U.S. patent application number 12/700172 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-12 for exhaust gas purifying apparatus and method for regenerating particulate filter thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI. Invention is credited to Yoshifumi Kato, Naotaka KOIDE.
Application Number | 20100199642 12/700172 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41862333 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100199642 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KOIDE; Naotaka ; et
al. |
August 12, 2010 |
EXHAUST GAS PURIFYING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REGENERATING
PARTICULATE FILTER THEREOF
Abstract
An exhaust gas purifying apparatus includes an exhaust pipe, a
first oxidation catalyst, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR)
catalyst, a urea water supply system, a particulate filter (PF) and
a controller. Exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion
engine flows through the exhaust pipe. The first oxidation catalyst
is disposed in the exhaust pipe. The SCR catalyst is disposed in
the exhaust pipe downstream of the first oxidation catalyst. The
urea water supply system supplies urea water to the SCR catalyst.
The PF is disposed in the exhaust pipe downstream of the SCR
catalyst. The controller stops supplying the urea water from the
urea water supply system during regeneration of the PF, so as to
supply the NO.sub.2 formed in the first oxidation catalyst to the
PF, wherein the NO.sub.2 functions as an oxidizing agent to oxidize
particulate matter (PM) deposited on the PF for regenerating the
PF.
Inventors: |
KOIDE; Naotaka; (Aichi-ken,
JP) ; Kato; Yoshifumi; (Aichi-ken, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA
JIDOSHOKKI
Kariya-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
41862333 |
Appl. No.: |
12/700172 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
60/286 ; 60/295;
60/297; 60/299; 60/301; 60/303 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02T 10/40 20130101;
F01N 9/002 20130101; Y02T 10/24 20130101; F01N 13/009 20140601;
Y02T 10/12 20130101; F01N 3/208 20130101; F01N 2560/08 20130101;
F01N 2610/02 20130101; F01N 3/0231 20130101; Y02T 10/47 20130101;
F01N 3/2066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
60/286 ; 60/299;
60/303; 60/301; 60/297; 60/295 |
International
Class: |
F01N 9/00 20060101
F01N009/00; F01N 3/10 20060101 F01N003/10; F01N 3/035 20060101
F01N003/035; F01N 3/023 20060101 F01N003/023 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 9, 2009 |
JP |
2009-027611 |
Claims
1. An exhaust gas purifying apparatus comprising; an exhaust pipe
through which exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion
engine flows; a first oxidation catalyst disposed in the exhaust
pipe, the first oxidation catalyst generates nitrogen dioxide; a
selective catalytic reduction catalyst disposed in the exhaust pipe
downstream of the first oxidation catalyst; a urea water supply
system supplying urea water to the selective catalytic reduction
catalyst; a particulate filter disposed in the exhaust pipe
downstream of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst; and a
controller for controlling the urea water supply system, wherein
the controller stops supplying the urea water from the urea water
supply system during regeneration of the particulate filter, so as
to supply the nitrogen dioxide formed in the first oxidation
catalyst to the particulate filter, wherein the nitrogen dioxide
functions as an oxidizing agent to oxidize particulate matter
deposited on the particulate filter for regenerating the
particulate filter.
2. The exhaust gas purifying apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the exhaust gas purifying apparatus further includes a
second oxidation catalyst disposed in the exhaust pipe between the
selective catalytic reduction catalyst and the particulate
filter.
3. The exhaust gas purifying apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the exhaust gas purifying apparatus further includes a
pressure sensor and the controller receives a signal outputted from
the pressure sensor for detecting pressure differential between the
upstream and downstream of the particulate filter, wherein the
controller stops supplying the urea water from the urea water
supply system when the pressure differential reaches a
predetermined value.
4. The exhaust gas purifying apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the urea water supply system is activated to supply urea
water to the selective catalytic reduction catalyst when the
regeneration of the particulate filter is completed.
5. The exhaust gas purifying apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the urea water supply system includes; an injection nozzle
injecting urea water; a urea water tank storing urea water; a
piping through which the injection nozzle is in communication with
the urea water tank; and a urea water supply device supplying urea
water in the urea water tank to the injection nozzle and is
disposed in the piping.
6. The exhaust gas purifying apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the controller stops supplying the urea water from the urea
water supply system in a condition where the temperature of the
exhaust gas is as high as the temperature that the nitrogen dioxide
functions as the oxidizing agent in the particulate filter.
7. The exhaust gas purifying apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the internal combustion engine is a diesel engine, and the
particulate filter is a diesel particulate filter.
