Immersed Baseplate for Exhaust Additive Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine exhaust gas additive storage systems face issues such as additive accumulation, pump dry-running, inaccurate gauging, and component damage due to corrosive vapors and freezing, particularly when the baseplate is located on the top wall of the tank.
Innovation Solution
An engine exhaust gas additive storage system with an 'immersed' baseplate positioned through an opening in the bottom wall of the tank, incorporating active components like a pump, filter, level gauge, heater, and sensors, which helps in accurate metering and prevents additive accumulation and freezing issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the baseplate is positioned on the top wall of the tank, then the connections are grouped together making it easier to incorporate the system into the vehicle, but gases from additive decomposition accumulate at high points causing reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The baseplate is inverted from its conventional top-wall position to the bottom wall of the tank. This inversion fundamentally changes the system architecture, allowing connections to be grouped at the bottom while eliminating gas accumulation problems that plague top-mounted configurations.
2Ease of manufacture
If the baseplate is positioned on the top wall of the tank, then system incorporation is simplified, but the pump runs dry and loses its prime due to lack of additive supply
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the baseplate position to the bottom wall, the pump is guaranteed continuous immersion in the additive solution. This eliminates the dry-running risk inherent in top-mounted systems where the pump may operate without adequate fluid supply.
3Ease of manufacture
If the baseplate is positioned on the top wall of the tank, then system incorporation is easier, but gauging becomes inaccurate due to deformation of the end wall over time
Solution Approach 1:
Moving the baseplate and associated level gauge from the top wall to the bottom wall eliminates the gauging inaccuracy problem. The bottom position is structurally more stable and less prone to deformation over time, ensuring continuous measurement accuracy.
4Ease of manufacture
If the baseplate is positioned on the top wall of the tank, then system incorporation is simplified, but components suffer prolonged exposure to corrosive additive vapors
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the baseplate and sensitive components at the bottom wall instead of the top, the components remain submerged in the liquid additive rather than exposed to corrosive vapors in the headspace. This fundamentally reduces corrosion risk.
5Ease of manufacture
If the baseplate is positioned on the top wall of the tank, then system incorporation is easier, but solid additive lumps damage components during freezing events
Solution Approach 1:
Positioning the baseplate at the bottom wall places protective components below the floating solid additive lumps that form during freezing. This spatial arrangement prevents impact damage while maintaining system functionality.
6Manufacturing precision
If additive is metered under pressure using a pump, then the additive can be injected accurately into the exhaust system, but the system complexity increases with additional pressure generation equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The baseplate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, houses connection points, enables accurate level measurement, and facilitates pressure generation for metering. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity while maintaining precision.
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 or eliminates the disadvantages of top-mounted baseplates by ensuring accurate metering, preventing dry-running, and protecting components from corrosive vapors and freezing, while maintaining system functionality.
Implementation Method 1
protection from corrosive vapors and freezing
Implementation Method 2
recourse is generally had to a pump for generating this pressure
Data Source
AI summary
System for storing an internal combustion engine exhaust gas liquid additive, the said system comprising a tank for storing the additive and an “immersed” baseplate (1) positioned through an opening made in the bottom wall of the tank, the said baseplate comprising at least one orifice through which a system for injecting the said additive into the exhaust gases can be fed, and also incorporating at least one other active component of the storage system and/or of the injection system.