Heat Shielded Reducing Agent Injection Nozzle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing injection nozzles for internal combustion engines face thermal stress and heat transfer issues due to high exhaust gas temperatures, which can lead to damage and inefficiency in reducing agent injection for selective catalytic reduction, particularly with urea solutions.

Innovation Solution

An external-mixing injection nozzle design featuring a heat shield integrated into the nozzle body to reduce thermal expansion and stress, combined with a curved reducing agent line and compressed air cooling, allows for efficient atomization of the reducing agent outside the nozzle head.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the nozzle body and reducing agent line are exposed to high exhaust gas temperatures, then the reducing agent can be injected into the exhaust stream, but thermal stress and heat transfer cause damage and reduce service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice life of injection nozzleVSAvoidthermal stress and heat transfer
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A heat shield made of heat-resistant material is introduced as an intermediary component between the exhaust gas environment and the reducing agent line. The heat shield has a first end connected to the exhaust pipe and a second end connected to the nozzle body, creating a thermal barrier that protects the reducing agent line from direct heat exposure while still allowing the system to function at high temperatures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the nozzle protrudes deeper into the exhaust gas stream to improve mixing, then atomization efficiency improves, but thermal stress and heat exposure increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveatomization efficiencyVSAvoidthermal stress
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heat shield serves as a protective intermediary that enables the nozzle to protrude deeper into the hot exhaust stream by bearing the thermal load. This allows the nozzle head to be positioned closer to the optimal injection zone for better atomization and mixing while the heat shield absorbs the thermal stress

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If additional insulation components are added to protect the nozzle body, then thermal protection improves, but device complexity and assembly effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal protectionVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat shield is integrated with the existing nozzle structure by connecting its ends to the exhaust pipe and nozzle body respectively. This merging approach provides thermal protection without requiring completely separate insulation assemblies, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining protective function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enhances the nozzle's tolerance to high exhaust gas temperatures, increases service life, and improves mixing efficiency of the reducing agent with exhaust gases, reducing thermal stress and potential decomposition of the urea solution.

Implementation Method 1

the nozzle body has at least one heat shield which thermally insulates the reducing agent line at least partially

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

for atomizing the reducing agent by means of compressed air or propellant gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAtomization:

Implementation Method 3

In the exhaust gas, the urea decomposes into gaseous ammonia and CO2 at temperatures above 150° Celsius

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDecomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 4

Through thermal radiation or heat transfer by contact or convection, heat can also be transferred to the reducing agent-carrying elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 5

Through thermal radiation or heat transfer by contact or convection, heat can also be transferred to the reducing agent-carrying elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer by convection: Convection

Implementation Method 6

stresses can occur at the connection, especially a welded joint, between the reducing agent line and the nozzle head if the thermal expansion of the nozzle body differs from that of the reducing agent line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP3181847B1Heat resistant reducing agent injection nozzle
Publication Date: 2019.03.20 ALBONAIR GMBH
  • EP3181847B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3181847B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3181847B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an external mixing injection nozzle (60) for injecting a reducing agent into the exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine for selective catalytic reduction, in particular for atomizing the reducing agent by means of compressed air or propellant gas, wherein the injection nozzle (60) comprises a nozzle body (61) and a nozzle head (62), wherein a reducing agent line (68) is arranged in the nozzle body (61) and connected to the nozzle head (62), characterized in that the nozzle body (62) has at least one heat shield (70) which thermally insulates the reducing agent line (68) at least partially. Furthermore, the invention relates to a reducing agent metering system for injecting a reducing agent into the exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine for selective catalytic reduction using such an injection nozzle.