U.S. patent application number 12/477932 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-09 for diesel engine exhaust purifier.
Invention is credited to Wen-Lo Chen.
Application Number | 20100307138 12/477932 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43299738 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100307138 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Wen-Lo |
December 9, 2010 |
DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST PURIFIER
Abstract
A diesel engine exhaust purifier includes a burner system having
a metal barrel mounted in the exhaust pipe of a diesel vehicle and
a flame thrower mounted in the metal barrel, pressure sensors
mounted in the front and rear ends of the metal barrel, a precious
metal catalyzer converter type filter system mounted in the metal
barrel for removing solid matters from engine exhaust gas and a
microcontroller electrically connected to the power supply system
of the diesel vehicle for driving the pump-operated fuel tank of
the flame thrower to deliver forced fuel out of a fuel nozzle and
an auto igniter to ignite the mist of fuel discharged out of the
fuel nozzle for burning out cumulated carbon subject to the
detection of the pressure sensors.
Inventors: |
Chen; Wen-Lo; (Taipei City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEONG C. LEI
PMB # 1008, 1839 YGNACIO VALLEY ROAD
WALNUT CREEK
CA
94598
US
|
Family ID: |
43299738 |
Appl. No.: |
12/477932 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
60/286 ; 60/297;
60/303 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02T 10/47 20130101;
F01N 2900/0408 20130101; F01N 3/025 20130101; F01N 3/0256 20130101;
F01N 2900/1406 20130101; F01N 9/002 20130101; Y02T 10/40
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
60/286 ; 60/303;
60/297 |
International
Class: |
F01N 9/00 20060101
F01N009/00; F01N 3/10 20060101 F01N003/10; F01N 3/033 20060101
F01N003/033 |
Claims
1. An exhaust pipe purifier installed in the exhaust pipe of a
diesel vehicle to eliminate cumulated carbon from the exhaust pipe,
comprising: a burner system, said burner system comprising a metal
barrel mounted in said exhaust pipe, a flame thrower mounted in
said metal barrel, said flame thrower comprising a pump-operated
fuel tank, a fuel nozzle adapted to spray a fuel into a mist, a
fuel pipe adapted to guide a fuel from said pump-operated fuel tank
to said fuel nozzle for spraying into a mist, and an auto igniter
adapted to discharge sparks for burning the mist of fuel discharged
out of said fuel nozzle, a first pressure sensor mounted in said
metal barrel near a front end thereof; a second pressure sensor
mounted in said metal barrel near a rear end thereof; a filter
system mounted in said metal barrel between said burner system and
said second pressure sensor and adapted to remove solid matters
from engine exhaust gas; and a microcontroller electrically
connected to the power supply system of the diesel vehicle and
electrically connected to said first pressure sensor and said
second pressure sensor and said burner system and adapted to
control the operation of said pump-operated fuel tank and said auto
igniter subject to pressure detection of said first pressure sensor
and said second pressure sensor.
2. The exhaust pipe purifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
filter system comprises a straight through precious metal catalyzer
type ceramic filter element and a nested precious metal catalyzer
type ceramic filter connected in series.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Technical Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a carbon deposition
elimination technology and more particularly, to a diesel engine
exhaust purifier that effectively eliminates cumulated carbon from
the exhaust pipe of a diesel vehicle.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A diesel vehicle uses compression ignition to burn fuel oil
or substitute fuel, performing the diesel cycle to convert chemical
energy into thermal energy and power output. During combustion,
pollutants including PM (particulate matter), smoke, NO.sub.x
(mono-nitrogen oxides), CO (carbon monoxide), SO.sub.x (sodium
oxides), CO.sub.2 (carbon dioxide), HC (hydrocarbon) and other
waste matters are produced and discharged out of the exhaust pipe
into the atmosphere, causing damage to the ozone layer, occurrence
of acidic rain and rise in greenhouse effect. In case PM
(particulate matter) in exhausted waste gas contain polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons or metal oxides, breathing in such exhausted
waste gas may cause lung, bronchi or breathing passage diseases.
According to a local air pollution source investigation, 46% of
particulate matter and 51% of NO.sub.x of mobile source of air
pollution came from diesel vehicles. Most big public transportation
vehicles are of diesel vehicles. To control discharge of diesel
engine waste gas is an important measure to improve air
quality.
[0005] The automotive industry has been continuously proposing new
measures to reduce the exhaust amount of waste gas. One of the best
ways to reduce the exhaust amount of waste gas from the diesel
engine of a diesel vehicle is to install an exhaust gas purifier in
the exhaust pipe. However, carbon will deposit in the filter
element of the exhaust gas purifier to block the passage after a
long period of work, thereby affecting exhausting effect and normal
functioning of the diesel engine.
