U.S. patent application number 14/897292 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-12 for chemical heat storage device.
This patent application is currently assigned to KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI. The applicant listed for this patent is KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI. Invention is credited to Kenji MORI, Hideaki SUZUKI.
Application Number | 20160131439 14/897292 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52104492 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160131439 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SUZUKI; Hideaki ; et
al. |
May 12, 2016 |
CHEMICAL HEAT STORAGE DEVICE
Abstract
A chemical heat storage device that heats a heating target
provided in an exhaust pipe 3 from an outer periphery of the
heating target, comprising a reactor 9A that contains reaction
materials 9a that generate heat by chemical reaction with a
reaction medium, an adsorber that adsorbs the reaction medium with
an adsorbent to store the reaction medium, and branch pipes 11a and
11b that connect the adsorber and the reactor 9A. The reactor 9A is
provided around an outer peripheral surface of a portion at which
the heating target is provided in the piping, and includes a
plurality of inlet-outlets 9c and 9d through which the reaction
medium is fed. The plurality of inlet-outlets 9c and 9d are
arranged so as to be at equal intervals in a circumferential
direction of the reactor 9A without being positioned in a lower
portion of the reactor 9A.
Inventors: |
SUZUKI; Hideaki;
(Kariya-shi, JP) ; MORI; Kenji; (Kariya-shi,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI |
Aichi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA
JIDOSHOKKI
Kariya-shi, Aichi
JP
|
Family ID: |
52104492 |
Appl. No.: |
14/897292 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
June 6, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2014/065143 |
371 Date: |
December 10, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/104.12 ;
60/303; 60/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01N 13/009 20140601;
F28D 20/003 20130101; F01N 3/103 20130101; F01N 3/2006 20130101;
Y02E 60/142 20130101; Y02E 60/14 20130101; Y02T 10/26 20130101;
F01N 2240/10 20130101; F01N 3/2842 20130101; F01N 5/02 20130101;
Y02T 10/16 20130101; Y02T 10/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F28D 20/00 20060101
F28D020/00; F01N 3/20 20060101 F01N003/20; F01N 5/02 20060101
F01N005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 19, 2013 |
JP |
2013-128549 |
Claims
1. A chemical heat storage device that heats a heating target
provided in a piping, the chemical heat storage device comprising:
a reactor that contains reaction materials that generate heat by
chemical reaction with a reaction medium; an adsorber that adsorbs
the reaction medium with an adsorbent to store the reaction medium;
and a connection pipe that connects the adsorber and the reactor,
wherein the reactor is provided around an outer peripheral surface
of a portion at which the heating target is provided in the piping,
and includes a plurality of inlets through which the reaction
medium is fed.
2. The chemical heat storage device according to claim 1, wherein
the reactor surrounds the entire outer peripheral surface of the
portion at which the heating target is provided in the piping in a
circumferential direction, and wherein the plurality of inlets are
arranged so as to be at equal intervals in the circumferential
direction of the reactor.
3. The chemical heat storage device according to claim 1, wherein
the plurality of inlets are arranged at a portion other than a
lower portion of the reactor in a direction of gravitational force
to prevent blockage of each of the inlets by the reaction
material.
4. The chemical heat storage device according to claim 1, wherein
the reactor includes divided areas where the reaction medium is
movable corresponding to the respective plurality of inlets, and
wherein the inlet is provided in the respective divided areas.
5. The chemical heat storage device according to claim 1, wherein
the reactor includes an outlet for discharging the reaction medium,
and wherein the outlet is arranged in a portion other than a lower
portion of the reactor in a direction of gravitational force to
prevent blockage of the outlet by the reaction material.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a chemical heat storage
device that heats a heating target provided in piping from an outer
periphery of the heating target.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] An exhaust system of a vehicle and the like includes a
catalyst and so on that removes environmental pollutants (such as
HC, CO, and NO.sub.X) contained in exhaust gas discharged from an
engine. The catalyst has an optimum temperature (activation
temperature) for activating its cleaning ability. At the time of
starting an engine, low temperature of exhaust gas requires the
catalyst to take time to reach its activation temperature. Thus, a
heating device is sometimes provided to warm up a catalyst when
temperature of exhaust gas is low, such as starting of an engine,
to raise temperature of the catalyst to its activation temperature
in a short time. The heating device includes a chemical heat
storage device that uses heat of chemical reaction to reduce energy
loss (gas mileage loss) and warm up. Patent Literature 1 discloses
a catalyst heating device that includes a catalyst body that is
provided in a gas passage through which exhaust gas flows, and a
first container that is provided upstream of the catalyst body to
contain an adsorbent that generates/adsorbs heat by using
adsorption/desorption of water that is a medium to be adsorbed, a
second container that contains the medium to be adsorbed and the
first container communicating with each other by a communicating
pipe provided with an on-off valve.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
No, 11-311117
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0004] Some chemical heat storage devices include a reactor
(reaction materials) that is provided all around an outer periphery
of a heating target to improve temperature rise capability of the
heating target such as a catalyst and mountability of the reactor
so that the heating target is heated from its outer periphery. If
there is only one inlet of a reaction medium in the reactor
provided all around the outer periphery in such a manner, the
reaction medium has to be supplied through the one inlet. Since the
reaction materials are arranged in a surrounding shape, there is a
difference in a distance between the inlet and the reaction
material depending on a position at which the reaction material is
arranged. Accordingly, the reaction medium is fed later as the
reaction material is away from the inlet, so that it is difficult
to feed the reaction medium to all of the reaction materials
arranged around the outer periphery of the heating target. For
that, since there is unevenness in chemical reaction between the
reaction medium and the reaction material depending on a position
at which the reaction material is arranged, there is a possibility
that uneven heating with respect to the heating target (by
extension, uneven temperature rise) may occur. As a result, it is
impossible to rapidly raise temperature of the entire heating
target (particularly, on a side with distance from the inlet).
[0005] Then, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
chemical heat storage device that easily feeds a reaction medium to
all of reaction materials.
Solution to Problem
[0006] A chemical heat storage device according to the present
invention heats a heating target provided in piping, and includes a
reactor that contains reaction materials that generate heat by
chemical reaction with a reaction medium, an adsorber that adsorbs
the reaction medium with an adsorbent to store the reaction medium,
and a connection pipe that connects the adsorber and the reactor,
and in the chemical heat storage device, the reactor is provided
around an outer peripheral surface of a portion at which the
heating target is provided in the piping, and the reactor is
provided with a plurality of inlets through which the reaction
medium is fed.
