EP0929738A1

EP0929738A1 - Honeycombed body with heat insulation, preferably for an exhaust gas catalyzer

Info

Publication number: EP0929738A1
Application number: EP97910300A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rolf BRÜCK; Peter Hirth
Original assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
Current assignee: Vitesco Technologies Lohmar Verwaltungs GmbH
Priority date: 1996-10-04
Filing date: 1997-09-17
Publication date: 1999-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-17
Also published as: CN1232526A; CN1082133C; US6040064A; TW384345B; JP2001501705A; DE19641049A1; MY121648A; DE59703615D1; JP4166832B2; KR100495790B1; ES2158516T3; WO1998015724A1; EP0929738B1; AU4775097A; KR20000048541A

Abstract

The invention concerns a honeycombed body with a plurality of honeycombs and heat insulation (43) comprising a plurality of stacked and/or wound insulating metal layers (4; 34) which support one another owing to microstructures (5) formed in the insulating metal sheets (34), such that spaces are produced between the latter. The microstructures (5) are between 10 νm and 250 νm high. In this way, the heat losses from the honeycombed body to the environment are only low.

Description

Honeycomb body with thermal insulation, preferably for a catalytic converter

The present invention relates to a honeycomb body with a large number of honeycombs, preferably for use as a catalyst carrier body in motor vehicles. A coating of catalytic material applied to the walls of the honeycombs enables exhaust gases from internal combustion engines to be converted.

WO 90/08249 and WO 96/09892 describe honeycomb bodies with macrostructures that determine the honeycomb shape. The honeycomb bodies additionally have microstructures which influence the flow of exhaust gas flowing through the honeycomb.

The honeycomb walls are made of metal, for example. One way of manufacturing honeycomb bodies with such honeycomb walls involves soldering. Suitable types of soldering are known for example from WO 89/07488.

It is known from EP 0 229 352 to use thermal radiation protection. The thermal radiation protection consists of one or more sheet metal layers, which are arranged outside a casing tube. The same sheet metal layers are used, which also form the honeycomb structure within the casing tube.

In automotive construction in particular, there are increasing demands on the properties of an exhaust gas catalytic converter. In the course of ever stricter exhaust gas standards, especially the cold start and restart behavior must be constantly improved. When restarting an engine after a service life, it is important that the honeycomb body of the catalytic converter is one more has the highest possible temperature. WO 96/07021 describes a catalytic reactor for converting exhaust gases, which has thermal insulation both inside and outside a jacket. An air gap and an insulating mat are mentioned as examples of such insulation.

In the prior art mentioned, the insulating effect is achieved by air or by a solid insulating material. Quiet air has a lower thermal conductivity than known solid insulation materials, but it only minimally impedes the heat transfer by radiation. In contrast, several sheet metal layers, as have been proposed in WO 96/07021, considerably reduce the heat radiation. However, the sheet metal layers form thermal bridges due to their contact points, with the result that considerable heat transport can also occur due to heat conduction.

The present invention has for its object to develop a honeycomb body so that it has little heat loss to the environment.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a honeycomb body with the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The honeycomb body according to the invention is characterized in that it has thermal insulation with a plurality of stacked and / or wound insulating sheet layers, which are supported among one another by microstructures formed in the insulating sheet layers, so that there are spaces between the insulating sheet layers. The micro structures have a height of approximately 15 μm to 250 μm. They are therefore significantly lower than the structures known from EP 0 229 352 for the formation of exhaust gas flowable honeycomb channels. Microstructures of this height are known from WO 96/09892, in which they have been proposed for the mixing of laminar-flowing exhaust gas in the honeycomb-like channels. In a honeycomb body according to the invention, the properties of such microstructures are used in a completely different way. Because of their low height, it is possible to stack a large number of insulating sheet layers on top of one another in a small space, as a result of which the heat transport due to heat radiation through the stack is considerably reduced. Since the reduction depends to a good approximation solely on the number of layers of insulation sheet, space can be saved or a higher insulation effect can be achieved compared to the prior art.

