Non-smooth Duct Wall for Reducing Solution Thawing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current feeding units for injecting Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) into internal combustion engines are inefficient in thawing the reducing solution at low temperatures, leading to delayed operation and are not robust enough to withstand vehicle vibrations, resulting in potential leakage and reduced system efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A feeding unit with a heating device featuring a non-smooth duct wall configuration, which promotes turbulent fluid motion and increases heat exchange surface area, enhancing thawing efficiency and robustness, and is designed to withstand vibrations with a corrugated or ridged structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a smooth duct wall is used in the heating device, then the manufacturing is easier and the duct is simpler, but the thawing time of the reducing solution is increased and heat exchange efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The duct wall is designed with a non-smooth surface configuration featuring numerous protrusions and recesses, creating a porous-like structure that dramatically increases the heat exchange surface area. This allows more contact points between the heating fluid and reducing solution, accelerating the thawing process without requiring a longer duct length.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a simple smooth cylindrical duct to a three-dimensional non-smooth structure with protrusions and recesses extending radially from the duct wall. This dimensional complexity adds significant surface area within the same volumetric space, enhancing heat transfer efficiency.
2Reliability
If a smooth duct wall is used in the heating device, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the robustness to withstand vehicle vibrations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The non-smooth wall structure with protrusions and recesses creates a more rigid three-dimensional framework that better resists deformation under vibration. The interconnected geometry provides structural reinforcement, making the duct more robust against the continuous vibrations experienced during vehicle operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The duct wall features curved protrusions and recesses rather than sharp angles, creating a more uniform stress distribution under vibrational loads. The curved geometry helps dissipate stress concentrations that would otherwise occur at sharp edges, improving overall structural integrity.
3Area of stationary object
If a non-smooth duct wall configuration is used, then the heat exchange surface area is increased and thawing efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The duct wall is designed with a porous-like non-smooth surface configuration featuring numerous protrusions and recesses, dramatically increasing the heat exchange surface area. This allows more contact points between the heating fluid and reducing solution, accelerating the thawing process without requiring a longer duct length.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the surface geometry parameters of the duct wall from smooth to non-smooth, introducing controlled irregularities in the form of protrusions and recesses. This parameter modification transforms the surface area without fundamentally changing the duct's basic structure or function.
4Productivity
If the heating device is designed for rapid thawing, then the operational efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The duct wall is designed with a porous-like non-smooth surface configuration featuring numerous protrusions and recesses, dramatically increasing the heat exchange surface area. This allows more contact points between the heating fluid and reducing solution, accelerating the thawing process without requiring a longer duct length.
Solution Approach 2:
The duct wall surface is segmented into numerous small protrusions and recesses rather than a single smooth surface. This segmentation creates multiple parallel heat exchange pathways, effectively increasing the total heat transfer area and improving thawing speed.
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 non-smooth duct configuration significantly reduces thawing time of the reducing solution and provides increased robustness to withstand vehicle vibrations, ensuring efficient operation and reliability of the SCR system.
Implementation Method 1
the non-smooth configuration of the wall inside the duct causes a turbulent motion in the heating fluid passing through the duct
Implementation Method 2
the non-smooth configuration of the wall inside and outside the duct increases the heat exchange surface with respect to both the fluid flowing through the duct and the reducing solution surrounding it
Implementation Method 3
When the duct is submerged in the reducing solution and the heating fluid flows therethrough, the duct wall is in contact, on one part, i.e. inside the duct, with the heating fluid and on the other part, i.e. outside the duct, with the reducing solution
Data Source
AI summary
Unit (11) for feeding a reducing solution from the tank to the exhaust duct of an endothermic engine is provided. The unit comprises a supporting head (13) arranged for being associated to an aperture provided in a reducing solution tank and a heating device (15) for heating the reducing solution contained in the tank. The heating device (15) extends from the supporting head (13) and is provided with a duct (17) for a heating fluid. The duct (17) is defined by a side wall (31) which, when the unit (11) is in use, is internally in contact with the heating fluid passing through the duct (17) and externally in contact with the reducing solution present in the tank. At least one portion of the wall (31) of the duct (17) is non-smooth inside and/or outside the duct.