[0007] The chemical heat storage device heats a heating target from
its outer periphery. The chemical heat storage device includes the
adsorber and the reactor, and the adsorber and the reactor are
connected by the connection pipe. In the adsorber, a reaction
medium is adsorbed with an adsorbent to be stored. In the reactor,
when the reaction medium is fed from the adsorber through the
connection pipe, reaction materials and the reaction medium
chemically react with each other to generate heat. The reactor is
provided around an outer periphery of the heating target. In
particular, the reactor includes the plurality of inlets for
feeding the reaction medium. The inlet may also serve as an outlet
for discharging the reaction medium. Although the reactor (reaction
materials) is arranged around the outer periphery of the heating
target in a surrounding shape, the plurality of inlets of the
reaction medium are provided, whereby it is possible to reduce a
difference in a distance between the inlet and a reaction material
depending on a position at which the reaction material is arranged
as well as to reduce the amount of reaction materials to which the
reaction medium is supplied per one inlet, as compared with a case
where only one inlet is provided. Thus, a difference in a feeding
speed of the reaction medium depending on a position at which the
reaction material is arranged is reduced to allow the reaction
medium to be easily fed to all of the reaction materials.
[0008] As a result, it is possible to reduce unevenness in chemical
reaction between the reaction medium and the reaction material
depending on a position at which the reaction material is arranged,
thereby enabling the chemical reaction to be promoted in all of the
reaction materials arranged around the outer periphery of the
heating target. In this way, the chemical heat storage device is
capable of reducing uneven heating with respect to the heating
target (by extension, uneven temperature rise) by providing the
plurality of inlets of the reaction medium in the reactor to allow
the reaction medium to be easily fed to all of the reaction
materials. As a result, heating efficiency of the chemical heat
storage device to the heating target is improved to enable the
entire heating target to be rapidly increased in temperature.
[0009] In the chemical heat storage device of the present invention
described above, it is preferable that the reactor surrounds the
entire outer peripheral surface of the portion at which the heating
target is provided in the piping in a circumferential direction,
and that the plurality of inlets are arranged so as to be at equal
intervals in the circumferential direction of the reactor. In this
way, the plurality of inlets are arranged at equal intervals in the
circumferential direction to enable a difference in a distance
between the inlet and the reaction material depending on a position
in the circumferential direction at which the reaction material is
arranged to be minimized. As a result, it is possible to easily
feed the reaction medium to all of the reaction materials more
rapidly.
[0010] In addition, in the chemical heat storage device of the
present invention described above, it is preferable that the
plurality of inlets are arranged at a portion other than a lower
portion of the reactor in a direction of gravitational force to
prevent blockage of each of the inlets by the reaction material. If
the inlet is arranged in the lower portion (in the direction of
gravitational force) of the reactor, there is a possibility that
the inlet may be blocked by a substance (such as a reaction
material) inside the reactor. Thus, if the plurality of inlets are
arranged at a portion other than the lower portion of the reactor,
blockage of the inlet can be prevented.
[0011] Further, in the chemical heat storage device of the present
invention described above, it is preferable that the reactor
includes divided area where the reaction medium is movable
corresponding to the respective plurality of inlets, and that the
inlet is provided in the respective divided areas. In this way,
since the reactor is divided into the plurality of areas
corresponding to the respective plurality of inlets, the reaction
medium can be supplied to the reaction materials in each of the
divided areas. Then, since the inlet is provided for each of the
areas divided, the reaction medium can be fed to each of the areas
from one of the inlets, thereby enabling the amount of reaction
materials to which the reaction medium is to be supplied per one
inlet to be reduced (the reaction medium may be supplied to only
the reaction materials in the area). Thus, a difference in a
feeding speed of the reaction medium depending on a position at
which the reaction material is arranged is reduced to allow the
reaction medium to be rapidly fed to the reaction materials in the
area, thereby allowing the reaction medium to be easily fed to all
of the reaction materials more rapidly.
[0012] Furthermore, in the chemical heat storage device of the
present invention described above, it is preferable that the
reactor includes an outlet for discharging the reaction medium, and
that the outlet is arranged in a portion other than the lower
portion of the reactor in the direction of gravitational force to
prevent blockage of the outlet by the reaction material. In this
way, since the reactor includes the outlet in addition to the
inlet, the reaction medium flows from the inlet to the outlet in
one direction to reduce convection and turbulence, whereby the
reaction medium smoothly flows. In addition, if the outlet is
arranged in a portion other than the lower portion of the reactor,
blockage of the outlet by a substance inside the reactor can be
prevented.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0013] According to the present invention, a plurality of inlets of
a reaction medium are provided in a reactor to enable the reaction
medium to be easily fed to all of reaction materials, whereby
uneven heating with respect to a heating target can be reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of an exhaust gas
cleaning system including a chemical heat storage device in the
present embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a structural view of the chemical heat storage
device in the present embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a periphery of a reactor
of a chemical heat storage device in a first embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a periphery of a reactor
of a chemical heat storage device in a second embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a periphery of a reactor
of a chemical heat storage device in a third embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a periphery of a reactor
of a chemical heat storage device in a fourth embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the chemical heat storage
device according to the present invention will be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same
or similar element is designated by the same reference numeral
without duplicated description on the element.
[0021] In the present embodiment, the chemical heat storage device
according to the present invention is applied to a chemical heat
storage device provided in an exhaust gas cleaning system in an
exhaust system of an engine of a vehicle. The exhaust gas cleaning
system in the present embodiment removes deleterious materials
(environmental pollutant) contained in exhaust gas discharged from
an engine (particularly, a diesel engine). In addition, the exhaust
gas cleaning system in the present embodiment includes catalysts,
such as a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), a selective catalytic
reduction (SCR), and an ammonia slip catalyst (ASC), and a filter,
such as a diesel particulate filter (DPF). Further, the exhaust gas
cleaning system in the present embodiment also includes a chemical
heat storage device for warming up the DOC. The present embodiment
includes four embodiments each of which has a different structure
of a reactor and the like of the chemical heat storage device.
[0022] With reference to FIG. 1, entire structure of an exhaust gas
cleaning system 1 common to the first to fourth embodiments will be
described. FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of an exhaust gas
cleaning system in the present embodiment.
