Honeycomb Metal Substrate Burr Geometry for Low Pressure Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing honeycomb-type metal substrates for catalytic converters generate excessive turbulence, leading to increased pressure loss and decreased fuel efficiency, despite efforts to enhance emission control performance.

Innovation Solution

A honeycomb-type metal substrate is formed by alternately layering metal flat and corrugated foils with controlled hole diameters, aperture ratios, and burr heights, where burrs with small heights and orthogonal tip end surfaces are formed to minimize turbulence while maintaining emission control performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If projections are formed at opening edges of holes to induce turbulence, then emission control performance is enhanced, but pressure loss increases and fuel efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemission control performanceVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the hole structure by forming burrs with specific height constraints (0.01mm ≤ L ≤ 5.0mm) and controlling the aperture ratio (5% ≤ R ≤ 70%) and hole diameter (1.1mm ≤ D ≤ 4.0mm). These parameter optimizations allow the burrs to generate necessary turbulence for emission control while limiting excessive turbulence that would cause pressure loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The burrs are formed locally at the opening edges of holes rather than as continuous projections. This localized structure provides turbulence generation at critical points where exhaust gas flows through holes, while avoiding excessive turbulence in other regions, thus balancing emission control performance with pressure loss reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If turbulence is generated to enhance emission control performance, then catalyst activation is improved, but pressure loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemission control performanceVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The burr height L is precisely controlled within 0.01mm to 5.0mm to generate adequate turbulence for catalyst activation without creating excessive pressure loss. The aperture ratio R (5%-70%) and hole diameter D (1.1mm-4.0mm) are also optimized to balance turbulence generation with flow resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If hole diameter and aperture ratio are increased to improve flow characteristics, then substance exchange is enhanced, but turbulence control becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstance exchange efficiencyVSAvoidturbulence control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention establishes specific ranges for hole diameter (1.1mm ≤ D ≤ 4.0mm) and aperture ratio (5% ≤ R ≤ 70%) that simultaneously optimize substance exchange efficiency and turbulence control. These parameter boundaries ensure adequate flow characteristics while maintaining manageable turbulence levels through the burr structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 substrate achieves enhanced emission control performance by suppressing excessive turbulence and reducing pressure loss, allowing for early activation of catalytic reactions even at low exhaust gas temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of holes are formed in a metal flat foil and a metal corrugated foil, a burr having a small height being formed on an edge of each hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP4268955B1Honeycomb-type metal substrate, catalytic converter, and method for manufacturing honeycomb-type metal substrate
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 NIPPON STEEL CHEM & MATERIAL CO LTD
  • EP4268955B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4268955B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4268955B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

[Problem] To improve purification performance in a honeycomb-type metal substrate while suppressing excessive generation of turbulence. [Solution] A honeycomb-type metal substrate in which flat metal foils and wavy metal foils are alternately layered, wherein: a plurality of holes are formed in the flat metal foil and in the wavy metal foil, and small burrs are formed on the edges of the holes; and the relationships 1.1 mm ≤ D ≤ 4.0 mm, 5% ≤ R ≤ 70%, and 0.1 µm ≤ L ≤ 30 µm are satisfied, where D is the average hole diameter of the plurality of holes, R is the opening rate, and L is the average height of the burrs.