Title of Invention

INJECTION NOZZLE HAVING HEATING ELEMENT AND HEAT ACCUMULATOR, AND METHOD FOR INTRODUCING AN OXIDIZABLE FLUID INTO AN EXHAUST SYSTEM UPSTREAM OF A CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR FILTER

Abstract This invention relates to an injection nozzle (8), in particular for introducing an oxidizable fluid into an exhaust system upstream of a catalyst (7) or filter (7), comprising a heating element (22) and a heat accumulator (18), which can be heated up by the heating element (22) and can dissipate the stored heat to the fluid. This invention also relates to a method for introducing an oxidizable fluid into an exhaust system upstream of a catalyst (7) or filter (7), wherein an injection nozzle (8) is used, which includes a heating element (22) and a heat accumulator (18), wherein the heating element (22) is switched on before an injection process, so that the heat accumulator (18) is heated up, and the fluid only is injected later, so that the heat accumulator (18) can release energy to the fluid and can evaporate the same.
Full Text PCT/EP2006/008678
Injection Nozzle Having a Heating Element and a Heat Accumulator; and
Method for Introducing an Oxidizable Fluid into an Exhaust System Upstream of
a Catalytic Converter or Filter
This invention relates to an injection nozzle which can be used in particular for
introducing an oxidizable fluid into an exhaust system upstream of a catalyst or
filter. This invention also relates to a method for introducing an oxidizable fluid
into an exhaust system upstream of a catalyst or filter.
Modern exhaust systems frequently include Diesel particulate filters or NOx-
storing catalysts. These filters or catalysts must be regenerated in regular
intervals, as otherwise their flow resistance will increase excessively or their
efficiency will decrease. Regeneration generally can be referred to as "burnIi-
off", since a thermal reaction takes place during the regeneration. This reaction
can be initiated in that the air/fuel mixture supplied to the internal combustion
engine is enriched. Alternatively, fuel or some other suitable, oxidizable fluid can
directly be introduced into the exhaust system upstream of the filter or catalyst
From the prior art, various systems are known for injecting fuel or also urea into
the exhaust pipe.
If the fuel is injected directly, it evaporates in the exhaust pipe. However, this
leads to the fact that heat is withdrawn from the exhaust gas stream, which in
turn is disadvantageous for the regeneration; for regeneration, an increased
exhaust gas temperature is desired. Alternatively, a glow plug might be used,
which evaporates the fuel to be injected into the exhaust system outside the
exhaust system. It was found out, however, that the power consumption of a glow
plug powerful enough for this purpose would lead to an inadmissibly high load
acting on the electric system of the motor vehicle.
Thus, it is the object of the invention to create an injection nozzle or a method
for injection, by means of which the necessary amount of fuel or some other
suitable fluid can be introduced into the exhaust system without an undesired
decrease in the exhaust gas temperature and without an excessive load acting
on the electric system of the motor vehicle.

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For the solution of this object an injection nozzle is provided in accordance
with the invention, in particular for introducing an oxidizable fluid into an exhaust
system upstream of a catalyst or filter, comprising a heating element and a heat
accumulator, which can be heated by the heating element and can dissipate the
stored heat to the fluid. In accordance with the invention, there is also provided a
method for introducing an oxidizable fluid into an exhaust system upstream of a
catalyst or filter, wherein an injection nozzle is used, which includes a heating
element and a heat accumulator, wherein the heating element is switched on
before the injection process, so that the heat accumulator is heated up, and the
fluid only is injected later, so that the heat accumulator can release energy to the
fluid and evaporate the same. The invention is based on the fundamental idea of
using a heating element with a comparatively low power consumption The power
consumption is so low that the heating element cannot evaporate the fluid to be
introduced in the short period of the actual injection process. Instead, the heating
element substantially is used for heating up the heat accumulator, so that after a
certain "preheating time" a large enough amount of heat is stored, by means of
which the entire fluid is evaporated during the comparatively short injection
process.
As heating element, a glow plug known per se can be used. A power
consumption in the order of 200 W should be sufficient.
For the heat accumulator, metal can be used as material. Beside a good heat-
storage capacity, a particularly high thermal conductivity is important, so that the
stored heat can be dissipated to the fluid to be injected within a very short period.
Preferably, a gap, through which the fluid can flow, is provided between the
heating element and the heat accumulator. This ensures that during the actual
injection process, the heating element also is flown around by fluid, which can
directly be evaporated.
Preferably, a housing is provided, in which the heat accumulator is
accommodated, wherein an insulating material is arranged between the housing
and the heat accumulator. The insulating material prevents heat losses to the
outside.