[0023] The exhaust gas cleaning system 1, from an upstream side
toward a downstream side of an exhaust pipe 3 connected to an
exhaust side of an engine 2, includes a diesel oxidation catalyst
(DOC) 4, a diesel exhaust particulate filter (DPF) 5, selective
catalytic reduction (SCR) 6, and an ammonia slip catalyst (ASC) 7.
In the present embodiment, the exhaust pipe 3 corresponds to piping
described in claims.
[0024] The DOC 4 is a catalyst that oxidizes HC, CO, and the like
contained in exhaust gas. The DPF 5 is a filter that collects and
removes PM contained in exhaust gas. The SCR 6 is a catalyst that
reduces NO by allowing ammonia and NO contained in exhaust gas to
chemically react with each other when ammonia (NH.sub.3) or
urea-water (that yields ammonia on hydrolysis) is supplied to the
upstream side in the exhaust pipe by an injector 6a so that the
exhaust gas is cleaned. The ASC 7 is a catalyst that oxidizes
ammonia that has flowed to the downstream side through the SCR
6.
[0025] In each of the catalysts 4, 6, and 7, there is a temperature
range (or activation temperature) in which cleaning ability with
respect to environmental pollutants can be achieved. For example, a
lower limit of the activation temperature of the DOC 4 is about
150.degree. C. However, at the time immediately after the engine 2
is started, or the like, temperature of exhaust gas immediately
after discharged from the engine 2 is relatively low, such as about
100.degree. C. Thus, even at the time immediately after the engine
2 is started, or the like, it is required to rapidly increase
temperature in each of the catalysts 4, 6, and 7 to its activation
temperature to achieve cleaning ability in each of the catalysts 4,
6, and 7. For that, the exhaust gas cleaning system 1 also includes
a chemical heat storage device 8 for warming up the catalysts. In
addition, the exhaust gas cleaning system 1 includes a temperature
sensor that detects temperature of exhaust gas discharged from the
engine 2 (or temperature of the catalysts).
[0026] The chemical heat storage device 8 is a chemical heat
storage device that warms up a catalyst without external energy.
That is, the chemical heat storage device 8 usually stores heat of
exhaust gas (exhaust heat) to warm up the catalyst by using the
heat if necessary. In particular, the chemical heat storage device
8 warms up (heats) the DOC 4 that is a catalyst positioned upstream
of the exhaust pipe 3 from an outer periphery of the DOC 4. Warming
up upstream allows exhaust gas increased in temperature by the
warming up to flow downstream from the catalysts (the SCR 6 and the
ASC 7). The chemical heat storage device 8 includes a reactor 9, an
adsorber 10, a connection pipe 11, an on-off valve 12, and the
like. In the present embodiment, the DOC 4 corresponds to a heating
target described in claims.
[0027] The reactor 9 is provided around the entire outer peripheral
surface of a portion at which the DOC 4 is provided in the exhaust
pipe 3, and is formed in a doughnut (annular) shape surrounding the
DOC 4 in cross section. The above cross section in a doughnut shape
is a cross section of a flow channel taking along a direction
perpendicular to a direction in which exhaust gas flows in the
reactor 9. As shown in FIG. 3, the reactor 9 includes reaction
materials (heat storage material) 9a that chemically react with
ammonia (reaction medium), and the reaction materials 9a are housed
in a casing 9b. In the reactor 9, the ammonia and the reaction
materials 9a chemically react with each other to form chemical
adsorption (coordinate bond) to generate heat. In addition, if
temperature of the reactor 9 increases to a prescribed temperature
or more in a state where the reaction materials 9a and the ammonia
bind with each other, the reaction materials 9a and the ammonia are
separated to start emitting the ammonia, and if the temperature
increases to another higher prescribed temperature, most of the
ammonia is emitted. Each of the prescribed temperatures changes
depending on a combination of the reaction material 9a and the
ammonia.
[0028] The reaction material 9a is formed into a solid like a
tablet. A plurality of the tablet-like reaction materials 9a are
aligned on an outer peripheral surface (a part of the exhaust pipe
3) of the DOC 4 in a direction in which exhaust gas flows, as well
as aligned on the outer peripheral surface of the DOC 4 along a
circumferential direction.
[0029] Thus, a longitudinal-sectional shape of the tablet-like
reaction material 9a is a rectangle, and a cross-sectional shape
thereof is a divided doughnut shape (an arc shape with a
predetermined thickness). The plurality of reaction materials 9a
arranged in the direction in which exhaust gas flows and along the
circumferential direction are provided around the entire outer
peripheral surface of the DOC 4, and is formed in a doughnut shape
surrounding the DOC 4 in cross section. Length of a row in which
the plurality of reaction materials 9a are arranged in the
direction in which exhaust gas flows allows the entire DOC 4 to be
covered. Thus, the reaction materials 9a directly provided on the
outer peripheral surface of the DOC 4 can directly warm up the
entire DOC 4 through the thin exhaust pipe 3. For the reaction
materials 9a, a material capable of chemically reacting with
ammonia to generate heat to rise in temperature to activation
temperature of a catalyst or more is available, and the material
includes, for example, a divalent chloride (MCl.sub.2), a divalent
bromide (MBr.sub.2), and a divalent iodide (MI.sub.2), where Mg,
Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Ca, Sr, Ba, Cu, Cr, or the like, is suitable to
M.
[0030] The casing 9b is provided so as to surround a whole area of
an outer periphery side of the reactor 9 and a whole area of
upstream and downstream ends of the reactor 9, and an airtight
space is formed between the casing 9b and the outer peripheral
surface of the DOC 4 to be filled with the reaction materials 9a.
In this way, since the reaction materials 9a are contained in the
airtight space, it is possible to repeatedly perform chemical
reaction with ammonia. The reactor 9 includes a plurality of
inlet-outlets, or a plurality of inlets and outlets, which open
with respect to the reaction materials 9a, to allow ammonia to be
fed and discharged therethrough. Structure of the inlet-outlet, or
the inlet and the outlet of the reactor 9, will be described in
detail in each of embodiments described below. In addition, a heat
insulator or the like may be provided between the reaction
materials 9a and the casing 9b.
