altering the oxygen concentration and temperature conditions to enable soot oxidation without the harmful side effects of traditional active regeneration
2Object-generated harmful factors
If passive regeneration techniques are used for particulate filters, then nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced, but soot removal efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by continuously recirculating exhaust gas during normal operation to maintain optimal conditions for soot oxidation, ensuring the filter is regenerated proactively before soot accumulation becomes problematic, rather than relying on periodic passive regeneration alone
3Object-generated harmful factors
If traditional exhaust aftertreatment systems are used, then emission reduction is achieved, but platinum group metals are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by using the vehicle's own exhaust gas as the regeneration medium, eliminating the need for additional catalytic converters or other aftertreatment devices that would require precious metals, thereby achieving emission reduction without consuming platinum group metals
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
The system effectively reduces soot, THC, and CO emissions, enhances compliance with emission regulations, and conserves platinum group metals, improving drive quality and financial efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
burn soot
Implementation Method 2
exhaust pressure in the exhaust tube is less than air pressure at the inlet
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with example implementations, a vehicle includes a body, an engine within the body, and at least one exhaust tube extending from the engine and having a particulate filter fluidly coupled to the exhaust tube to receive exhaust material from the exhaust tube. The vehicle also has at least one air injection pipe having a first end with an inlet arranged to receive air flow entering the body while the vehicle is moving, wherein the air injection pipe comprises a second end fluidly coupled to the exhaust tube and having an outlet positioned to provide air flow from the injection pipe into the exhaust tube upstream from the particulate filter. Passive soot regeneration with THC and CO reductions is realized by this introduced air flow.