FLUID INJECTION LANCE WITH BALANCED FLOW DISTRIBUTION
An injector configured to introduce a reductant into an exhaust stream, the injector includes: a body including a conduit with a first diameter, a nozzle fluidly coupled to the conduit and disposed at a distal end of the body, and an extension extending from the distal end of the body, the extension extending from the distal end of the body by at least a distance equal to the first diameter.
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The present disclosure relates to an exhaust system, and more particularly, to an aftertreatment module and fluid injector lance.
BACKGROUNDInternal combustion engines, including diesel engines, gasoline engines, gaseous-fuel powered engines, and other engines known in the art generate a complex mixture of exhaust gases and particulates. Components of the exhaust gases may include, among other things, oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Exhaust emission standards have become more stringent, and the amount of NOx emitted to the atmosphere by an engine may be regulated depending on the type, size and/or class of engine.
To reduce NOx, some engine manufacturers have implemented a strategy called selective catalytic reduction (SCR). SCR is an exhaust aftertreatment process where a reductant, most commonly urea ((NH2)2CO) or a water, urea solution, is selectively injected into the exhaust gas stream of an engine and adsorbed onto a downstream substrate. The injected urea solution decomposes into ammonia (NH3), which reacts with NOx in the exhaust gas to form water (H2O) and diatomic nitrogen (N2).
In order to maximize an efficiency of conversion of the NOx, the reductant should be dispersed evenly in the flow of exhaust gases. This may be problematic due to constraints on the size of an aftertreatment module. That is, because of packaging concerns for the power system including the aftertreatment module, the length of exhaust conduit between the injector and the downstream substrate may be relatively short. Thus, it is beneficial to obtain an even distribution of reductant in a short distance in order to ensure an even distribution of reductant on the downstream substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,784,276 discloses an exhaust gas purifier and a method of control therefor.
SUMMARYAn injector configured to introduce a reductant into an exhaust stream, the injector includes: a body including a conduit with a first diameter, a nozzle fluidly coupled to the conduit and disposed at a distal end of the body, and an extension extending from the distal end of the body, the extension extending from the distal end of the body by at least a distance equal to the first diameter.
Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
Multiple separate sub-systems may be included within power system 10 to promote power production. For example, power system 10 may include among other things, an air induction system 18 and an exhaust system 20. Air induction system 18 may be configured to direct air or an air/fuel mixture into combustion chamber(s) of power system 10 for subsequent combustion. Exhaust system 20 may treat byproducts of the combustion process and discharge them to the atmosphere. Air induction and exhaust systems 18, 20 may be mechanically coupled to each other by way of one or more turbochargers 21.
Exhaust system 20 may include components that condition and direct exhaust from the cylinders of engine 14 to the atmosphere. For example, exhaust system 20 may include one or more exhaust passages 22 fluidly connected to the cylinders of engine 14, one or more turbines of the turbochargers 21 driven by exhaust flowing through exhaust passages 22, and an aftertreatment module 24 connected to receive and treat exhaust from exhaust passages 22 after flowing through the one or more turbines of the turbochargers 21. As the hot exhaust gases exiting the cylinders of engine 14 move through the one or more turbines and expand against vanes (not shown) thereof, the one or more turbines may rotate and drive one or more compressors of the turbochargers 21 of the air induction system 18 to pressurize inlet air. Aftertreatment module 24 may treat, condition, and/or otherwise reduce constituents of the exhaust generated by engine 14 before the exhaust is discharged to the atmosphere.
As shown in
Aftertreatment module 24 may house a plurality of exhaust treatment devices. For example,
Exhaust enters the aftertreatment module 24 via the inlets 34. The exhaust passes into the DOCs 44. After passing through the DOCs 44 and diffuser 50, the exhaust is exposed to the reductant dosing arrangement 46 through a mixing duct 51. After passing through the reductant dosing arrangement 46, the exhaust flows through the SCR catalysts 48. Next, the exhaust may flow through clean up catalysts (not shown) before exiting the aftertreatment module 24 through outlets 36.
