Patent · US Expired

Adsorber aftertreatment system having dual adsorbers

US6735940B2 · kind B2 · utility

15Cited by
28References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 11, 2002
Grant dateMay 18, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 11, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02A50/20
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The present invention provides for an NOx adsorber aftertreatment system for internal combustion engines which utilizes adsorber catalysts arranged in parallel. The exhaust flow from the engine is divided in a predetermined ratio between the two catalysts during lean operation (e.g. 50-50). At a predetermined regeneration time (for example, when the adsorber catalyst is 20% full), the exhaust gas flow is reduced through the parallel leg that is to be regenerated (e.g., 20% through the leg to be regenerated, 80% of the flow to the other leg). A quantity of hydrocarbon is injected into the reduced-flow leg in order to make the mixture rich. Since the flow has been reduced in this leg, only a small fraction of the amount of hydrocarbon that would have been required to make the mixture rich during full flow is required. This will result in a substantial reduction in the fuel penalty incurred for regeneration of the adsorber catalyst. Once the leg has been regenerated, the flow distribution between the parallel legs is reversed, and the other catalyst leg is regenerated while the other side (which is now clean) receives the majority of the exhaust flow. Another advantage of the present …

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