Exhaust Gas Aftertreatment Using Palladium Catalysts

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exhaust gas aftertreatment systems for internal combustion engines are costly and inefficient in heating exhaust gases, particularly those using high platinum content catalysts, which are expensive and sensitive to sulfur poisoning.

Innovation Solution

An exhaust gas aftertreatment system that introduces hydrocarbons into the exhaust pipe, where they are vaporized and chemically modified by cracking reactions or partial oxidation, using a burner with a fuel and air supply device, and catalytically coated components with a palladium content exceeding 50% of the precious metals, reducing platinum usage and increasing exhaust gas temperature effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional thermal regeneration systems with high platinum content catalysts are used, then exhaust gas temperature can be increased effectively, but the system becomes costly and sensitive to sulfur poisoning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexhaust gas temperatureVSAvoidsulfur tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the catalyst by replacing platinum with palladium as the primary active substance. This parameter change maintains the temperature increase function while improving sulfur tolerance and reducing cost, directly resolving the contradiction between effective heating and sulfur sensitivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses palladium, which is cheaper than platinum, as the primary catalytic substance. This substitution reduces material cost while maintaining functional performance, addressing the cost issue associated with conventional high-platinum systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Temperature

If high platinum content catalysts are used for thermal regeneration, then exhaust gas temperature increases effectively, but the system cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexhaust gas temperatureVSAvoidsystem cost
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention substitutes expensive platinum with cheaper palladium as the primary catalytic material. This material substitution directly reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining the temperature increase function, resolving the contradiction between effective heating and system cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the catalyst composition parameter from platinum-dominated to palladium-dominated. This parameter change achieves cost reduction while preserving the thermal regeneration capability, addressing the cost-effectiveness issue

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If conventional catalyst compositions are used, then catalytic activity is maintained, but sulfur poisoning sensitivity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalytic activityVSAvoidsulfur poisoning sensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameter of the catalyst by using palladium instead of platinum as the primary active substance. This parameter change reduces sulfur poisoning sensitivity while maintaining catalytic activity, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and sulfur sensitivity

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 system achieves significant and cost-effective heating of exhaust gases with reduced NO2 emissions and increased sulfur tolerance, allowing for efficient soot particle burning in particle filters, while minimizing platinum usage and maintaining reliable operation.

Implementation Method 1

the hydrocarbons in the device are at least partially vaporized and chemically modified by cracking reactions and/or by partial oxidation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

chemically modified by cracking reactions and/or by partial oxidation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCracking reactions: Pyrolysis

Implementation Method 3

chemically modified by cracking reactions and/or by partial oxidation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPartial oxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 4

catalytically coated components that increase the process exhaust gas temperature by oxidizing the introduced, partially vaporized hydrocarbons

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP2435672B1Exhaust gas aftertreatment system
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 UMICORE AG & CO KG
  • EP2435672B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2435672B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2435672B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An exhaust gas post treatment system for an internal combustion engine, including an intake device for taking hydrocarbons into an exhaust gas pipe carrying the exhaust process gas from the internal combustion engine and a treatment device through which exhaust process gas flows downstream of the intake location and which increases the exhaust process gas temperature by oxidation of the hydrocarbons taken in. An exhaust gas post treatment system and a method for operating the same, in that the treatment device has catalytically coated components, the hydrocarbons are at least partly evaporated in the intake device and are modified chemically by cracking reactions and/or by partial oxidation, and the proportion of platinum, at least in a subregion of the catalytic coating of the components, is less than 50% of the overall mass of all the catalytically active substances in this sub region of the coating.