[0031] The adsorber 10 contains activated carbon serving as an
adsorbent that physically adsorbs ammonia. In the adsorber 10, the
ammonia is stored while physically adsorbed by the activated carbon
to store exhaust heat (warmed ammonia) of exhaust gas, and then the
ammonia is separated from the activated carbon to be emitted, and
is supplied to the reactor 9.
[0032] The connection pipe 11 connects the reactor 9 and the
adsorber 10 to allow ammonia to move between the reactor 9 and the
adsorber 10 therethrough. The connection pipe 11 is connected at
one end to an inlet-outlet, or an inlet and an outlet, while
penetrating the casing 9b of the reactor 9. The on-off valve 12 is
provided in the middle of the connection pipe 11. Opening the
on-off valve 12 enables the ammonia to move between the reactor 9
and adsorber 10 through the connection pipe 11. Structure of the
connection pipe 11 and the on-off valve 12 is changed depending on
the structure of the inlet-outlet, or the inlet and the outlet, of
the reactor 9, and thus will be described in detail in each of the
embodiments described below. Opening and closing of the on-off
valve 12 is controlled by a control unit, such as an electronic
control unit (ECU, not shown) that controls the engine 2.
[0033] The DOC 4 is a heating target of the chemical heat storage
device 8, and has structure in which a catalyst is supported by a
honeycomb substrate 4a in a cylindrical shape provided in the thin
exhaust pipe 3 in an annular shape in cross section, as shown in
FIG. 3, and the like. Thus, a part of the exhaust pipe 3
constitutes the outer peripheral surface of the DOC 4. Material of
the honeycomb substrate 4a is ceramic, for example. In addition,
material of the exhaust pipe 3 is stainless steel (SUS), for
example.
[0034] First, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, structure of an
inlet-outlet of the reactor 9A in a first embodiment, and structure
of the connection pipe 11 and the on-off valve 12 corresponding to
the inlet-outlet, will be described. FIG. 2 is a structural view of
the chemical heat storage device in the present embodiment. FIG. 3
is a cross-sectional view of a periphery of a reactor of a chemical
heat storage device in the first embodiment.
[0035] The reactor 9A includes two inlet-outlets 9c and 9d. The
inlet-outlets 9c and 9d serve as an inlet of ammonia into the
reactor 9A as well as an outlet of the ammonia from the reactor 9A.
The two inlet-outlets 9c and 9d are arranged at opposite positions
in a horizontal direction in the reactor 9A so as to be arranged at
an equal interval (180.degree. apart) in a circumferential
direction of the reactor 9A. It is desirable that the two
inlet-outlets 9c and 9d are arranged at a center position in the
direction in which exhaust gas flows in the reactor 9A. In the
first embodiment, the inlet-outlets 9c and 9d correspond to the
plurality of inlets described in claims.
[0036] The connection pipe 11 is composed of two branch pipes 11a
and 11b corresponding to the two inlet-outlets 9c and 9d,
respectively, and one junction pipe 11c. The branch pipe 11a is for
the inlet-outlet 9c, and is connected at one end to the
inlet-outlet 9c, as well as at the other end to the junction pipe
11c. The branch pipe 11b is for the inlet-outlet 9d, and is
connected at one end to the inlet-outlet 9d, as well as at the
other end to the junction pipe 11c. The junction pipe 11c is
connected at one end to the branch pipe 11a and the branch pipe 11b
as well as at the other end to the adsorber 10. The branch pipe 11a
is provided with an on-off valve 12a. The branch pipe 11b is
provided with an on-off valve 12b. It is also possible to provide
one on-off valve 12 only in the junction pipe 11c.
[0037] Operation of the chemical heat storage device 8 configured
as above will be described. When a vehicle is stopped (when the
engine 2 is stopped), the on-off valves 12a and 12b are closed.
Thus, even if ammonia is separated from activated carbon in the
adsorber 10, no ammonia is supplied to the reactor 9A through the
connection pipe 11.
[0038] In a case where temperature of exhaust gas discharged from
the engine 2 after the engine 2 is started is lower than prescribed
temperature (temperature that is set on the basis of activation
temperature of a catalyst), such as a case immediately after the
engine 2 is started, the on-off valves 12a and 12b are opened by
control of the ECU to allow ammonia to be supplied to the reactor
9A from the adsorber 10 through the connection pipe 11 (from the
junction pipe 11c to the branch pipes 11a and 11b). At this time,
pressure in the adsorber 10 is higher than pressure in the reactor
9A, and thus ammonia moves toward the reactor 9A. Particularly, the
ammonia to be supplied is fed from the inlet-outlet 9c on one side
in the horizontal direction in the reactor 9A through the branch
pipe 11a with the on-off valve 12a opened, as well as from the
inlet-outlet 9d on the other side in the horizontal direction in
the reactor 9A through the branch pipe 11b with the on-off valve
12b opened. Thus, the ammonia is fed into the reaction materials 9a
arranged all around the outer periphery of the DOC 4 from the
opposite sides in the horizontal direction.
[0039] Accordingly, since the reaction material 9a is positioned
90.degree. away from the inlet-outlets 9c and 9d in the
circumferential direction at a maximum, a difference in feeding
speed of the ammonia depending on a position at which the reaction
material 9a is arranged is small, or a delay in reaching of the
ammonia to the reaction material 9a away from the inlet-outlets 9c
and 9d is short, thereby allowing the ammonia to be rapidly fed to
all of the reaction materials 9a. In the reactor 9A, the ammonia
supplied and the reaction materials 9a chemically react with each
other to form chemical adsorption to generate heat. Then,
unevenness in the chemical reaction depending on a position at
which the reaction material 9a is arranged is small, and thus
unevenness of heat generation all around the outer periphery of the
DOC 4 is small. The heat is transmitted to the outer periphery of
the DOC 4 (a part of the exhaust pipe 3). Accordingly, the DOC 4 is
heated, and if temperature of the DOC 4 increases to its activation
temperature or more, exhaust gas can be cleaned up in the DOC
4.
[0040] If temperature of exhaust gas discharged from the engine 2
becomes higher than the prescribed temperature, exhaust heat of the
exhaust gas allows ammonia and the reaction materials 9a to
separate from each other in the reactor 9A so that the ammonia
occurs. Since the on-off valves 12a and 12b are opened, the ammonia
separated is discharged from the inlet-outlets 9c and 9d of the
reactor 9A, and then returns to the adsorber 10 through the
connection pipe 11 (from the branch pipes 11a and 11b to the
junction pipe 11c). At this time, pressure in the reactor 9A is
higher than pressure in the adsorber 10, and thus the ammonia moves
toward the adsorber 10. In the adsorber 10, an adsorbent physically
adsorbs the ammonia so that the ammonia is stored. If a pressure
value in the adsorber 10 becomes a pressure value showing that
ammonia is fully stored, the ECU closes the on-off valves 12a and
12b.