-3-
It can be provided that the heating element is switched on a predetermined
time before the injection process, remains switched on during injection, and is
switched off upon completion of the injection process. The heating element is
switched on again in due time before the next injection process.
It should be sufficient to switch on the heating element about 20 seconds
before the actual injection process. This period substantially depends on the
heating power of the heating element. The lower the heating power, the earlier
the heating element must be switched on. The actual injection process takes a
time in the order of two to three seconds.
Alternatively, it can be provided that the heating element remains switched on
continuously. The heating power of the heating element then is chosen so low
that the heating element can again heat up the heat accumulator to the
temperature necessary for evaporating the fluid in the period between two
injection processes.
Mostly, a period of two to four minutes lies between two successive injection
processes.
The invention will subsequently be described with reference to an
embodiment, which is illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a system in accordance with the
invention;
- Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through an injection nozzle in
accordance with the invention;
- Figure 3 shows a cross-section through the injection nozzle of Figure 2
along the plane Ill-Ill; and
- Figure 4 shows a diagram in which the heating power P of the heating
element, the temperature T of the heat accumulator and the injected volume V
are plotted over the time.
Figure 1 schematically shows an internal combustion engine 5, in particular a
Diesel engine, whose exhaust gases are passed via an exhaust pipe 6 to a
catalyst, in particular a NOx-storing catalyst, or a Diesel particulate filter. This

_4-
component, which reduces the amount of noxious substances in the exhaust gas,
here is generally designated with the reference numeral 7. On the exhaust pipe 6,
an injection nozzle 8 is mounted, which via a line/pump system 9 can be supplied
with an oxidizable fluid, in particular fuel, from a suitable reservoir. The principles
of such system are known from the prior art. It generally serves to introduce
oxidizable fluid into the exhaust gas stream upstream of the component 7, in
order to initiate the regeneration of the component 7.
The injection nozzle 8 (see Figures 2 and 3) includes a housing 10, in which
there are provided an inlet 12 for the oxidizable fluid and an outlet 14 for the
evaporated fluid towards the exhaust system. Inside the housing 10, an insulating
material 16 is arranged, which has a low thermal conductivity. Inside the
insulating material 16, a heat accumulator 18 is arranged, which is formed of a
material with a high thermal capacity and a high thermal conductivity. Most
metals can be used as material. The heat accumulator 18 generally is of annular
shape and includes a plurality of ribs 20 towards a central opening. The ribs end
at a small distance from a centrally arranged heating element 22, which can be
supplied with electric energy P. As heating element, a glow plug can be used
Due to the narrow gap between the heating element 22 and the heat accumulator
18 with the ribs 20, a comparatively large surface is available for heat transfer
from the heating element 22 and the heat accumulator 18 to the fluid.
In Figure 4, it is illustrated how the fluid can be introduced into the exhaust
pipe 6 by means of the injection nozzle 8 described. The letter P designates the
energy supplied to the heating element 22, the letter V designates the volume of
the fluid injected through the injection nozzle 8, and the letter T designates the
temperature of the heat accumulator 18.
At the time ti, the heating element 22 is switched on. Shortly afterwards, the
temperature of the heat accumulator 18 starts to rise at the time t?. With a delay
in the order of 20 to 30 seconds, the injection process starts at the time t3 As
soon as the oxidizable fluid F is pumped through the gap between the heat
accumulator 18 and the heating element 22, the fluid evaporates, as the heat
accumulator 18 and the heating element 22 release energy to the fluid In the
process, the temperature of the heat accumulator 18 is decreased. The injection

-5-
process takes a time in the order of two to three seconds and is completed by the
time t4. At this time, the heating element 22 is switched off.
Alternatively, the heating element can be switched off shortly before the time
t4 and the residual heat can be utilized.
The heating power of the heating element 22, the interval between switching
on the heating element 22 and the start of the injection (t3-t-i), and the thermal
capacity in the heat accumulator are dimensioned such that the entire amount of
fluid to be injected is evaporated during the injection process.
In this way, it is ensured that heat for evaporating the fluid need not be
withdrawn from the exhaust gas stream.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment, it can be provided that the
heating element remains switched on continuously. In this case, a very much
smaller heating power is required, as between two injection cycles very much
more time is available for heating up the heat accumulator 18.

