Patent ID: 12209522

DETAIL DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness. Like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description.

With particular reference toFIG.1, there is provided a vehicle100comprising an exhaust after treatment system (EATS)1, according to one example of the present invention, and a combustion engine (not shown), such as an internal combustion engine, arranged upstream of, and fluidly connected to, the EATS1. The vehicle100depicted inFIG.1is a truck100for which the inventive concept which will be described in detail below, is suitable for.

FIG.2shows a schematic sideview of an EATS1in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In the non-limiting example ofFIG.2, the EATS arrangement1comprises a housing2, a pre-SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) insert3, a PF (Particulate Filter) insert4, a first main SCR insert5, a second main SCR insert6and an exhaust pipe7. The pre-SCR insert3is arranged to receive exhaust gas entering the EATS arrangement1and the PF insert4is arranged downstream the pre-SCR insert3. A first reductant injector (not shown), such as a urea injector, may be positioned in the exhaust pipe, upstream the EATS arrangement.

The first and the second main SCR inserts5,6are arranged in parallel and downstream the PF insert4. A second reductant injector8, such as a urea injector, is arranged upstream the first main SCR insert.

The pre-SCR insert3, the PF insert4and the first and the second main SCR inserts5,6are arranged in the housing2and are each removably mounted in the housing2such that each insert may be removed separately from the housing2. The respective insert3,4,5,6is provided with a respective lid9,10,11,12to enable opening and removal of the inserts3,4,5,6separately. This is an optional feature to the EATS1and in an alternative embodiment the inserts3,4,5,6are arranged at a respective wall section of the housing and each one of the respective wall sections is an openable wall section, allowing access to the respective inserts.

In this embodiment the pre-SCR insert3, in addition to a pre-SCR unit3a, comprises an Oxidation Catalyst (OC)3bfor oxidizing carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and diesel particulate matters to CO2and H2O, such as a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC). The OC3bis integrated in the pre-SCR insert3such that it is removably mounted in the housing2together with the pre-SCR unit3aand removed separately from the housing2as one insert with the pre-SCR insert3. This is however an optional feature to the EATS arrangement of the present disclosure. Alternatively, to an OC unit, the pre-SCR unit may comprise an Ammonium Slip Catalyst (ASC) being integrated with the pre-SCR insert, such that it is removably mounted in the housing together with the pre-SCR insert and removed separately from the housing as one insert with the pre-SCR insert.

The pre-SCR insert3is mounted along a first geometric axis a1, the PF insert4is mounted along a second geometric axis a2, the first main SCR insert is mounted along a third geometric axis a3and the second main SCR insert is mounted along a fourth geometric axis a4. The first geometric axis a1is parallel with the second geometric axis a2and the third geometric axis a3is parallel with the fourth geometrical axis a4.

In this embodiment, the first geometric axis a1furthermore coincides with the fourth geometric axis a4and the second geometric axis a2coincides with the third geometric axis a3, thus providing a tight integration of the inserts inside the EATS-housing2while still allowing removal and insertion of the inserts separately.

The pre-SCR insert3is arranged in a pre-SCR insert cylinder13within the housing2, the OC insert4is arranged in an OC insert cylinder14within the housing2and the first and second main SCR inserts5,6are also arranged in a respective first and second main SCR insert cylinder15,16within the housing2.

The respective insert3,4,5,6within their respective cylinder13,14,15,16is removably mounted with a respective clamp30,40,50,60, securing the inserts3,4,5,6to the housing2. The clamps30,40,50,60inFIG.2each comprises an encircling band having a circumference that is adjustable with a screw, a further alternative is an excenter lock. The clamps30,40,50,60thus secures an external portion of the respective insert3,4,5,6by means of a frictional force resulting from the tightening of the respective clamp30,40,50,60. A gasket31,41,51,61is arranged between the respective clamp30,40,50,60and the respective insert3,4,5,6within their respective cylinder13,14,15,16to provide sealing of the housing2. The inserts3,4,5,6may alternatively be removably attached to the housing via a bolted flange joint.

By removing or opening of the respective lid9,10,11,12and releasing of the respective clamp30,40,50,60each of the pre-SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) insert3, the PF (Particulate Filter) insert4, the first main SCR insert5, the second main SCR insert6may be separately removed from the housing2, such as for maintenance or exchange, as illustrated inFIG.3.

The EATS arrangement1may, as illustrated inFIG.3, may comprise one or more electrical heaters32,42removably mounted in the housing2. InFIG.3, a first electrical heater32is arranged upstream the pre-SCR3and a second electrical heater42is arranged downstream the PF insert4. The first and second heaters32,42may optionally be mounted by a respective clamp or alternatively be mounted onto the respective lid9,10, such that they are removable from the housing2as one unit with the lid9,10.

FIG.4is a cross-sectional view of the EATS arrangement1shown inFIGS.2and3and illustrates the exhaust gas flow. When the internal combustion engine (not shown) is running, exhaust gas exhausted from the engine passes through the exhaust pipe7in a flow direction indicated by the arrows inFIG.4. The pre-SCR3is located close to the inlet of the exhaust pipe7. Downstream the catalyst3, the PF4is provided for removing diesel particulate matter or soot from the exhaust gas. Downstream the PF4, a reductant injector8is arranged for introducing a fluid reductant, such as urea, into a reductant mixpipe8a. Optionally, a swirl mixer is provided for mixing the fluid reductant with the exhaust gas in the reductant mixpipe8a.

The first and second main SCR inserts5,6are arranged downstream the reductant injector8. The liquid reductant is stored in a tank (not shown) and pressurized by a pump (not shown). The pump is controlled so as to adjust the amount of liquid reductant injected so that a proper amount is added to the exhaust gas flow depending on the operation conditions of the engine (shown inFIG.1).

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the EATS may be used for cleaning exhaust gases of other engines than diesel engines. For example, the present EATS may be used to clean exhaust gases, e.g. by converting NOx emissions, from the exhaust of internal combustion engines using petrol, CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), LPG (Liquified Pressurized Gas), DME (DiMethylEther), and/or H2 (Hydrogen) as fuel. Thus, the engine system may comprise another combustion engine than a diesel engine, e.g. a hydrogen engine.