The DOCs 44 may each include a porous ceramic honeycomb structure, a metal mesh, a metal or ceramic foam, or another suitable substrate coated with or otherwise containing a catalyzing material, for example a precious metal, that catalyzes a chemical reaction to alter a composition of exhaust passing through DOCs 44. In one embodiment, DOCs 44 may include palladium, platinum, vanadium, or a mixture thereof that facilitates a conversion of NO to NO2. In another embodiment, DOCs 44 may alternatively or additionally perform particulate trapping functions (i.e., DOCs 44 may be a catalyzed particulate trap), hydro-carbon reduction functions, carbon-monoxide reduction functions, and/or other functions known in the art.
In the depicted embodiment, three separate banks of DOCs 44 are disclosed as being arranged to receive exhaust in parallel from a pair of inlets 34. Each bank of DOCs 44 may include two or more substrates disposed in series and configured to receive exhaust from inlets 34. In one example, a space may exist between substrates of a single bank of DOCs 44, if desired, the space simultaneously promoting exhaust distribution and sound attenuation. It is contemplated that any number of banks of DOCs 44 including any number of substrates arranged in series or parallel may be utilized within aftertreatment module 24, as desired.
The mixing duct 51 has an upstream open end 52 in fluid communication with the output of the DOCs 44 and a downstream end 53 in fluid communication with the one or more banks of SCR catalysts 48. In the depicted embodiment, diffuser 50 is configured as a cylinder with a flapper-type diffusing member disposed on one end thereof distal to the mixing duct 51, although any diffuser geometry known in the art may be utilized. In the arrangement of
Reductant injector lance assembly 54 may be located a distance upstream of SCR catalysts 48 and at an inlet portion of mixing duct 51 to allow the injected reductant sufficient time to mix with exhaust from power system 10 and to sufficiently decompose before entering SCR catalysts 48. That is, an even distribution of sufficiently decomposed reductant within the exhaust passing through SCR catalysts 48 may enhance NOx reduction therein. The distance between reductant injector lance assembly 54 and SCR catalysts 48 may enhance NOx reduction therein. The distance between reductant injector lance assembly 54 and SCR catalysts 48 (i.e., approximately the length of mixing duct 51) may be based on a flow rate of exhaust exiting power system 10 and/or on a cross-sectional area of mixing duct 51. In the example depicted in
Each SCR catalyst 48 may be substantially identical in shape, size and composition. In particular, each SCR catalyst 48 may include a generally cylindrical substrate fabricated from or otherwise coated with a ceramic material such as titanium oxide; a base metal oxide such as vanadium and tungsten; zeolites; and/or a precious metal. With this composition, decomposed reductant entrained within the exhaust flowing through mixing duct 51 may be adsorbed onto the surface and/or adsorbed within each SCR catalyst 48, where the reductant may react with NOx (either NO, NO2 or both) in the exhaust gas to form water (H2O) and diatomic nitrogen (N2).
The lance body 60 may include an internal reductant conduit (illustrated in
The nozzle 62 extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lance body 60 at a distal end of the lance body 60. That is, the nozzle 62 extends downstream into the exhaust flow from the lance body 60. The nozzle 62 receives reductant from the lance body 60 and injects the reductant into the exhaust flowing within the mixing duct 51. In one embodiment, the nozzle 62 may be configured as an air-assisted injection nozzle such that a combination of air, or other gas, and reductant is injected into the exhaust. In some embodiments, air-assisted injection of reductant provides advantages for increasing reductant flow rate and dispersal of reductant along mixing duct 51; however, alternative embodiments include configurations wherein air-assisted injection is omitted and reductant is supplied exclusively via alternative means, e.g., a reductant pump. In some embodiments, disposing the nozzle 62 perpendicularly downstream from the lance body 60 provides advantages for reductant dispersal as the nozzle 62 is moved further from a turbulent wake in the exhaust caused by the lance body 60. If the nozzle 62 were to be formed in the lance body 60 itself, this turbulent wake may cause undesirable deposit formation thereon which could lead to a reduction in reductant flow therethrough. In one embodiment, the nozzle 62 may be a single nozzle 62. In such an embodiment, the nozzle 62 may be centered within the mixing duct 51. In another embodiment, the nozzle 62 may include more than one nozzle 62.