[0041] According to the structure in the first embodiment, since
the two inlet-outlets 9c and 9d are provided on the opposite sides
in the horizontal direction in the reactor 9A, a difference in
feeding speed of the ammonia depending on a position at which the
reaction material 9a is arranged is small, whereby the ammonia is
rapidly fed to all of the reaction materials 9a provided all around
the outer periphery of the DOC 4. As a result, it is possible to
reduce unevenness in the chemical reaction between the ammonia and
the reaction materials 9a depending on a position at which the
reaction material 9a is arranged, thereby enabling the chemical
reaction to be promoted in all of the reaction materials 9a. In
addition, it is possible to reduce uneven heating with respect to
the heating target (by extension, uneven temperature rise), and
thus heating efficiency of the chemical heat storage device 8 to
the DOC 4 is improved to enable the entire DOC 4 to rapidly
increase in temperature.
[0042] In addition, according to the structure in the first
embodiment, since the two inlet-outlets 9c and 9d are arranged on
the opposite sides in the horizontal direction, it is possible to
minimize a difference in a distance between the inlet-outlets 9c
and 9d, and the reaction material 9a depending on a position at
which the reaction material 9a is arranged in the circumferential
direction (a difference in a distance corresponding to an angle of
90.degree. is maximum). Further, according to the structure in the
first embodiment, since the two inlet-outlets 9c and 9d are
arranged in the horizontal direction, or are not arranged in a
lower portion of the reactor 9A (in a direction of gravitational
force), the inlet-outlets 9c and 9d are not blocked even if a
substance inside the reactor 9A (such as a reaction material) drops
downward. The lower portion indicates a predetermined range
including a lowermost point of the reactor in the direction of
gravitational force in a state where the chemical heat storage
device is used.
[0043] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, structure of an inlet-outlet
of the reactor 9B in a second embodiment, and structure of the
connection pipe 11 and the on-off valve 12 corresponding to the
inlet-outlet, will be described. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view
of a periphery of a reactor of a chemical heat storage device in
the second embodiment. As compared with the structure in the first
embodiment, structure in the second embodiment is different in that
an area inside the reactor 9B where ammonia is movable is divided
into two areas corresponding to two inlet-outlets.
[0044] The reactor 9B includes two inlet-outlets 9e and 9f similar
to the two inlet-outlets 9c and 9d in the first embodiment. The
connection pipe 11 also has structure similar to that of the
connection pipe 11 in the first embodiment (the two branch pipes
11a and 11b, and the one junction pipe 11c). In the second
embodiment, the inlet-outlets 9e and 9f correspond to the plurality
of inlets described in claims.
[0045] In the reactor 9B, partition walls 9g and 9h are provided.
The partition wall 9g is provided between the casing 9b and the
exhaust pipe 3 (outer peripheral surface of the DOC 4) in an
uppermost portion of the reactor 9B. The partition wall 9h is
provided between the casing 9b and the exhaust pipe 3 in a
lowermost portion of the reactor 9B. Length of the partition walls
9g and 9h corresponds to that of the entire reactor 9B in the
direction in which exhaust gas flows. The partition walls 9g and 9h
divide an inside of the reactor 9B into two areas 9i and 9j. Each
of the areas 9i and 9j has a half-doughnut shape in cross
section.
[0046] The partition walls 9g and 9h are formed of a material
through which no ammonia can pass, such as stainless steel (SUS).
Thus, in the two areas 9i and 9j, ammonia is movable in each of the
areas, but no ammonia is movable to the other area. It is
preferable that the partition walls 9g and 9h are provided between
pellet-like reaction materials 9a.
[0047] The area 9i is provided with the inlet-outlet 9e at a
position in the horizontal direction. In the area 9i, only ammonia
fed from the inlet-outlet 9e is movable. The area 9j is provided
with the inlet-outlet 9f at a position in the horizontal direction.
In the area 9j, only ammonia fed from the inlet-outlet 9f is
movable.
[0048] Operation of the chemical heat storage device 8 configured
as above will be described. Since each operation when a vehicle is
stopped (when the engine 2 is stopped) and after warming up is
finished is the same as that described in the first embodiment,
description thereof is omitted.
[0049] In a case where temperature of exhaust gas discharged from
the engine 2 after the engine 2 is started is lower than prescribed
temperature, as with the first embodiment, the on-off valves 12a
and 12b are opened to allow ammonia to be supplied to the reactor
9B from the adsorber 10 through the connection pipe 11.
Particularly, the ammonia to be supplied is fed from the
inlet-outlet 9e on one side in the horizontal direction in the
reactor 9B through the branch pipe 11a with the on-off valve 12a
opened, as well as from the inlet-outlet 9f on the other side in
the horizontal direction in the reactor 9B through the branch pipe
lib with the on-off valve 12b opened. Thus, the ammonia is fed into
the reaction materials 9a arranged all around the outer periphery
of the DOC 4 from the opposite sides in the horizontal direction. A
moving range of the ammonia fed from the inlet-outlet 9e is limited
to the area 9i on one side. In addition, a moving range of the
ammonia fed from the inlet-outlet 9f is limited to the area 9j on
the other side. Accordingly, the reaction material 9a is positioned
90.degree. away from the inlet-outlets 9e and 9f in the
circumferential direction at a maximum, and a moving range of
ammonia fed from each of the inlet-outlets 9e and 9f is small, so
that a difference in feeding speed of the ammonia depending on a
position at which the reaction material 9a is arranged is very
small. As a result, the ammonia is rapidly fed to all of the
reaction materials 9a (the reaction materials 9a in the area 9i and
the reaction materials 9a in the area 9j). In the reactor 9B, the
ammonia supplied and the reaction materials 9a chemically react
with each other to form chemical adsorption to generate heat. Then,
unevenness in the chemical reaction depending on a position at
which the reaction material 9a is arranged in each of the areas 9i
and 9j is small, and thus unevenness of heat generation all around
the outer periphery of the DOC 4 is small. The heat is transmitted
to the outer periphery of the DOC 4 (a part of the exhaust pipe 3).
