In a turbocharged internal combustion engine (ICE) system, a catalytic treatment device receives exhaust gases from the ICE after they have passed through the turbocharger turbine. The system includes a secondary air pump (SAP) for injecting pressurized air into the exhaust gases ahead of the catalytic treatment device. The SAP is a single-stage centrifugal compressor that includes an air recirculation passage for causing a first portion of the air pressurized by the SAP to be continuously recirculated back to the inlet of the SAP, which is effective for heating the air in the volute of the SAP. A second portion of the pressurized air, having thereby been heated, is injected into the exhaust gases proceeding toward the catalytic treatment device.

A vehicle includes an engine having an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold. An exhaust system is connected to the exhaust manifold and has an aftertreatment device. The aftertreatment device has a body defining inlet and outlet cones, a heating element, and a catalyst disposed in the body between the cones. An air-circulation system has conduit extending from downstream of the catalyst to the intake manifold and an air-circulation device configured to circulate air from the outlet cone, through the conduit to the intake manifold, through the engine, to the inlet cone, and through the aftertreatment device.

A method to control an exhaust gas after-treatment system for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine having at least one catalytic converter and a burner, which is suited to introduce exhaust gases into an exhaust duct so as to speed up the heating of said at least one catalytic converter; the method entails inserting an indicator in a dashboard of a vehicle provided with the internal combustion engine so that it provides a driver of the vehicle with indications concerning the burner; and keeping the indicator turned on during a starting step, during which the temperature of said at least one catalytic converter is lower than an activation temperature.

A method to control an exhaust gas after-treatment system for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine having at least one catalytic converter and a burner, which is suited to introduce exhaust gases into an exhaust duct so as to speed up the heating of said at least one catalytic converter; the method entails inserting an indicator in a dashboard of a vehicle provided with the internal combustion engine so that it provides a driver of the vehicle with indications concerning the burner; and keeping the indicator turned on during a starting step, during which the temperature of said at least one catalytic converter is lower than an activation temperature.

An engine system includes an engine having piston-cylinder arrangements communicating with an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, a turbocharger including a turbine in communication with the exhaust manifold and a compressor driven by the turbine and in communication with the intake manifold, and an EGR system including an EGR pump having an inlet side in communication with the exhaust manifold and an outlet side in communication with the intake manifold, and an EGR cooler that cools exhaust gas flowing through the EGR system. The engine system also includes a controller operably connected with the EGR pump and configured to selectively operate the EGR pump in a forward mode to flow exhaust gas therethrough in a first direction and in a reverse mode to substantially prevent flow of exhaust gas therethrough or provide a non-exhaust air flow therethrough in a second direction.

An engine system includes an engine having piston-cylinder arrangements communicating with an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, a turbocharger including a turbine in communication with the exhaust manifold and a compressor driven by the turbine and in communication with the intake manifold, and an EGR system including an EGR pump having an inlet side in communication with the exhaust manifold and an outlet side in communication with the intake manifold, and an EGR cooler that cools exhaust gas flowing through the EGR system. The engine system also includes a controller operably connected with the EGR pump and configured to selectively operate the EGR pump in a forward mode to flow exhaust gas therethrough in a first direction and in a reverse mode to substantially prevent flow of exhaust gas therethrough or provide a non-exhaust air flow therethrough in a second direction.

A heating device for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine and having: a tubular body, which contains a combustion chamber and is delimited by a first base wall and by a second base wall; a fuel injector, which is mounted through the first base wall; at least one inlet opening, which can be connected to a fan so as to receive an air flow; a feeding channel, which receives air from the inlet opening, surrounds an end portion of the fuel injector and ends with a nozzle arranged around an injection point of the fuel injector; a spark plug, which is mounted through a side wall of the tubular body; and a flame holder body, which is at least partially arranged inside the feeding channel in the area of the nozzle, is coaxial to the feeding channel and to the fuel injector and is in front of the injection point of the fuel injector.

A heating device for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine and having: a tubular body, which contains a combustion chamber and is delimited by a first base wall and by a second base wall; a fuel injector, which is mounted through the first base wall; at least one inlet opening, which can be connected to a fan so as to receive an air flow; a feeding channel, which receives air from the inlet opening, surrounds an end portion of the fuel injector and ends with a nozzle arranged around an injection point of the fuel injector; a spark plug, which is mounted through a side wall of the tubular body; and a flame holder body, which is at least partially arranged inside the feeding channel in the area of the nozzle, is coaxial to the feeding channel and to the fuel injector and is in front of the injection point of the fuel injector.

A vehicle includes an engine having an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold. An exhaust system is connected to the exhaust manifold and has an aftertreatment device. The aftertreatment device has a body defining inlet and outlet cones, a heating element, and a catalyst disposed in the body between the cones. An air-circulation system has conduit extending from downstream of the catalyst to the intake manifold and an air-circulation device configured to circulate air from the outlet cone, through the conduit to the intake manifold, through the engine, to the inlet cone, and through the aftertreatment device.

An aftertreatment device of a vehicle exhaust system includes an aftertreatment device. The aftertreatment device includes a body defining an inlet cone, an outlet cone, and a cavity therebetween. A heating element is disposed in the cavity. A catalyst is disposed in the cavity downstream of the heating element. A recirculation loop has a conduit with a first end connected to the outlet cone and a second end connected to the inlet cone. The recirculation loop further has an air-circulation device configured to recirculate heated air from the outlet cone to the inlet cone.