Integrated Exhaust Catalyst Layout for Leak-Safe Dual-Fuel Engines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exhaust gas treatment systems for dual-fuel engines, particularly those using ammonia or methanol, are complex and costly due to the need for custom piping and valves, which increases the risk of leaks and reduces operational safety.

Innovation Solution

An exhaust gas treatment device with an elongated exhaust manifold and catalyst container arrangement that eliminates the need for additional piping by integrating a second catalyst element through an interface, allowing for a compact design with improved thermal contact and reduced complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If custom piping and valves are used to connect exhaust gas treatment components, then the system can be adapted to specific engine configurations, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to engine configurationsVSAvoidpiping and valve system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust manifold and catalyst container are merged into a single integrated unit. The catalyst container is positioned to receive exhaust gas directly from the exhaust manifold without requiring external piping, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining adaptability to dual-fuel engine configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The exhaust gas treatment device is designed with universal applicability to various dual-fuel engine types (ammonia-fueled, methanol-fueled, diesel-gas dual fuel). The integrated manifold-catalyst design serves multiple functions: exhaust gas collection, heating, and catalytic treatment, reducing the need for engine-specific custom piping

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If additional piping and valves are installed for fuel slip catalyst integration, then the system can treat residual ammonia and methanol emissions, but the risk of leaks increases and operational safety decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresidual ammonia and methanol emissionsVSAvoidoperational safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel slip catalyst is integrated directly into the exhaust gas treatment device, eliminating the need for separate piping and valves to connect additional catalyst components. This reduction in connection points minimizes potential leak sources while maintaining the capability to treat residual ammonia and methanol emissions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system captures harmful residual ammonia and methanol emissions that would otherwise escape directly to the atmosphere. By routing these emissions through the integrated fuel slip catalyst, the harmful substances are converted into less harmful products, transforming an environmental hazard into a beneficial emission reduction mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Volume of stationary object

If an elongated exhaust manifold and catalyst container are arranged parallel with partition wall separation, then the device achieves a compact design, but the thermal contact between exhaust gas and catalyst may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice volumeVSAvoidthermal contact efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The catalyst container is nested within or adjacent to the exhaust manifold structure, with the exhaust manifold positioned to directly feed hot exhaust gas into the catalyst container. This nested arrangement maximizes thermal contact between the exhaust gas and catalyst while maintaining a compact overall device volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The partition wall separating the exhaust manifold and catalyst container is designed with asymmetric features including openings and thermal bridges. These asymmetric design elements allow hot exhaust gas to penetrate through the partition structure, ensuring adequate thermal contact for catalyst activation while preserving the compact parallel arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 solution provides a safer, less complex, and more efficient exhaust gas treatment system that minimizes emissions and reduces operational costs by enabling flexible operation modes and easy catalyst upgrades.

Implementation Method 1

The catalyst container (20) comprises at least one first catalyst element (21)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentEP4545759B1Exhaust gas treatment device
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 WINGD LTD
  • EP4545759B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4545759B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4545759B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention concerns an exhaust gas treatment device (100) for an internal combustion engine (1), an internal combustion engine comprising such an exhaust gas treatment device, and a method for operating such an internal combustion engine. The exhaust gas treatment device (100) comprises an elongated exhaust manifold (10) with a plurality of inlets (11), and a catalyst container (20) comprising at least one first catalyst element (21), in particular an SCR catalyst element, and a collector section (22). The collector section (22) is connected to an outlet (40) of the exhaust gas treatment device (100) via a pipe (32) crossing the exhaust manifold (10). The exhaust gas treatment device (100) comprises at least one interface (50) for connecting a second catalyst, in particular a fuel slip catalyst (110). The interface (50) comprises at least one interface outlet (51) fluidly connected to the pipe (32), and at least one interface inlet (52) fluidly connected to the outlet (40).