Accordingly, the DOC 4 is heated, and if temperature of the DOC 4
increases to its activation temperature or more, exhaust gas can be
cleaned up in the DOC 4.
[0050] The structure in the second embodiment has the effect of the
structure in the first embodiment as well as the effect below.
[0051] According to the structure in the second embodiment, the
inside of the reactor 9B is divided into the two areas 9i and 9j
corresponding to the two inlet-outlets 9e and 9f, and thus a moving
range of ammonia fed from each of the inlet-outlets 9e and 9f is
small to enable the amount of the reaction materials 9a to which
the ammonia is supplied from one of the inlet-outlets 9e and 9f to
be relatively reduced (all of the reaction materials 9a is halved
each). Accordingly, it is possible to further reduce a difference
in feeding speed of the ammonia depending on a position at which
the reaction material 9a is arranged in each of the areas 9i and
9j, whereby the ammonia is more rapidly fed to all of the reaction
materials 9a provided all around the outer periphery of the DOC 4.
As a result, it is possible to further reduce unevenness in the
chemical reaction between the ammonia and the reaction materials 9a
depending on a position at which the reaction material 9a is
arranged, thereby enabling the chemical reaction to be further
promoted in all of the reaction materials 9a.
[0052] Next, with reference to FIG. 5, structure of an inlet-outlet
of the reactor 9C in a third embodiment, and structure of the
connection pipe 11 and the on-off valve 12 corresponding to the
inlet-outlet, will be described. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view
of a periphery of a reactor of a chemical heat storage device in
the third embodiment. The structure in the third embodiment is
different in arrangement of two inlet-outlets as compared with the
structure in the second embodiment.
[0053] The reactor 9C includes two partition walls 9m and 9n
similar to the two partition walls 9g and 9h in the second
embodiment. Thus, the inside of the reactor 9C is divided into two
areas 9o and 9p by the partition walls 9m and 9n, as with the two
areas 9i and 9j in the second embodiment.
[0054] The reactor 9C includes two inlet-outlets 9k and 9l. The two
inlet-outlets 9k and 9l are arranged in an upper portion of the
reactor 9C side by side in a circumferential direction. It is
desirable that the two inlet-outlets 9k and 9l are arranged at a
center position in the direction in which exhaust gas lows in the
reactor 9C. The inlet-outlet 9k is provided at a position in the
upper portion of the reactor 9C, the position opening to the area
9o. In the area 9o, only ammonia fed from the inlet-outlet 9k is
movable. The inlet-outlet 9l is provided at a position in the upper
portion of the reactor 9C, the position opening to the area 9p. In
the area 9p, only ammonia fed from the inlet-outlet 9l is movable.
In the third embodiment, the inlet-outlets 9k and 9l correspond to
the plurality of inlets described in claims.
[0055] Operation of the chemical heat storage device 8 configured
as above will be described. Since each operation when a vehicle is
stopped (when the engine 2 is stopped) and after warming up is
finished is the same as that described in the first embodiment,
description thereof is omitted.
[0056] In a case where temperature of exhaust gas discharged from
the engine 2 after the engine 2 is started is lower than prescribed
temperature, as with the first embodiment, the on-off valves 12a
and 12b are opened to allow ammonia to be supplied to the reactor
9C from the adsorber 10 through the connection pipe 11.
Particularly, the ammonia to be supplied is fed from the
inlet-outlet 9k on one side in the upper portion in the reactor 9C
through the branch pipe 11a with the on-off valve 12a opened, as
well as from the inlet-outlet 9l on the other side in the upper
portion in the reactor 9C through the branch pipe 11b with the
on-off valve 12b opened. A moving range of the ammonia fed from the
inlet-outlet 9k is limited to the area 9o on one side. In addition,
a moving range of the ammonia fed from the inlet-outlet 9l is
limited to the area 9p on the other side. Accordingly, since a
moving range of ammonia fed from each of the inlet-outlets 9k and
9l is small, the amount of the reaction materials 9a to which the
ammonia is supplied from one of the inlet-outlets 9k and 9l is
small, whereby a difference in feeding speed of the ammonia
depending on a position at which the reaction material 9a is
arranged is small. As a result, the ammonia is rapidly fed to all
of the reaction materials 9a (the reaction materials 9a in the area
9o and the reaction materials 9a in the area 9p). In the reactor
9C, the ammonia supplied and the reaction materials 9a chemically
react with each other to form chemical adsorption to generate heat.
Then, unevenness in the chemical reaction depending on a position
at which the reaction material 9a is arranged in each of the areas
9o and 9p is small, and thus unevenness of heat generation all
around the outer periphery of the DOC 4 is small. The heat is
transmitted to the outer periphery of the DOC 4 (a part of the
exhaust pipe 3). Accordingly, the DOC 4 is heated, and if
temperature of the DOC 4 increases to its activation temperature or
more, exhaust gas can be cleaned up in the DOC 4.
[0057] According to the structure in the third embodiment, the
inside of the reactor 9C is divided into the two areas 9o and 9p,
and the inlet-outlets 9k and 9l, are provided in the areas 9o and
9p, respectively. Accordingly, as with the second embodiment, it is
possible to relatively reduce the amount of the reaction materials
9a to which the ammonia is supplied from one of the inlet-outlets
9k and 9l. Thus, it is possible to reduce a difference in feeding
speed of the ammonia depending on a position at which the reaction
material 9a is arranged in each of the areas 9o and 9p, whereby the
ammonia is rapidly fed to all of the reaction materials 9a provided
all around the outer periphery of the DOC 4. As a result, as with
the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce unevenness in
chemical reaction to reduce unevenness heating with respect to a
heating target, whereby the entire DOC 4 can be rapidly increased
in temperature. In addition, according to the structure in the
third embodiment, since the two inlet-outlets 9k and 9l are
arranged in the upper portion of the reactor 9C, the inlet-outlets
9k and 9l are not blocked by a substance inside the reactor 9C.
Further, according to the structure in the third embodiment, since
the two inlet-outlets 9k and 9l are arranged in the upper portion
of the reactor 9C, the two branch pipes 11a and 11b can be reduced
in length, and moreover a mounting space of the reactor 9C can be
reduced, thereby achieving excellent mountability. Even if
inlet-outlets cannot be provided at positions on opposite sides in
a horizontal direction or the like in a reactor due to limitation
on mounting in a vehicle, the structure in the third embodiment
enables the reactor to be mounted.