8. A method for regenerating a particulate filter of an exhaust gas
purifying apparatus, the apparatus includes an exhaust pipe through
which exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine
flows, a first oxidation catalyst disposed in the exhaust pipe, the
first oxidation catalyst generates nitrogen dioxide, a selective
catalytic reduction catalyst disposed in the exhaust pipe
downstream of the first oxidation catalyst, a urea water supply
system supplying urea water to the selective catalytic reduction
catalyst and a particulate filter disposed in the exhaust pipe
downstream of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst, the
method comprising: stopping supplying the urea water from the urea
water supply system during regeneration of the particulate filter;
and supplying the nitrogen dioxide formed in the first oxidation
catalyst to the particulate filter, wherein the nitrogen dioxide
functions as an oxidizing agent to oxidize particulate matter
deposited on the particulate filter.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an exhaust gas purifying
apparatus and method for regenerating particulate filter thereof,
and more particularly they are applied to an exhaust gas purifying
apparatus using a urea selective catalytic reduction (SCR)
system.
[0002] The urea SCR system has been developed for reducing nitrogen
oxides (NO.sub.x) contained in exhaust gas discharged from a diesel
engine. The urea SCR system includes a nitrogen monoxide oxidation
catalyst (NO oxidation catalyst), a SCR catalyst disposed
downstream of the NO oxidation catalyst, a urea water supply system
and an ammonia oxidation catalyst disposed downstream of the SCR
catalyst. In the NO oxidation catalyst, nitrogen monoxide (NO) is
oxidized to form nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2). In the SCR catalyst,
NO.sub.x and ammonia formed by the reaction of urea with water are
reacted to form nitrogen and water. The urea water supply system
supplies urea water to the SCR catalyst. In the ammonia oxidation
catalyst, ammonia not reacted or not consumed in the SCR catalyst
is oxidized. The urea SCR system for purifying NO.sub.x may also
include a diesel particulate filter (DPF) for reducing particulate
matter (PM).
[0003] A conventional exhaust gas purifying apparatus including a
urea SCR system and a DPF is disclosed in Japanese Patent
Application Publication No. 2006-274986. In the conventional
exhaust gas purifying apparatus, when PM deposited on the DPF
reaches a predetermined amount, supply of urea water is stopped and
diesel fuel (light oil) is supplied to exhaust gas for regenerating
the DPF.
[0004] In the above-described conventional exhaust gas purifying
apparatus, however, supply of diesel fuel for regenerating the DPF
deteriorates fuel economy.
[0005] The present invention is directed to providing an exhaust
gas purifying apparatus which can improve efficiency in the use of
urea water without deteriorating fuel economy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the present invention, an exhaust gas
purifying apparatus includes an exhaust pipe, a first oxidation
catalyst, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, a urea
water supply system, a particulate filter (PF) and a controller.
Exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine flows
through the exhaust pipe. The first oxidation catalyst is disposed
in the exhaust pipe. The SCR catalyst is disposed in the exhaust
pipe downstream of the first oxidation catalyst. The urea water
supply system supplies urea water to the SCR is catalyst. The PF is
disposed in the exhaust pipe downstream of the SCR catalyst. The
controller stops supplying the urea water from the urea water
supply system during regeneration of the PF, so as to supply the
NO.sub.2 formed in the first oxidation catalyst to the PF, wherein
the NO.sub.2 functions as an oxidizing agent to oxidize particulate
matter (PM) deposited on the PF for regenerating the PF.
[0007] The present invention also provides a method for
regenerating a PF of an exhaust gas purifying apparatus. The
exhaust gas purifying apparatus includes an exhaust pipe, a first
oxidation catalyst, a SCR catalyst, a urea water supply system, a
PF and a controller. Exhaust gas discharged from an internal
combustion engine flows through the exhaust pipe. The first
oxidation catalyst is disposed in the exhaust pipe for generating
NO.sub.2. The SCR catalyst is disposed in the exhaust pipe
downstream of the first oxidation catalyst. The urea water supply
system supplies urea water to the SCR catalyst. The PF is disposed
in the exhaust pipe downstream of the SCR catalyst. The controller
controls the urea water supply system. The method includes stopping
supplying the urea water from the urea water supply system during
regeneration of the PF, and supplying the NO.sub.2 formed in the
first oxidation catalyst to the PF, wherein the NO.sub.2 functions
as an oxidizing agent to oxidize PM deposited on the PF.
