Honeycomb Catalyst Partition Wall Thickness Variation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Honeycomb catalyst articles face challenges in simultaneously achieving quick temperature-rising ability and high thermal capacity, which affects the effective purification of exhaust gas from diesel engines, particularly during low load conditions and engine start-stop cycles.

Innovation Solution

A honeycomb catalyst article with ceramic partition walls of varying thickness, where the outer peripheral portion has thicker walls for high thermal capacity and the inner peripheral portion has thinner walls for rapid temperature rise, optimizing the catalyst loading distribution to maintain activation temperature during engine operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the partition wall thickness is decreased to improve temperature rise characteristic, then the temperature rise ability is improved, but the thermal capacity decreases causing rapid temperature fall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature rise speedVSAvoidthermal capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different partition wall thicknesses in different regions of the honeycomb structure. Specifically, the partition walls have a first thickness in certain regions and a second thickness (smaller than the first) in other regions. This allows the thicker walls to provide thermal capacity for heat retention while thinner walls enable rapid temperature rise in catalyst activation zones, resolving the contradiction between temperature rise speed and thermal capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If the partition wall thickness is increased to improve thermal capacity, then the temperature capacity is improved, but the temperature rise performance is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal capacityVSAvoidtemperature rise speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different partition wall thicknesses in different regions of the honeycomb structure. Specifically, the partition walls have a first thickness in certain regions and a second thickness (smaller than the first) in other regions. This allows the thicker walls to provide thermal capacity for heat retention while thinner walls enable rapid temperature rise in catalyst activation zones, resolving the contradiction between temperature rise speed and thermal capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Speed

If the porosity is increased to improve temperature rise characteristic, then the temperature rise ability is improved, but the structural strength decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature rise speedVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different partition wall thicknesses in different regions of the honeycomb structure. Specifically, the partition walls have a first thickness in certain regions and a second thickness (smaller than the first) in other regions. This allows the thicker walls to provide thermal capacity for heat retention while thinner walls enable rapid temperature rise in catalyst activation zones, resolving the contradiction between temperature rise speed and thermal capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 ensures the catalyst is activated quickly and maintains effective purification performance even during frequent engine stop-start cycles by balancing temperature rise and heat retention, improving exhaust gas purification efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a honeycomb catalyst article satisfying both quick temperature-rising ability and high thermal capacity at the same time

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal capacity: Thermal Energy Storage

Implementation Method 2

a catalyst for oxidizing PM is coated on a DPF, and a honeycomb structure having a catalyst coated thereon is mounted in a front portion of the DPF

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 3

by changing NO contained in exhaust gas to NO2, PM deposited in the DPF is combusted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP2236205B1Honeycomb Catalyst article
Publication Date: 2018.04.25 NGK INSULATORS LTD
  • EP2236205B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2236205B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2236205B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

There is provided a honeycomb catalyst article. The cells 2 are formed by the partition walls 1 including first partition walls 1a having a first thickness and second partition walls 1b having a second thickness smaller than the first thickness. An inner peripheral portion of the honeycomb catalyst article 10 is constituted of the second partition walls 1b, and an outer peripheral portion surrounding the inner peripheral portion of the honeycomb catalyst article 10 is constituted of the first partition walls 1a. A ratio of a first partition wall region area constituted of the first partition walls 1a to a second partition wall region area constituted of the second partition walls 1b (first partition wall region area / second partition wall area) in a cross section perpendicular to a cell extension direction is 1 to 30. A higher amount of catalyst is loaded on the first partition walls 1a than on the second partition walls 1b.