Glow Plug Exhaust Catalyst Heating for Cold Start
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exhaust gas purifying catalysts in internal combustion engines have low conversion efficiency during the cold start phase, leading to residual pollutants being emitted due to insufficient catalyst activation temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a glow plug positioned in the exhaust line between the catalytic converter and the combustion chamber, combined with a flame accelerator, to ignite and heat the exhaust gases, thereby activating the catalyst during the cold start phase without additional fuel sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a catalytic converter is used to reduce exhaust pollutants, then pollutant conversion efficiency is improved, but the catalyst cannot be activated during cold start phase due to insufficient temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The glow plug is positioned in the exhaust line upstream of the catalytic converter to pre-heat the exhaust gases before they enter the catalyst. This preliminary heating action ensures the catalyst reaches its activation temperature faster during cold start, improving pollutant conversion efficiency without waiting for the engine to warm up naturally.
Solution Approach 2:
The glow plug acts as an intermediary heat source between the exhaust engine and the catalytic converter. By introducing an additional heating element in the exhaust line, the system transfers thermal energy from the glow plug to the exhaust gases, which then heat the catalyst, solving the temperature activation problem during cold start.
2Productivity
If the exhaust line is heated to activate the catalyst during cold start, then pollutant conversion is improved, but residual pollutants remain due to insufficient heating
Solution Approach 1:
The glow plug provides preliminary heating to the exhaust gases in the exhaust line before they reach the catalytic converter. This ensures the catalyst is warmed up in advance during cold start, improving the conversion of residual pollutants that would otherwise remain unconverted due to insufficient temperature.
3Temperature
If additional fuel sources are used to heat the exhaust line, then catalyst activation is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the engine's own exhaust gases as the fuel source for heating. The glow plug ignites a portion of the exhaust gas stream itself, converting the waste heat in the exhaust into useful thermal energy for catalyst activation. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate fuel storage, injection, and combustion systems, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potentially harmful cold exhaust gases into a useful heat source. By using the glow plug to ignite the exhaust stream, the system transforms the cold waste products into a beneficial heating medium that activates the catalyst, turning a harmful condition (cold exhaust) into a beneficial action (catalyst activation).
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 heats the catalyst to its activation temperature, ensuring efficient pollutant conversion and emission reduction during engine startup.
Implementation Method 1
igniting the mixture of air and fuel in the exhaust line using a glow plug, producing an amount of heated combustion gas
Implementation Method 2
flowing the amount of heated combustion gas through a flame accelerator to a catalytic converter to heat and activate a catalyst within the catalytic converter
Data Source
AI summary
A system for reducing internal combustion engine emissions includes an engine, a catalytic converter fluidly connected to a combustion chamber via an exhaust line, a glow plug positioned along the exhaust line between the catalytic converter and the combustion chamber, and a flame accelerator, without a fluid connection to a separate fuel supply. Methods of using the system include igniting a mixture of air and fuel in the exhaust line using the glow plug, producing an amount of heated combustion gas.