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List of Reference Numerals
5 internal combustion engine
6 exhaust pipe
7 component for exhaust gas cleaning
8 injection nozzle
9 line/pump system
10 housing
12 fluid inlet
14 fluid outlet
16 insulating material
18 heat accumulator
20 rib
22 heating element

-7-
Claims
1. An injection nozzle (8), in particular for introducing an oxidizable fluid into
an exhaust system upstream of a catalyst (7) or filter (7), comprising a heating
element (22) and a heat accumulator (18), which can be heated up by the heating
element (22) and can dissipate the stored heat to the fluid.
2. The injection nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating
element (22) is a glow plug.
3. The injection nozzle according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that
the heat accumulator (18) is made of metal.
4. The injection nozzle according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the heating element (22) is arranged inside the heat
accumulator (18).
5. The injection nozzle according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that between the heating element (12) and the heat accumulator
(18) a gap is provided, through which the fluid can flow.
6. The injection nozzle according to claim 5, characterized in that the heat
accumulator (18) includes a plurality of ribs (20), which face the heating element
(22).
7. The injection nozzle according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that a housing (10) is provided, in which the heat accumulator
(18) is accommodated, wherein an insulating material (16) is arranged between
the housing and the heat accumulator (18).
8. A method for introducing an oxidizable fluid into an exhaust system
upstream of a catalyst (7) or filter (7), wherein an injection nozzle (8) is used.
which includes a heating element (22) and a heat accumulator (18), wherein the
heating element (22) is switched on before an injection process, so that the heat
accumulator is heated up, and the fluid only is injected later, so that the heat
accumulator (18) can release energy to the fluid and evaporate the same.
9. The injection nozzle according to claim 8, characterized in that the heating
element (22) is switched on a predetermined time before the injection process,

-8-
remains switched on during injection, and is switched off upon completion of the
injection process.
10. The injection nozzle according to claim 8, characterized in that the heating
element (22) is switched on a predetermined time before the injection process,
remains switched on during injection, and is switched off shortly before
completion of the injection process.
11. The injection nozzle according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in
that the heating element (22) is switched on in the order of 20 seconds before the
injection process.
12. The injection nozzle according to claim 8, characterized in that the heating
element (22) remains switched on continuously.
13. The injection nozzle according to any of claims 8 to 12, characterized in
that the injection process takes a time in the order of two to three seconds.
14. The injection nozzle according to any of claims 8 to 13, characterized in
that the injection process is repeated after a predetermined time, which is in the
order of two to four minutes.

This invention relates to an injection nozzle (8), in particular for introducing an
oxidizable fluid into an exhaust system upstream of a catalyst (7) or filter (7),
comprising a heating element (22) and a heat accumulator (18), which can be
heated up by the heating element (22) and can dissipate the stored heat to the
fluid. This invention also relates to a method for introducing an oxidizable fluid
into an exhaust system upstream of a catalyst (7) or filter (7), wherein an injection
nozzle (8) is used, which includes a heating element (22) and a heat accumulator
(18), wherein the heating element (22) is switched on before an injection process,
so that the heat accumulator (18) is heated up, and the fluid only is injected later,
so that the heat accumulator (18) can release energy to the fluid and can
evaporate the same.

Documents:

01213-kolnp-2008-abstract.pdf

01213-kolnp-2008-claims.pdf

01213-kolnp-2008-correspondence others.pdf

01213-kolnp-2008-description complete.pdf

01213-kolnp-2008-drawings.pdf

01213-kolnp-2008-form 1.pdf

01213-kolnp-2008-form 2.pdf

01213-kolnp-2008-form 3.pdf

01213-kolnp-2008-form 5.pdf

01213-kolnp-2008-international publication.pdf

01213-kolnp-2008-international search report.pdf

01213-kolnp-2008-pct priority document notification.pdf

01213-kolnp-2008-pct request form.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-(06-02-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-(14-11-2011)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-(14-11-2011)-OTHER PATENT DOCUMENT.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-CORRESPONDENCE 1.2.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 1.1.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-CORRESPONDENCE-1.2.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-FORM 18-1.1.pdf

1213-kolnp-2008-form 18.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-FORM 26.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-FORM 3.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-FORM 5.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-GRANTED-SPECIFICATION.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-INTERNATIONAL PRELIMINARY REPORT.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-INTERNATIONAL SEARCH AUTHORITY REPORT 1.1.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-OTHERS-1.1.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-OTHERS.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

1213-KOLNP-2008-TRANSLATED COPY OF PRIORITY DOCUMENT.pdf

abstract-01213-kolnp-2008.jpg


Patent Number 265062
Indian Patent Application Number 1213/KOLNP/2008
PG Journal Number 06/2015
Publication Date 06-Feb-2015
Grant Date 04-Feb-2015
Date of Filing 25-Mar-2008
Name of Patentee EMCON TECHNOLOGIES GERMANY (AUGSBURG)GMBH
Applicant Address BIBERBACHSTRASSE 9, 86154 AUGSBURG
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 MARCO RANALLI LEIBNITZSTRASSE 2 86199 AUGSBURG
2 KATHRIN BREMSER AKELEISTRASSE 10B 86899 LANDSBERG
PCT International Classification Number F01N 3/20,B01D 53/94
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP2006/008678
PCT International Filing date 2006-09-06
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 10 2005 044 780.5 2005-09-20 Germany