The lance extension 64 extends from the lance body 60. In one embodiment, the lance extension 64 extends substantially parallel to the first direction 66. Alternative embodiments include configurations wherein the lance extension 64 extends in a different direction, e.g., in a direction angled with respect to the lance body 60 such as extending at an angle into the exhaust flow or at an angle toward the mixing duct 51. As illustrated in
In one embodiment, the lance extension 64 may be fluidly coupled to the internal reductant conduit of the lance body 60; that is, the lance extension 64 may also include an internal reductant conduit (not shown) capped at a furthermost extension of the lance body 60 in the first direction 66. In an alternative embodiment, the lance extension 64 may be fluidly isolated from the lance body 60 such that the lance extension 64 does not include an internal reductant conduit and the lance extension 64 may be hollow or solid.
Referring to
While the above description has described four embodiments of a reductant injector lance assembly 54, 154, 254 and 354, additional embodiments combining aspects of the previous embodiments are also within the scope of this disclosure. For example, another embodiment of the present disclosure may include baffling 367 disposed on the ring mixer 267 or the cross-member 167. Similarly, the cross-member 167 may be combined with the ring mixer 267, etc. The benefits of these configurations are discussed in more detail below.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITYThe aftertreatment module 24 of the present disclosure may be applicable to any power system 10 configuration where exhaust gas conditioning is desired. The aftertreatment module 24 includes at least one of the reductant injector lance assemblies 54, 154, 254 and/or 354. The various embodiments provide improved mixing of reductant with exhaust as described in more detail below.
When the power system 10 is in operation, exhaust passes through the aftertreatment module 24 for treatment as described above the aftertreatment module 24 includes the reductant dosing arrangement 46 and SCR catalysts 48. The exhaust passes through the reductant dosing arrangement 46 and carries injected reductant onto the SCR catalysts 48. In order to maximize efficiency of the SCR catalysts 48 and to minimize the total amount of reductant needed to achieve satisfactory saturation of all SCR catalysts 48, a substantially uniform distribution of reductant across each SCR catalyst 48 is desired. However, disposing components, such as a reductant injector, in the exhaust stream may lead to imbalances in the stream that are not effectively dispersed within the length of the mixing duct 51. Such a phenomenon may lead to uneven distribution of reductant on the SCR catalysts 48.
In one configuration wherein a reductant injector lance assembly (not shown) omits a lance extension, exhaust flow over the most distal portion of the lance body may cause unwanted vortex shedding that deflects injected reductant towards a side of the mixing duct 51 from which the reductant injector lance assemblies 54, 154, 254 and/or 354 extends. In such a configuration a variability from catalyst to catalyst of up to 20% may be observed. However, in embodiments wherein a lance extension 64, 164, 264 or 364 is included, the unwanted vortex shedding may be reduced, eliminated, or moved significantly away from the nozzle 62, 162, 262 or 362 such that deflection of reductant from nozzle 62, 162, 262 or 362 is reduced or eliminated.