[0058] Next, with reference to FIG. 6, structure of an inlet and an
outlet of the reactor 9D in a fourth embodiment, and structure of
the connection pipe 11 and the on-off valve 12 corresponding to the
inlet and the outlet, will be described. FIG. 6 is a
cross-sectional view of a periphery of a reactor of a chemical heat
storage device in the fourth embodiment. The structure in the
fourth embodiment is different in that the inlet and the outlet are
provided separately as compared with the structure in the first
embodiment.
[0059] The reactor 9D includes two inlets 9q and 9r, and one outlet
9s. The two inlets 9q and 9r are arranged in a lower portion of the
reactor 9D side by side in a circumferential direction. The one
outlet 9s is arranged in an uppermost portion of the reactor 9D. In
this way, the two inlets 9q and 9r, and the one outlet 9s are
arranged on opposite sides in the direction of gravitational force.
It is desirable that the inlets 9q and 9r, and the outlet 9s are
arranged at a center position in the direction in which exhaust gas
flows in the reactor 9D. In the fourth embodiment, the inlets 9q
and 9r correspond to the plurality of inlets described in
claims.
[0060] In the reactor 9D, a partition wall 9t is provided. The
partition wall 9t is provided between the casing 9b and the exhaust
pipe 3 in a lowermost portion of the reactor 9D. Length of the
partition wall 9t corresponds to that of the entire reactor 9D in
the direction in which exhaust gas flows. The partition wall 9t is
positioned between the inlet 9q and the inlet 9r. The partition
wall 9t can separate a flow channel through which ammonia fed from
the inlet 9q flows to the outlet 9s, and a flow channel through
which ammonia fed from the inlet 9r flows to the outlet 9s.
[0061] The connection pipe 11 is composed of two inlet pipes lid
and 11e corresponding to the two inlets 9q and 9r, respectively,
and outlet pipe 11f corresponding to the one outlet 9s. The inlet
pipe 11d is for the inlet 9q, and is connected at one end to the
inlet 9q, as well as at the other end to the adsorber 10. The inlet
pipe 11d is for the inlet 9r, and is connected at one end to the
inlet 9r, as well as at the other end to the adsorber 10. The
outlet pipe 11f is for the outlet 9s, and is connected at one end
to the outlet 9s, as well as at the other end to the adsorber 10.
Each of the two inlet pipes 11d and 11e, and the one outlet pipe
11f, is provided with the on-off valve 12.
[0062] Operation of the chemical heat storage device 8 configured
as above will be described. When a vehicle is stopped (when the
engine 2 is stopped), all of the three on-off valves 12 are closed.
Thus, even if ammonia is separated from activated carbon in the
adsorber 10, no ammonia is supplied to the reactor 9D through the
inlet pipes lid and 11e.
[0063] In a case where temperature of exhaust gas discharged from
the engine 2 after the engine 2 is started is lower than prescribed
temperature, the two on-off valves 12 provided in the respective
two inlet pipes 11d and 11e are opened under control by the ECU to
allow ammonia to be supplied to the reactor 9D from the adsorber 10
through the inlet pipes 11d and 11e. At this time, pressure in the
adsorber 10 is higher than pressure in the reactor 9D, and thus the
ammonia moves toward the reactor 9D. Particularly, the ammonia to
be supplied is fed from the inlet 9q on one side in a lower portion
in the reactor 9D through the inlet pipe lid with the on-off valve
12 opened, as well as from the inlet 9r on the other side in the
reactor 9D through the inlet pipe lie with the on-off valve 12
opened. The ammonia fed from the inlet 9q moves toward the outlet
9s in the upper portion of the reactor 9D through a flow channel on
one side of the inside of the reactor 9D divided by the partition
wall 9t. Meanwhile, the ammonia fed from the inlet 9r moves toward
the outlet 9s in the upper portion of the reactor 9D through a flow
channel on the other side of the inside of the reactor 9D divided
by the partition wall 9t. Accordingly, since a moving range of
ammonia fed from each of the inlets 9q and 9r is small, the amount
of the reaction materials 9a to which the ammonia is supplied from
one of the inlets 9g and 9r is small, whereby a difference in
feeding speed of the ammonia depending on a position at which the
reaction material 9a is arranged is small. As a result, the ammonia
is rapidly fed to all of the reaction materials 9a. In the reactor
9D, the ammonia supplied and the reaction materials 9a chemically
react with each other to form chemical adsorption to generate heat.
Then, unevenness in the chemical reaction depending on a position
at which the reaction material 9a is arranged is small, and thus
unevenness of heat generation all around the outer periphery of the
DOC 4 is small. The heat is transmitted to the outer periphery of
the DOC 4 (a part of the exhaust pipe 3). Accordingly, the DOC 4 is
heated, and if temperature of the DOC 4 increases to its activation
temperature or more, exhaust gas can be cleaned up in the DOC
4.
[0064] If temperature of exhaust gas discharged from the engine 2
becomes higher than the prescribed temperature, the on-off valve 12
provided in the outlet pipe 11f is opened under control by the ECU.
Then, exhaust heat of the exhaust gas allows ammonia and the
reaction materials 9a to separate from each other in the reactor 9D
so that the ammonia occurs. Since the on-off valve 12 in the outlet
pipe 11f is opened, the ammonia separated is discharged from the
outlet 9s of the reactor 9D, and then returns to the adsorber 10
through the outlet pipe 11f. At this time, pressure in the reactor
9D is higher than pressure in the adsorber 10, and thus the ammonia
moves toward the adsorber 10. In the adsorber 10, an adsorbent
physically adsorbs the ammonia so that the ammonia is stored. If a
pressure value in the adsorber 10 becomes a pressure value showing
that ammonia is fully stored, the ECU closes the three on-off
valves 12.
[0065] According to the structure in the fourth embodiment, since
the two inlets 9q and 9r, and the one outlet 9s, are provided on
opposite sides in the reactor 9D, and a flow channel of ammonia fed
from the inlets 9q and 9r is divided by the partition wall 9t, a
difference in feeding speed of the ammonia depending on a position
at which the reaction material 9a is arranged is small, whereby the
ammonia is rapidly fed to all of the reaction materials 9a provided
all around the outer periphery of the DOC 4. As a result, as with
the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce unevenness in
chemical reaction to reduce unevenness heating with respect to a
heating target, whereby the entire DOC 4 can be rapidly increased
in temperature.
