Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for regeneration of engine exhaust aftertreatment devices

US7216481B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
6References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 23, 2005
Grant dateMay 15, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 23, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF01N2610/14
  • WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus for providing reformate into an engine exhaust stream including aftertreatment devices such as a particulate trap and an NOx filter regenerable by hydrogen-rich reformate injected into the engine exhaust ahead of the aftertreatment devices. A pump pressurizes a hydrocarbon catalytic reformer, and a three-way valve for dividing the reformate injected into the engine exhaust. The reformer draws oxygen from the engine exhaust rather than ambient air as in the prior art. Thus, the only pressure drop that the pump/reformer system must overcome is within the reformate supply system between the reformer take-off point and the reformate entry points. In a configuration wherein the exhaust is taken off ahead of the inline particulate trap, a separate particulate filter is preferably incorporated into the reformer supply line.

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