Particle Filter Heating Element for Soot Oxidation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing particle filters for internal combustion engines face challenges in efficiently removing soot particles, leading to reduced flow cross-sections and potential high temperatures due to exothermic soot burn-off, which can cause damage and require regeneration, while also occupying more installation space with coatings.

Innovation Solution

A particle filter design featuring channels with blocked or difficult-to-flow sections, where a heating element made of functional materials like cerium oxide or noble metals is integrated to increase reaction temperature for soot burn-off, allowing for efficient regeneration without structural changes and using the engine's operation to initiate exothermic reactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a functional material coating is applied to increase soot burn-off efficiency, then the reaction temperature increases, but the installation space increases and the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoot burn-off efficiencyVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies functional material coating only in specific zones where soot accumulation is predominant, rather than coating the entire particle filter. This localized approach maintains soot burn-off efficiency while reducing the overall volume and structural complexity compared to full-surface coating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The particle filter is divided into coated sections and uncoated sections, with functional material applied selectively to certain channel areas. This segmentation allows the system to achieve effective soot oxidation without requiring a complete coating, thereby reducing installation space requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a functional material coating is applied to enhance soot oxidation, then the reaction temperature increases, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoot burn-off efficiencyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The functional material coating is applied only to specific areas where soot particles predominantly accumulate, rather than uniformly across the entire filter structure. This localized application reduces the complexity of the coating system while maintaining effective soot oxidation performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The filter structure is segmented into coated and uncoated regions, allowing the functional material to be applied only where needed for soot burn-off. This segmentation simplifies the overall device structure compared to a fully coated system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If particles are allowed to accumulate to increase filtration capacity, then the flow cross-section decreases, but the temperature increases leading to potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration capacityVSAvoidfilter temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an oxygen storage substance that provides concentrated oxygen supply to accelerate soot oxidation at lower temperatures. This prevents excessive temperature rises that would occur with uncontrolled soot burn-off, while still enabling effective regeneration even when particles accumulate to high levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #38Strong oxidants (Accelerated oxidation)

Solution Approach 2:

The oxygen storage substance acts as an intermediary that mediates between the accumulated soot particles and the exhaust gas oxygen. It stores oxygen during lean operation and releases it during rich operation to control the oxidation process, preventing temperature spikes while maintaining filtration capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If the particle filter is coated with functional material to improve regeneration, then the oxygen storage capacity increases, but the installation space increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregeneration efficiencyVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The oxygen storage substance is incorporated only in specific zones of the particle filter where it is most needed for regeneration, rather than distributing it uniformly throughout the entire structure. This localized incorporation improves regeneration efficiency while minimizing the increase in installation space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The particle filter is segmented into regions with and without oxygen storage substance, allowing the regeneration function to be enhanced only where required. This segmentation approach achieves reliable regeneration with minimal additional volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This design enhances soot burn-off efficiency, reduces temperature gradients within the filter, and maintains the original installation space, preventing damage and improving regeneration without the need for additional ignition devices, while allowing for efficient operation and reduced fuel consumption.

Implementation Method 1

the heating element, which consists of a functional material that reacts exothermally with stored oxygen and leads to an increase in the reaction temperature for burning off the soot particles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExothermic reaction: Exothermic Reaction

Implementation Method 2

Solid particles in the exhaust gas are deposited in and/or on the wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3472441B1Particle filter for an internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG
  • EP3472441B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3472441B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3472441B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a particle filter for an internal combustion engine, comprising a filter body (2), wherein the filter body (2) has a flow-through filter inlet (3) and a flow-through filter outlet (4), and wherein the filter body (2) has at least one flow-through first channel (5) with a first end (7) formed facing the filter inlet (3) and with a second end (8) formed facing the filter outlet (4), and has a flow-through second channel (6) with a third end (9) formed facing the filter inlet (3) and with a fourth end (10) formed facing the filter outlet (4), and wherein the second end (8) and the third end (9) are designed such that they cannot be flown through, wherein the channels (5, 6) can be divided into a flow-through channel section (13) and a non-flow-through channel section (14), and wherein a flow transfer of an exhaust gas flowing through the filter body (2) coming from the first channel (5) into the second channel (6) occurs via a common channel wall (11) formed between the first channel (5) and the second channel (6), and wherein the channel wall (11) is designed such that soot particles can be separated from the exhaust gas. According to the invention, in order to increase a reaction temperature in the particle filter (1) for burning off the soot particles, the first channel (5) and/or the second channel (6) has a heating element (15), wherein the heating element (15) is arranged in the non-flow-through channel section (14) of the channel (5; 6).