Exhaust system with reactive heating system

Abstract

The invention relates to a system component of an exhaust system for a combustion engine, more preferably of a motor vehicle, with at least one component portion having a closed hollow space structure (2), wherein walls of the closed hollow space structure (2) enclose a reaction chamber (5), in which at least one stationary system component (6) of a reactive heating system is arranged. By using a reactive heating system a rapid heating-up of at least one system component of the exhaust system is advantageously possible.

Claims

1. A method for heating-up at least one system component of an exhaust system for a combustion engine comprising at least one component portion comprising a closed hollow space structure, wherein walls of the closed hollow space structure enclose a reaction chamber, in which at least one stationary system component of a reactive heating system is arranged, wherein the at least one stationary system component is arranged in the reaction chamber, and wherein the at least one stationary system component is arranged in the reaction chamber as a coated solid body, the method comprising: heating up the least one system component with the reactive heating system comprising the at least one stationary system component and at least one mobile system component, and wherein the step of heating up the at least one system component further comprises the step of obtaining heat for the heating up from a released reaction heat of an exothermic, physical and chemical reaction of the at least one stationary system component and the at least one mobile system component into a physical and/or chemical compound taking place in the reaction chamber of the exhaust system and/or the at least one system component, and wherein the step of obtaining heat from the released reaction heat of the exothermic, physical and chemical reaction comprises the step of conducting the exothermic, physical and chemical reaction with the at least one stationary system component of a zeolite and the at least one mobile system component being water or an alcohol or a mixture of water and an antifreeze agent, wherein within a predetermined first temperature range, the exothermic, physical and chemical reaction into the physical and/or chemical compound takes place, and within a predetermined second temperature range an endothermic decomposition reaction of the physical and/or chemical compound into the at least one stationary system component and the at least one mobile system component takes place.

2. A method for heating-up at least one system component of an exhaust system for a combustion engine comprising at least one component portion comprising a closed hollow space structure, wherein walls of the closed hollow space structure enclose a reaction chamber, in which at least one stationary system component of a reactive heating system is arranged, wherein the at least one stationary system component is arranged in the reaction chamber, and wherein the at least one, the method comprising: heating up the at least one system component with the reactive heating system comprising the at least one stationary system component and at least one mobile system component, and wherein the step of heating up the at least one system component further comprises the step of obtaining heat for the heating up from a released reaction heat of an exothermic, physical and chemical reaction of the at least one stationary system component and the at least one mobile system component into a physical and/or chemical compound taking place in the reaction chamber of the exhaust system and/or the at least one system component, and wherein the step of obtaining heat from the released reaction heat of the exothermic, physical and chemical reaction comprises the step of carrying out the exothermic, physical and chemical reaction with the at least one stationary system component being a potassium oxide and the at least one mobile system component being water or an alcohol or a mixture of water and an antifreeze agent.

3. A method for heating-up at least one system component of an exhaust system for a combustion engine comprising at least one component portion comprising a closed hollow space structure, wherein walls of the closed hollow space structure enclose a reaction chamber, in which at least one stationary system component of a reactive heating system is arranged, wherein the at least one stationary system component is arranged in the reaction chamber, and wherein the at least one stationary system component is arranged in the reaction chamber as a coated solid body, the method comprising: heating up the at least one system component with the reactive heating system comprising the at least one stationary system component and an at least one mobile system component, and wherein the step of heating up the at least one system component further comprises the step of obtaining heat for the heating up from a released reaction heat of an exothermic, physical and chemical reaction of the at least one stationary system component and the at least one mobile system component into a physical and/or chemical compound taking place in the reaction chamber of the exhaust system and/or the at least one system component, and wherein the step of obtaining heat from the released reaction heat of the exothermic, physical and chemical reaction comprises the step of conducting the exothermic, physical and chemical reaction with the at least one stationary system component being a zeolite and the at least one mobile system component being water or an alcohol or a mixture of water and an antifreeze agent, wherein the at least one mobile system component is the mixture of water and the antifreeze agent, the antifreeze agent including alcohol.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the mobile system component is the mixture of water and the antifreeze agent, the antifreeze agent including alcohol.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the antifreeze agent comprises alcohol.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein same reference characters refer to same or similar of functionally same components.

