SCR Dosing Control via Lowest Conversion Rate Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exhaust gas treatment systems face challenges in precisely adding ammonia stoichiometrically to mobile internal combustion engines, leading to reducing agent slip and inefficient nitrogen oxide conversion due to dynamic changes in power output, temperature, and other factors, which can result in environmental odor issues and increased consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the calculation of conversion rate specifications based on engine power output, nitrogen oxide mass flow, and SCR catalytic converter performance, with the selection of the lowest conversion rate to prevent reducing agent slip, and precise dosing of ammonia or its precursor, such as urea, to ensure efficient nitrogen oxide conversion without excess ammonia release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a reducing agent is added to convert nitrogen oxide compounds in exhaust gas, then nitrogen oxide conversion efficiency is improved, but reducing agent slip occurs causing odor nuisance and increased consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenitrogen oxide conversion efficiencyVSAvoidreducing agent slip
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system that continuously monitors nitrogen oxide concentration downstream of the SCR catalytic converter and adjusts the reducing agent dosing amount accordingly. The control unit calculates the required dosing amount based on the measured nitrogen oxide concentration and converts this into a corresponding dosing signal, creating a closed-loop control that prevents reducing agent slip while maintaining high conversion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the dosing amount parameter of the reducing agent based on changing operating conditions. The control system modifies the dosing amount in real-time according to the measured nitrogen oxide concentration, engine power output, and temperature conditions, ensuring optimal conversion efficiency without excess reducing agent that would cause slip.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If ammonia dosing is increased to ensure complete nitrogen oxide conversion, then exhaust gas standards are met, but reducing agent consumption increases and slip occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexhaust gas standard complianceVSAvoidreducing agent consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The downstream nitrogen oxide sensor provides feedback on the actual conversion performance, allowing the control unit to precisely adjust the reducing agent dosing amount. This feedback mechanism ensures that exactly the required amount of reducing agent is dosed to meet exhaust gas standards, preventing both under-dosing (non-compliance) and over-dosing (increased consumption and slip).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by dosing only the minimum required amount of reducing agent needed to achieve complete nitrogen oxide conversion. Rather than dosing in excess to ensure compliance, the feedback-controlled system calculates and applies precisely the stoichiometric amount needed, eliminating waste while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of substance

If reducing agent dosing is decreased to avoid reducing agent slip, then consumption is reduced, but nitrogen oxide conversion becomes incomplete and exhaust gas standards are not met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereducing agent consumptionVSAvoidnitrogen oxide conversion completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The downstream nitrogen oxide sensor provides critical feedback that prevents under-dosing. By continuously monitoring nitrogen oxide concentration after the SCR converter, the system ensures that sufficient reducing agent has been dosed to achieve complete conversion. If conversion is incomplete, the feedback signal triggers increased dosing, thereby maintaining reliability while optimizing consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The feedback control system enables the exhaust gas treatment device to self-regulate the reducing agent dosing amount. The system automatically adjusts dosing based on actual conversion performance, eliminating the need for conservative over-dosing strategies and achieving both reduced consumption and maintained conversion completeness through intelligent self-control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Measurement precision

If multiple conversion rate specifications are calculated based on different parameters, then dosing precision is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the dosing control into multiple independent calculation paths, each based on different parameters (engine power output, nitrogen oxide mass flow, nitrogen oxide quantity ratio). Each segment calculates a conversion rate specification independently, and the control unit selects the lowest value. This segmentation allows comprehensive consideration of multiple factors while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular calculation structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by calculating multiple conversion rate specifications but only implementing the lowest one for actual dosing control. Rather than combining all calculation results or implementing all control paths simultaneously, the system selectively uses the most conservative (lowest) specification, achieving high dosing precision through selective application while avoiding the full complexity of integrating all calculation methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 approach effectively prevents reducing agent slip, ensures efficient nitrogen oxide conversion, and allows for precise control of ammonia dosage, meeting exhaust gas standards while minimizing ammonia consumption and environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

a reducing agent containing ammonia or a reducing agent precursor that can be converted into ammonia is added to the exhaust gas and the nitrogen oxide compounds are converted into nitrogen and water in an SCR catalytic converter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelective catalytic reduction: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

The aqueous urea solution is converted thermally in the exhaust gas and/or hydrolytically in a hydrolysis catalytic converter to form ammonia

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conversion: Thermolysis

Implementation Method 3

an oxidation catalytic converter (blocking catalytic converter) arranged downstream of the SCR catalytic converter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP2870332B1Method for dosing a reducing agent in an exhaust gas treatment device
Publication Date: 2016.09.14 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP2870332B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2870332B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for adding a reducing agent to an exhaust gas treatment device which comprises a feed port and an SCR catalytic converter for converting nitrogen oxide compounds in the exhaust gas, said method comprising at least the following steps: a) calculating following set conversion rates that indicate which portion of the nitrogen oxide compounds present in the exhaust gas can be converted by the SCR catalytic converter: a.1) a first set conversion rate that is determined from the power output of a connected internal combustion engine; a.2) a second set conversion rate that is determined from the mass flow of nitrogen oxide compounds in the purified exhaust gas; and a.3) a third set conversion rate that is determined from a ratio of a quantity of nitrogen oxide compounds upstream of the SCR catalytic converter and a quantity of nitrogen oxide compounds downstream of the SCR catalytic converter; b) selecting the lowest set conversion rate; c) determining the dosing quantity of reducing agent for the selected set conversion rate; and d) dosing the determined dosing quantity into the exhaust gas treatment device.