Referring specifically to
Similarly, referring to
The present disclosure also presents embodiments of injector lance assemblies 54, 154, 254 and 354 configured to introduce a reductant into an exhaust stream, the injector lance assemblies 154, 254 and 354 including; lance bodies 60, 160, 260 and 360; nozzles 62, 162, 262 and 362 fluidly coupled to, and disposed at a distal end of, the lance bodies 60, 160, 260 and 360; and lance extensions 64, 164, 264 and 364 extending from the distal end of the lance bodies 60, 160, 260 and 360, the lance extensions 64, 164, 264 and 364 configured to equalize a velocity of exhaust flow over the nozzles 62, 162, 262 and 362 in at least two directions. That is, the lance extensions 64, 164, 264 and 364 are configured such that exhaust flow over the nozzles 62, 162, 262 and 362 is more uniform, e.g., a flow velocity from a direction corresponding to the lance bodies 60, 160, 260 and 360 is substantially equal to a flow velocity from a direction corresponding to the lance extensions 64, 164, 264 and 364. The embodiment including the cross-member 167 may equalize a velocity of exhaust flow over the nozzle 162 in at least four directions. The embodiment including the ring mixer 267 may equalize a velocity of exhaust flow over the nozzle 262 in substantially all directions.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the exhaust system 20 and aftertreatment module 24 of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the system and module disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalent.
Claims
1. An injector configured to introduce a reductant into an exhaust stream, the injector comprising:
- a body including a conduit with a first diameter;
- a nozzle fluidly coupled to the conduit and disposed at a distal end of the body; and
- an extension extending from the distal end of the body, the extension extending from the distal end of the body by at least a distance equal to the first diameter.
2. The injector assembly of claim 1, wherein the body extends in a first direction and the extension extends in a second direction substantially parallel to the first direction.
3. The injector assembly of claim 2, further comprising a cross-member coupled to the body and extending in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
4. The injector assembly of claim 2, further comprising a ring mixer coupled to the body.
5. The injector assembly of claim 4, wherein the ring mixer is disposed with a center of the ring mixer axially aligned with a center of the nozzle.
6. The injector assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the body and the extension includes a teardrop-shaped cross-section.
7. The injector assembly of claim 1, wherein the extension is fluidly isolated from the body.
8. The injector assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle extends in a fourth direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
9. The injector assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle includes only a single nozzle.
10. An aftertreatment module for treating constituents of exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, the aftertreatment module comprising:
- a housing;
- an injector disposed within the housing, the injector including: a body coupled to the housing and including a conduit with a first diameter; a nozzle fluidly coupled to the conduit of the body and disposed at a distal end of the body; and an extension extending from the distal end of the body, the extension extending from the distal end of the body by at least a distance equal to the first diameter; and
- a mixing duct disposed downstream of the injector and within the housing.
11. The aftertreatment module of claim 10, wherein the body extends in a first direction and the extension extends in a second direction substantially parallel to the first direction.
12. The aftertreatment module of claim 11, wherein the body and extension together extend a distance equal to substantially an entire diameter of the mixing duct.
13. The aftertreatment module of claim 11, further comprising a cross-member coupled to the body and extending in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
14. The aftertreatment module of claim 11, further comprising a ring mixer coupled to the body.
15. The aftertreatment module of claim 10, further including a diffuser disposed upstream of the mixing duct.
16. The aftertreatment module of claim 10, wherein the body and extension together extend less than a distance equal to substantially an entire diameter of the mixing duct.
17. The aftertreatment module of claim 10, further comprising a header fluidly coupled to the internal reductant conduit of the body of the injector.
18. The aftertreatment module of claim 10, further comprising at least one selective catalytic reduction catalyst disposed downstream of the mixing duct.
19. The aftertreatment module of claim 10, wherein the injector is disposed within the mixing duct.
20. An injector configured to introduce a reductant into an exhaust stream, the injector comprising:
- a body;
- a nozzle fluidly coupled to, and disposed at a distal end of, the body; and
- an extension extending from the distal end of the body, the extension configured to equalize a velocity of exhaust flow over the nozzles in at least two directions.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 15, 2011
Publication Date: Jun 20, 2013
Applicant: Caterpillar Inc. (Peoria, IL)
Inventors: Yung T. Bui (Peoria, IL), Arvind Jujare (Bloomington, IL), Jay Venkataraghavan (Dunlap, IL)
Application Number: 13/327,166
International Classification: F01N 3/24 (20060101);