[0066] In addition, according to the structure in the fourth
embodiment, since the inlets 9q and 9r, and the outlet 9s, are
arranged on the opposite sides, ammonia flows in one direction to
reduce convection and turbulence, whereby the ammonia smoothly
flows, Further, according to the structure in the fourth
embodiment, since the inlets 9q and 9r are arranged in the lower
portion, and the outlet 9s is arranged in the upper portion, or the
outlet 9s is arranged in a portion other than the lower portion,
the ammonia is fed into the reactor 9D at high pressure from the
inlets 9q and 9r in the lower portion. Thus, even if a substance
inside the reactor 9D drops, the substance can be blown away by
high pressure upward from the lower portion. As a result, there is
no blockage of the inlets 9q and 9r. The lower portion indicates a
predetermined range including a lowermost point of the reactor in
the direction of gravitational force in a state where the chemical
heat storage device is used. There is also no blockage of the
outlet 9s because it is arranged in the upper portion. Even if an
inlet-outlet cannot be provided in a horizontal direction in a
reactor due to limitation on mounting in a vehicle, the structure
in the fourth embodiment enables blockage of an inlet and an outlet
to be prevented.
[0067] While the embodiments according to the present invention are
described as above, the present invention is not limited to forms
of the embodiments above, and can be practiced in various
forms.
[0068] For example, while the present embodiments employ an exhaust
gas cleaning system that includes a DOC, an SCR, and an ASC, as a
catalyst, and a DPF as a filter, exhaust gas cleaning systems of
various other structures are available. In addition, although a
vehicle with a diesel engine is described, the present invention is
also available for a vehicle with a gasoline engine, and the like.
The present invention is also available for an exhaust gas cleaning
system for other than a vehicle. In addition, the present invention
is also available for other than an exhaust gas cleaning
system.
[0069] In the present embodiments, a DOC of a catalyst is set as a
heating target of the chemical heat storage device, but another
catalyst, such as an SCR, may be set as the heating target, for
example. While the present embodiments employ ammonia for a
reaction medium in chemical reaction in the chemical heat storage
device, another medium, such as carbon dioxide, alcohol, and water,
may be available. Although the present embodiments employ structure
in which a reactor is provided all around an outer periphery of a
DOC, the reactor may not be provided all around the outer
periphery.
[0070] While the present embodiments employ structure in which two
inlets (inlet-outlets) are provided in a reactor, three or more
inlets may be available. Even in a case where three or more inlets
are provided, it is desirable that the inlets are arranged in a
circumferential direction of a reactor depending on the number of
inlets so that intervals of the inlets are equal (particularly, in
a case where the inside of a reactor is not divided into a
plurality of areas).
[0071] Although the present embodiments employ structure in which
two inlet-outlets are arranged in a circumferential direction of a
reactor at an equal interval (180.degree. apart, or opposite sides,
particularly, in a case where the inside of the reactor is not
divided into two areas), a plurality of inlets may not be arranged
in the circumferential direction at equal intervals. In particular,
if inlets or inlet-outlets cannot be arranged at equal intervals
due to limitation on mounting in a vehicle, the plurality of inlets
or inlet-outlets may be arranged so that an arrangement interval
widens as much as possible within a mountable range.
[0072] While the present embodiments show various forms of
arrangement of a plurality of inlets or a plurality of
inlet-outlets in a circumferential direction of a reactor, the
plurality of inlets or the plurality of inlet-outlets may be
arranged so that an interval therebetween in the reactor is widened
in a direction in which exhaust gas flows. For example, two inlets
or two inlet-outlets are arranged on an upstream side and a
downstream side in the reactor. In addition, the inlets or
inlet-outlets may be arranged so that an interval therebetween both
in the circumferential direction and in the direction in which
exhaust gas flows in the reactor is widened. For example, two
inlets or two inlet-outlets are arranged on one side in a
horizontal direction on an upstream side in a reactor, and on the
other side in the horizontal direction on a downstream side in the
reactor.
[0073] Although the first and second embodiments have structure in
which inlet-outlets are provided at positions on opposite sides in
a horizontal direction in a reactor, the inlet-outlets may be
provided at positions on opposite sides in a direction other than
the horizontal direction if the inlet-outlets are arranged at
positions other than a lower portion where the inlet-outlets may be
blocked by a substance inside the reactor.
[0074] The third embodiment has structure in which two
inlet-outlets are provided in an uppermost portion of a reactor,
but the inlet-outlets may be provided in other positions below the
uppermost portion within a range in which the reactor is mountable
on a vehicle. Arrangement of the inlet-outlets at the positions
below the uppermost portion enables a distance between reaction
materials arranged in a lower portion, and the inlet-outlets to be
reduced.
[0075] While the fourth embodiment has structure in which a
partition wall is provided in a reactor, structure without the
partition wall may be available. In addition, the fourth embodiment
has structure in which inlets are provided in a lowermost portion
of a reactor, and an outlet is provided in an uppermost portion
thereof, so that the inlets and the outlet are arranged on opposite
sides in a direction of gravitational force, but the inlets and the
outlet may be arranged on opposite sides in another direction, such
as a horizontal direction.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0076] 1 . . . exhaust gas cleaning system, 2 . . . engine, 3 . . .
exhaust pipe, 4 . . . diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), 4a . . .
honeycomb substrate, 5 . . . diesel exhaust particulate filter
(DPF), 6 . . . selective catalytic reduction (SCR), 6a . . .
injector, 7 . . . ammonia slip catalyst (ASC), 8 . . . chemical
heat storage device, 9, 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D . . . reactor, 9a . . .
reaction material, 9b . . . casing, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9k, 9l . . .
inlet-outlet, 9g, 9h, 9m, 9n, 9t . . . partition wall, 9i, 9j, 9o,
9p . . . area, 9q, 9r . . . inlet, 9s . . . outlet, 10 . . .
adsorber, 11 . . . a connection pipe, 11a, 11b . . . branch pipe,
11c . . . junction pipe, 11d, 11e . . . inlet pipe, 11f . . .
outlet pipe, 12, 12a, 12b . . . on-off valve.
* * * * *