[0008] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the
principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The invention together with objects and advantages thereof,
may best be understood by reference to the following description of
the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an exhaust gas purifying
apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] The following will describe an exhaust gas purifying
apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows the exhaust gas
purifying apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention. A diesel engine 1 is an internal combustion
engine. The exhaust gas purifying apparatus includes an exhaust
pipe 2, a nitrogen monoxide oxidation catalyst (NO oxidation
catalyst) 3 serving as a first oxidation catalyst, a selective
catalytic reduction catalyst (SCR catalyst) 4, an ammonia oxidation
catalyst 5 serving as a second oxidation catalyst and a diesel
particulate filter (DPF) 6. The NO oxidation catalyst 3, the SCR
catalyst 4, the ammonia oxidation catalyst 5 and the DPF 6 are all
disposed in the exhaust pipe 2 through which exhaust gas discharged
from the diesel engine 1 flows. An injection nozzle 7 for injecting
urea water is disposed between the NO oxidation catalyst 3 and the
SCR catalyst 4 and in communication with a urea water tank 9
through a piping 8. The urea water tank 9 stores therein urea
water. A urea water supply device 10 is disposed in the piping 8
and supplies urea water in the urea water tank 9 to the injection
nozzle 7. Pressure sensors 11, 12 are disposed upstream and
downstream of the DPF 6, respectively, for determining pressure
differential between the upstream and downstream of the DPF 6. The
urea water supply device 10 and the pressure sensors 11, 12 are
electrically connected respectively to an electronic control unit
(ECU) 14 serving as a controller of the exhaust gas purifying
apparatus. The ECU 14 receives signals outputted from the pressure
sensors 11, 12 for detecting pressure differential between the
upstream and downstream of the DPF 6. The injection nozzle 7, the
piping 8, the urea water tank 9 and the urea water supply device 10
form a urea water supply system for supplying urea water to the SCR
catalyst 4.
[0012] The following will describe the operation of the exhaust gas
purifying apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention. Exhaust gas discharged from the diesel engine 1
and flowing through the exhaust pipe 2 enters into the NO oxidation
catalyst 3. In the NO oxidation catalyst 3, nitrogen monoxide (NO)
in the exhaust gas is oxidized to form nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2).
Then, the exhaust gas flows into the SCR catalyst 4. The ECU 14 is
operated to activate the urea water supply device 10 at an
appropriate timing thereby to supply urea water stored in the urea
water tank 9 to the injection nozzle 7 through the piping 8, and
then the urea water is supplied to the SCR catalyst 4 from the
injection nozzle 7. The urea water supplied to the SCR catalyst 4
is hydrolyzed to form ammonia and carbon dioxide, and then the
ammonia and nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) in exhaust gas are reacted
to form nitrogen and water. If the ammonia is not sufficiently
reacted or not consumed in the SCR catalyst 4, it is forwarded to
the ammonia oxidation catalyst 5 and oxidized therein.
Subsequently, the exhaust gas flows into the DPF 6, and particulate
matter (PM) in the exhaust gas is deposited on the DPF 6. Thus,
NO.sub.x in exhaust gas is reduced, PM is removed from the exhaust
gas, and then the purified exhaust gas is discharged into the
atmosphere.
[0013] If PM in exhaust gas continues to be deposited on the DPF 6
while the diesel engine 1 is operated, the pressure differential
between the upstream and downstream of the DPF 6 is increased. When
the pressure differential determined by the pressure sensors 11, 12
reaches a predetermined value that is stored in the ECU 14, the ECU
14 is operated to start the regeneration of the DPF 6. When
starting the regeneration of the DPF6, the ECU 14 is operated to
stop the operation of the urea water supply device 10, so that
supply of urea water is stopped during the regeneration of the DPF
6. In other words, the ECU 14 stops supplying the urea water from
the urea water supply device 10 for regenerating the DPF 6. Thus,
NO.sub.2 formed in the NO oxidation catalyst 3 is not reduced in
the SCR catalyst 4 and then directly flows into the DPF 6. NO.sub.2
having strong oxidizing properties functions as an oxidizing agent
for oxidizing PM in the DPF 6. In the presence of NO.sub.2, PM may
be oxidized thereby at a relatively low temperature. Therefore,
when the diesel engine 1 continues to be operated and the
temperature of exhaust gas is increased, PM deposited on the DPF 6
may be accordingly oxidized without increasing the temperature of
exhaust gas by supplying diesel fuel to exhaust gas to oxidize the
diesel fuel in oxidation catalyst. The ECU 14 stops supplying the
urea water from the urea water supply device 11 in a condition
where the temperature of the exhaust gas is as high as the
temperature that the NO.sub.2 functions as the oxidizing agent in
the DPF 6.
[0014] When the regeneration of the DPF 6 is completed, the ECU 14
resume to activate the urea water supply device 10 again to supply
urea water to the SCR catalyst 4 at an appropriate timing.
Thereafter, the above-described operation is repeated for
regenerating the DPF 6.
[0015] In the regeneration of the DPF 6, by way of stopping the
supply of urea water from the injection nozzle 7, NO.sub.2 formed
in the NO oxidation catalyst 3 and then flowed into the SCR
catalyst 4 functions as an oxidizing agent to oxidize PM deposited
on the DPF 6. Thus, PM may be oxidized at a relatively low
temperature, so that there is no need to oxidize diesel fuel in
oxidation catalyst thereby to increase the temperature of exhaust
gas. As is apparent from the foregoing, stop of supplying urea
water during the regeneration of the DPF 6 improves the efficiency
in the use of urea water and there is no need to supply diesel fuel
to exhaust gas, with the result deterioration of fuel economy may
be prevented.
* * * * *