[0006] When a certain amount of carbon is cumulated in the filter
element of the exhaust gas purifier of the exhaust pipe of a diesel
vehicle, the passage of the exhaust gas purifier will be partially
blocked, causing a rise in pressure (back pressure) in the exhaust
pipe. Therefore, a backpressure sensor may be installed in the
exhaust pipe of a diesel engine to detect the pressure level of the
waste gas in the filter element of the exhaust gas purifier,
monitoring the status of deposition of carbon. When the deposition
of carbon in the inside wall of the exhaust pipe reaches a certain
thickness, the backpressure sensor will detect a high level of back
pressure, and the engine management system will give a signal to
increase the working temperature of the diesel engine, thereby
burning out cumulated carbon. However, when a vehicle stops
frequently due to a poor traffic condition or frequently runs at
idle speed due to driver's personal driving habit, the low engine
speed cannot raise the engine working temperature for enabling the
cumulated carbon to be burned out. When an excessive amount of
carbon is cumulated in the exhaust gas purifier of the exhaust
pipe, the driver may have to send the vehicle to an auto repair and
service center, asking a mechanic to clean the exhaust pipe and to
remove deposition of carbon from the exhaust gas purifier. This
manner is inconvenience and time-wasting.
[0007] To meet new vehicle exhaust emission standards, electronic
direct ignition system may be used with a nested ceramic filter
element to filtrate carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon, mono-nitrogen
oxides, sodium oxides and black ash particles. When the back
pressure surpasses a predetermined value, diesel oil is added to
the engine valve outlet to increase the combustion temperature, or
added to the inside of the exhaust pipe near the filter element to
increase the temperature of the filter element, causing cumulated
carbon in the filter elements to be burned out. However,
installation of the electronic direct ignition system and the
nested ceramic filter element in an existing diesel vehicle is
complicated. A modification of the original electronic structure of
the diesel vehicle is necessary. This modification complicates
further maintenance of the diesel vehicle.
[0008] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a diesel engine
exhaust purifier that eliminates the aforesaid problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a
diesel engine exhaust purifier, which eliminates the drawback of
conventional diesel engine exhaust purifiers that cause the working
temperature of the diesel engine unable to be effectively increased
due to utilization of the working temperature of the engine for
burning cumulated carbon.
[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
diesel engine exhaust purifier, which fits any of a variety of
existing diesel vehicles without any modification of the electronic
structure of the diesel vehicle, saving much the installation cost
and facilitating vehicle maintenance.
[0011] Technically, the invention has a burner system and a filter
system connected in series and installed in the exhaust pipe of a
diesel vehicle. When a certain amount of carbon is cumulated in the
exhaust pipe, the back pressure will be relatively increased. When
the back pressure surpasses a predetermined value, a
microcontroller drives an indicator light to flash and enables
engine exhaust gas to be directly discharged into a combustion
chamber in a burner system for burning at about 400.degree. C., so
that cumulated carbon is completely burned out within 20 minutes,
cleaning the filter system in the rear side of the exhaust
pipe.
[0012] The filter system uses precious metal ceramic filter
elements to remove solid matters from exhaust gas. The precious
metal ceramic filter elements are prepared from magnesium oxide,
aluminum oxide, silicon oxide or the like through a sintering
process, having 100 meshes per square inch. Each mesh has one end
opened and the other end closed. Thus, exhaust gas cannot pass
through the meshes directly and must move along the wall of the
exhaust gas passage. The porosity is about 7.about.13.mu..
Therefore, about 99% of black ash particles can be caught. The
precious metal ceramic filter elements have a precious metal
coating (platinum, palladium, rhodium or titanium coating) that
oxidizes toxic gas or causes toxic gas to be converted into
nontoxic gas for exhaust. The filter system eliminates 90% and up
HC (hydrocarbon) and CO (carbon monoxide), and 20% up NOx
(mono-nitrogen oxides) from exhaust gas.
[0013] According to the technical features of the present
invention, the burner system is installed in the exhaust pipe in
front of the filter system and adjacent to the exhaust port of the
diesel engine. The burner system comprises a stainless steel
barrel, and a flame thrower connected to a middle part of the
stainless steel barrel. The flame thrower is controlled by a
microcontroller. When the working time of the diesel engine
surpasses 50 hours (this is adjustable subject to the type of the
diesel vehicle) or when the back pressure reaches 6 kpa, a
corresponding indication signal is produced, and the driver can
directly switch on the control button to turn on the igniter of the
burner system and then to turn on the motor pump of the
pump-operated fuel tank of the burner system. If the temperature
rise does not reach 20.degree. C. within 60 seconds, ignition is
started again. If burning is not initiated twice, failure indicator
light is turned on. At this time, a troubleshooting is necessary.