(2) It shows, in each case schematically,

(3) FIG. 1 is a system component of an exhaust system with a hollow space structure filled with a stationary system component,

(4) FIG. 2 is a system component with a hollow space structure, wherein on the inside wall of the hollow space structure a stationary system component is applied,

(5) FIG. 3 is a system component with a corrugated wall of the hollow space structure,

(6) FIG. 4 is a system component with a hollow space structure, wherein on the outside wall of the hollow space structure a stationary system component is applied,

(7) FIG. 5 is a system component with a reactive heating element positioned downstream in front of the system component,

(8) FIG. 6 is a reactive heating element.

(9) While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) In FIG. 1 a system component 1 is shown, which comprises a hollow space structure 2. There, the hollow space structure 2 is designed as double-walled casing, wherein a tubular component is surrounded by a shell 4, so that the hollow space structure 2 is formed by the tubular component 3 and the shell 4 surrounding the tubular component 3. A reaction chamber 5 is enclosed by the shell 4 and the tubular component 3, in which reaction chamber 5 a stationary system component 6 is arranged.

(11) The stationary system component 6 can be designed monolithically, as shingling or as shaped body, such as for example a fibre mat. A monolithical design of the stationary system component 6 is possible for example through an open porous foam. There, the stationary system component 6 arranged in the reaction chamber 5 can completely consist of a material or the stationary system component 6 is applied onto a substrate structure of another material.

(12) The shell 4 is connected to the tubular component 3 in a pressure-tight manner via welding points 7 and the reaction chamber 5 such designed in a closed manner, so that between the reaction chamber 5 and the surroundings 8 no or only a negligible substance exchange is possible.

(13) A connecting line 9 is connected to the shell 4 in a pressure-tight manner, which connecting line in turn is fluidically connected to a storage device which is not shown in the FIG. 1, in which the mobile system component of a reactive heating system is stored. The connecting line 9 serves for the feeding of the mobile system component into the reaction chamber 5, so that upon feeding of the mobile system component the latter can react with the stationary system component 6 and because of the exothermic reaction the reaction heat for the heating-up of the system component 1 is released. The connecting line 9 can be controlled with a metering device 15 or with a controllable valve device 15.

(14) The system component 1, according to FIG. 2, comprises a stationary system component 6 as coating on the tubular component 3. Because of this, the reaction heat that is liberated is advantageously generated directly on the tubular component of the system component 1.

(15) The system component 1 shown in FIG. 3 comprises a shell 4 which is equipped with a stabilizing structure 10. This stabilizing structure 10 is designed as corrugated structuring of the shell 4. Because of this elastic shaping of the shell 4 the welding points 7 are subjected to a reduced heat expansion since the corrugated structuring is able to adapt more flexibly relative to the heat expansion than a smooth shell, such as for example shown in FIG. 1 or 2.

(16) In FIG. 4, a system component 1 is shown, which comprises the stationary system component 6 as inside coating on the shell 4. It is also conceivable, that in addition to the coating of the stationary system component 6 shown in FIG. 4 on the inside on the shell 4 a coating of the stationary system component 6 is arranged on the tubular component 3. In addition to this, a filling of the reaction chamber 5 with a stationary system component 6 would also be conceivable.

(17) The system component 1 according to FIG. 5 comprises a reactive heating element 11, which in exhaust gas flow direction 12 is arranged in front of the system component 1 in a tubular component 3. The reactive heating element 11 comprises a heating plate 13, with which the heat-emitting surface area can be enlarged, so that a heating-up of the system component 1 takes place more rapidly.

(18) The reactive heating element 11 as shown in FIG. 6 comprises a heating plate 13 which is connected with a pipeline system 14, wherein the heating plate 13 and the pipeline system 14 with a view to good heat conductants are likewise interconnected. The pipeline system 14 is connected to the connecting line 9 and in the interior comprises the stationary system component 6. Insofar, the pipeline system 14 forms the hollow space structure 2, whose walls in turn enclose the reaction chamber 5. Such a reactive heating element 11 can alternatively or additionally to a stationary system component 6 be employed as coating in a double-walled casing.

(19) All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

(20) The use of the terms a and an and the and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms comprising, having, including, and containing are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning including, but not limited to,) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., such as) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

(21) Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.