Patent ID: 8272371

Claim:
A device for neutralizing an acidic condensate in an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas recirculation system, comprising: an air intake manifold including a compressor; an exhaust gas conduit; the exhaust gas recirculation system including: an exhaust gas recirculation line connecting the exhaust gas conduit to the air intake manifold and delivering a recycled portion of exhaust gas flow from the exhaust gas conduit into the air intake manifold upstream of the compressor; an exhaust gas recirculation cooler arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation line for cooling a hot exhaust gas stream; a gas metering system delivering an alkaline substance into the exhaust gas recirculation line at a location upstream of the exhaust gas recirculation cooler, wherein the metering system meters the alkaline substance into the exhaust gas recirculation line; a water trap arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation line at a position downstream of the exhaust gas recirculation cooler and upstream of the air intake manifold; and a pH sensor arranged in the water trap and operative to measure the pH of condensate in the water trap, wherein the measured pH from the pH sensor is used to calculate a required quantity of the alkaline substance that must be delivered and accordingly regulates the metering system.