When fuel sensor means detected fuel low, the burner system is
turned off. The burner system is started again when a new supply of
fuel is added. The burning process is completed when the set
burning time period of 20 minutes is up. Thus, cumulated carbon is
effectively eliminated.
[0014] The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0015] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by
way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic plain view of a diesel engine exhaust
purifier in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments
only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or
configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following
description provides a convenient illustration for implementing
exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the
described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement
of the elements described without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a diesel engine exhaust purifier for
use in a diesel vehicle in accordance with the present invention
comprises a burner system 13 and a filter system 7 arranged in an
exhaust pipe 1 between an input end 11 and an output end 12 of the
exhaust pipe 1. The burner system 13 comprises a stainless steel
barrel 24, a flame thrower 2 mounted in the stainless steel barrel
24, and an auto igniter 3. The flame thrower 2 comprises a
pump-operated fuel tank 23, a nozzle 21, and a fuel pipe 22
connected between the pump-operated fuel tank 23 and the fuel
nozzle 21 for guiding fuel from the pump-operated fuel tank 23 to
the fuel nozzle 21 that sprays fuel into a mist. The auto igniter 3
is disposed adjacent to the fuel nozzle 21, and electrically
connected to the DC power supply circuit of the diesel vehicle.
When electrically connected, the auto igniter 3 discharges sparks
to burn the mist of fuel being discharged out of the fuel nozzle
21. A first pressure sensor 5A is disposed in front of the flame
thrower 2 and adapted to detect back pressure. The first pressure
sensor 5A is mounted in one sidewall of the burner system 13 at a
suitable location and electrically connected to the control system
of the diesel vehicle. According to the present preferred
embodiment, the first pressure sensor 5A is electrically connected
with the pump-operated fuel tank 23 to a microcontroller 4. The
filter system 7 is a precious metal catalyzer converter installed
in the output end 12 of the exhaust pipe 1, comprising a straight
through precious metal catalyzer type ceramic filter element 71 and
a nested metal catalyzer type ceramic filter element 72. A
temperature sensor 6 is installed in one side of the filter system
7. A second pressure sensor 5B is installed in the output end 12 of
the exhaust pipe 1. The temperature sensor 6 and the second
pressure sensor 5B are electrically connected to the
microcontroller 4.
[0019] The burner system 13 of the exhaust pipe purifier does no
work under a normal working status of the diesel vehicle, and
exhaust gas of the diesel engine is directly discharged through the
burner system 13 and the filter system 7. When exhaust gas is
flowing through the filter system 7, the straight through precious
metal catalyzer type ceramic filter element 71 and the nested metal
catalyzer type ceramic filter element 72 remove solid matters from
exhaust gas. When gas discharge is smooth, the back pressure
detected by the first pressure sensor 5A is under a predetermined
value, at this time, the flame thrower 2 is not started. If a
certain amount of carbon is cumulated in the filter system 7 after
a long use, the exhaust back pressure will be increased. When the
back pressure detected by the second pressure sensor 5B surpasses
the predetermined value, the second pressure sensor 5B provides a
signal to the microcontroller 4, causing the microcontroller 4 to
start up the pump (not shown) of the pump-operated fuel tank 23.
Thus, the pump-operated fuel tank 23 supplies forced fuel through
the fuel pipe 22 to the fuel nozzle 21 for burning. At the same
time, the microcontroller 4 drives the igniter 3 to discharge
sparks, causing the mist of fuel being discharged out of the fuel
nozzle 21 to be burned. When the discharging mist of fuel is
burned, the temperature will be as high as about 400.degree. C.
This high temperature is transferred to the straight through
precious metal catalyzer type ceramic filter element 71 and the
nested metal catalyzer type ceramic filter element 72 of the filter
system 7, causing cumulated carbon to be burned out. After removal
of cumulated carbon, the filter system 7 resumes to function
smoothly. At this time, the back pressure detected by the first
pressure sensor 5A dropped below the predetermined value, and the
first pressure sensor 5A gives a signal to the microcontroller 4 to
turn off the flame thrower 2, allowing engine exhaust gas to be
directly discharged through the filter system 7. This operation
procedure is repeated again and again, effectively eliminating
cumulated carbon.
[0020] It will be understood that each of the elements described
above, or two or more together may also find a useful application
in other types of methods differing from the type described
above.
[0021] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *