Patent · US Expired

Exhaust gas preheating system

US5450721A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
32References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 4, 1992
Grant dateSep 19, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 4, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S420/90
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A system and method is provided whereby exhaust gases from a cold started internal combustion engine are rapidly brought to catalytic combustion conditions. Specifically, a closed system of a low pressure metal hydride heat exchanger and a high pressure metal hydride heat exchanger is provided which, upon engine ignition, effectuates hydrogen flow from the high pressure alloy exchanger to the low pressure alloy exchanger with rapid heating of the low pressure alloy due to hydrogen occlusion, and with the further provision that the heated low pressure hydride alloy exchanger is in heat exchange relationship with the cold started engine exhaust gases or the vehicle catalytic converter and provides heat necessary for initiation of catalytic combustion of pollutants in the said exhaust gases.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.