Pleated Adsorption Element for Intake Tract Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adsorption elements for internal combustion engines are mechanically unstable due to their spiral arrangement, leading to increased material costs and flow resistance, which complicates the efficient adsorption of hydrocarbons when the engine is shut off.
Innovation Solution
A pleated, planar adsorption medium is integrated into the intake tract's flow cross-section, providing mechanical stiffness through fanfolds or wave-like folds, allowing for efficient hydrocarbon adsorption and desorption, with optional support structures like end disks, support grids, and core members to enhance stability and prevent particle loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spiral arrangement of plate-shaped adsorption media is used, then the adsorption element can be integrated into a round flow cross section, but the mechanical stability deteriorates requiring additional support structures
Solution Approach 1:
The adsorption media are shaped as arc segments with a curvature radius that corresponds to the flow cross-section, allowing them to be arranged in a radially extended manner that provides inherent mechanical stability without requiring additional support structures
Solution Approach 2:
Each arc-shaped adsorption media element is designed with specific local geometry (radial extension from the flow cross-section center) that contributes to both the overall structural stability and the adsorption function, eliminating the need for separate support structures
2Stability of the object's composition
If support structures are added to stabilize the spiral arrangement, then mechanical stability improves, but flow resistance increases and material costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The support structures are completely removed from the design. Instead of adding stabilizing elements, the adsorption media themselves are geometrically configured as radially extended arc segments that provide inherent stability without interfering with the flow path
Solution Approach 2:
The radially extended arc-shaped geometry of the adsorption media provides structural stability through its curved configuration, eliminating the need for additional support structures that would create flow resistance
3Reliability
If plate-shaped adsorption media are disposed in the flow cross-section, then hydrocarbon adsorption is achieved, but the surface area for adsorption is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The adsorption media are extended from a simple planar configuration into the radial dimension, creating a three-dimensional radially extended arc-shaped structure that increases the available adsorption surface area while maintaining compatibility with the flow cross-section geometry
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 pleated adsorption medium offers a large surface area for efficient hydrocarbon adsorption and desorption, maintaining mechanical stability while minimizing material usage and flow resistance, effectively addressing the limitations of prior art.
Implementation Method 1
The hydrocarbons are adsorbed on the adsorption element, thereby creating a concentration gradient as the driving force for the transport process
Implementation Method 2
When the internal combustion engine is running, fresh air flows through the adsorption element. This fresh air is substantially free from hydrocarbons, so that the hydrocarbons desorb from the adsorption medium into the air stream and are burned in the combustion chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An adsorption element for adsorbing gases and vapors from the gaseous atmosphere in the intake tract of an internal combustion engine. The adsorption element is disposed within a wall of a flow cross section carrying the intake air, has a planar adsorption medium along which the intake air flows, and is pleated to create folds in longitudinal direction of the intake stream.