Urea Tank Closure Member with Integrated Heating Conduit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Urea storage tanks in vehicle exhaust systems face issues with urea freezing under extreme cold conditions, leading to inadequate exhaust treatment system functioning, as existing solutions like temperature sensors and coolant circulation are not sufficient to ensure continuous urea availability.
Innovation Solution
A closure member for urea storage tanks with integrated urea inlets and outlets, coolant inlets and outlets, and a heating conduit, along with a solenoid-controlled valve and sensors for temperature and level monitoring, allows for controlled coolant flow to prevent freezing and ensure continuous urea delivery and return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coolant circulation is used to warm urea in the storage tank, then urea freezing is prevented, but the system complexity increases due to additional valves and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The closure member integrates multiple functions including urea inlet, urea outlet, coolant inlet, coolant outlet, and heating conduit into a single component. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall system structure while maintaining the coolant circulation capability to prevent urea freezing
Solution Approach 2:
The closure member serves multiple purposes: it closes the tank opening, provides pathways for urea delivery and return, enables coolant circulation for heating, and incorporates sensors for temperature and level monitoring. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components and reduces system complexity
2Temperature
If a valve is added to control coolant flow, then urea temperature control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is integrated directly into the closure member body, combining the temperature control function with the existing closure structure. This integration eliminates the need for a separate valve housing and reduces the overall device complexity while providing precise control over coolant flow and urea temperature
3Measurement precision
If sensors are integrated into the closure member, then monitoring capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor and level sensor are integrated directly into the closure member body, allowing for precise monitoring of urea conditions. The sensors are positioned to directly contact or monitor the urea through the closure member structure, providing accurate measurements while being manufactured as an integrated assembly
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 solution effectively prevents urea freezing by enabling controlled coolant circulation, ensuring continuous operation of the exhaust treatment system even under extreme cold conditions, thereby maintaining the exhaust treatment system's functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a heating conduit positioned within the interior urea storage chamber and communicating from the coolant inlet passageway to the coolant outlet passageway
Implementation Method 2
coolant from the vehicle exhaust system, which has been warmed by the engine, has been withdrawn from the coolant system, circulated within the urea storage tank to warm and thaw a portion of the urea in the urea storage tank
Data Source
AI summary
A closure member for a urea tank used to provide urea to an exhaust treatment system of a vehicle comprises a closure member body defining respective urea inlet and outlet passages and coolant inlet and outlet passages therethrough. A valve carried by the closure member body, and a portion of the valve can be an integral one piece part of the closure member body, selectively blocks the flow coolant through the interior of the urea tank. When coolant flows into the tank, it is separated from urea in the tank by a recirculating conduit which returns the coolant from the coolant inlet passage to the coolant outlet passage. Coolant circulating within the tank heats urea therein. The coolant flow valve can comprise a solenoid controlled valve with an electrical connector carried by the coolant tank for making connections to wiring that provides power to the solenoid to control the valve. The closure member can also carry a support, such as a downtube, that can contain temperature and level sensing components with the closure member supporting a connector coupled to wiring for such components.