Pivotable Bimetallic Heating Element for Exhaust Tank Thawing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Exhaust gas aftertreatment systems with urea-water solutions face challenges in maintaining the liquid state of the aftertreatment agent at low temperatures, as electrical heating systems have limited thawing capacity and can leave cavities or air bubbles, reducing the effective thawing of the agent and its yield.
Innovation Solution
The use of pivotable bimetallic heating elements that deform and expand to cover larger areas of the tank, ensuring consistent heating and thawing of the exhaust gas aftertreatment agent, with optional LED emitters for supplementary thawing, allowing for efficient thawing and tracking of frozen areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If electrical heating systems are used to thaw frozen exhaust aftertreatment agent in the tank, then the agent can be thawed and made liquid, but cavities or air bubbles form around the heating element which reduces the energy transfer and thawing capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position within the tank. The element can be moved manually or automatically to different locations to maintain contact with the frozen agent, ensuring continuous effective heat transfer without forming insulating cavities.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element is made elastically deformable so it can adapt its shape and position automatically in response to the frozen agent's characteristics. This self-adjusting capability allows the element to maintain optimal thermal contact without requiring external control mechanisms.
2Quantity of substance
If the tank is completely frozen, then the exhaust aftertreatment agent is in solid form and cannot be removed, but limited heating output only thaws a small part of the agent
Solution Approach 1:
The movable heating element can be repositioned to different areas of the tank, allowing the limited heating power to systematically treat different sections of frozen agent over time. This dynamic approach maximizes the total amount of agent that can be thawed despite the heater's limited output.
Solution Approach 2:
The thawing process is divided into multiple stages by moving the heating element to different locations within the tank. Each position addresses a specific section of frozen agent, and the cumulative effect of systematic movement through various positions enables complete thawing of the entire quantity.
3Productivity
If fixed heating elements are used in the tank, then the structure is simple, but the heating element cannot track the thawed agent and heat other areas effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element incorporates elastic deformability that allows it to change position and shape in response to thermal and mechanical conditions. This dynamic characteristic enables the element to automatically track and adapt to the thawing front without requiring complex mechanical actuation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element uses flexible, elastically deformable material that can conform to different positions and shapes within the tank. This flexibility allows the element to adapt to the frozen agent's contours and maintain effective thermal contact throughout the thawing process, increasing productivity without adding mechanical complexity.
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 solution effectively increases the yield of liquid exhaust aftertreatment agent by ensuring thorough thawing at ambient temperatures below freezing, improving the energy transfer and thawing capacity of the heating device.
Implementation Method 1
the respective heating element is designed to be deformable by heating. This means that the respective heating element is deformed by its own heating
Implementation Method 2
the heating device has at least two pivotable heating elements... the respective heating element has a bimetallic design
Implementation Method 3
it ensures that the respective heating element tracks the thawed exhaust gas after-treatment agent, so that it applies sufficient heat to the exhaust gas after-treatment agent that is still frozen for thawing
Implementation Method 4
the exhaust gas aftertreatment agent is again in liquid form... safely increases the yield of liquid exhaust aftertreatment agent from the tank
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a tank assembly (1), in particular for an exhaust aftertreatment system of a motor vehicle, comprising a tank (2) for receiving a liquid medium, in particular an exhaust aftertreatment agent, a dispensing device (4) for dispensing the medium from the tank (2), and a heating device (9) associated with the dispensing device (4) in the tank (2). It is provided that the heating device (9) has at least one pivotable heating element (10).