However, the greater stack density has another advantage. By suitable formation of the microstructures, e.g. so that they have narrow, sharp-edged ridges, the contact area between two insulating sheet layers can be significantly reduced. This means that heat transport due to heat conduction can also be significantly reduced.

In particular, in order to effectively protect the honeycomb body with its large number of honeycombs from heat losses, it is expedient if the insulating sheet metal layers surround the honeycombs as closed as possible. In the case of honeycomb bodies for use as exhaust gas catalyst carrier bodies, openings for the entry or exit of exhaust gas must of course be kept clear. The type of thermal insulation according to the invention is also used in a special embodiment to protect heat-sensitive objects in the vicinity of a honeycomb body. In this case, the thermal insulation only partially surrounds the honeycombs, so that a thermal insulation effect is achieved in the solid angle ranges seen from the honeycombs. In a preferred embodiment of a honeycomb body according to the invention, the insulating sheet layers of the thermal insulation are at least partially connected to one another by joining technology, preferably soldered. One advantage is the mechanical stability of the thermal insulation that can be achieved with this.

In an advantageous embodiment, the honeycombs have metallic honeycomb walls. In the case of design variants in which insulating sheet metal layers adjacent to the honeycombs are also metallic, soldered connections of the honeycombs to one another and of honeycombs with insulating sheet metal layers can be produced simultaneously in the same soldering process.

Alternatively, however, other materials, for example ceramic, are used for the honeycomb walls, or different materials are combined. A special embodiment is achieved by attaching insulating sheet metal layers to a green ceramic with a large number of honeycombs and then firing the ceramic. In a variant of this, the insulating sheet layers hold onto the green ceramic due to their microstructures, since these are pressed into the green ceramic.

In the case of metallic honeycomb walls, high demands are placed on their corrosion resistance. A honeycomb body according to the invention, which is suitably equipped with catalytically active material, is suitable for converting exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, in particular an Otto engine. The exhaust gas temperature of such engines is typically above 800 ° C. A honeycomb body for this purpose must withstand corrosion at these temperatures for thousands of hours of operation. On the other hand, the same requirements must not be placed on the thermal insulation. The thermal insulation is not exposed to as high temperatures as the honeycomb walls. With a good insulating effect, at most neighboring insulating sheet metal layers reach similarly to the honeycomb walls high temperatures. In a preferred embodiment of a honeycomb body according to the invention, the heat insulation also does not come into contact with corrosive gases, in particular in an embodiment in which the heat insulation is sealed against any gas entry into the interspaces.

In a further embodiment, a honeycomb body has a tubular casing, in the inner tube of which honeycombs lie. Such a configuration is advantageous for reasons of mechanical stability, but also for reasons of manufacturing technology. There are various design variants of such a honeycomb body. In one case, the thermal insulation described above is also inside the pipe. In other variants, instead or in addition, such thermal insulation lies outside the jacket tube. Here, for example, a particularly thick outermost layer of insulating sheet metal or a second, outer jacket tube offers protection against mechanical damage. In variants with metallic jacket pipes, connections between thermal insulation and the jacket pipes are advantageously at least partially soldered.

In another embodiment, the insulating sheet layers of the thermal insulation are parts of a continuous sheet metal strip that is spirally wound. In a special variant, the thermal insulation has exactly two metal strips, the microstructures being formed in at least one. The two metal strips are intertwined in a spiral winding. Such a winding can be produced, for example, by first placing the two metal strips on top of one another, then fixing them to one another at one end and / or to another part of the honeycomb body, for example to a tubular casing, and then winding them. Other variants use more than two metal strips. Spiral windings are advantageous, among other things, because they are particularly easy to manufacture. However, ring-shaped, self-contained insulating sheet layers can also be used. Completely different forms of thermal insulation are possible for special purposes while maintaining the construction principle. In order to protect individual sensitive objects outside the honeycomb body from heat radiation, a stack of slightly bent layers of insulating sheet metal is arranged, for example, on a limited part of the surface of the honeycomb body.

In a further embodiment, the honeycombs are at least partially heatable. Due to the thermal insulation, the heatable area can be quickly brought to a desired operating temperature without significant heat loss. The thermal insulation helps to conserve the energy source, e.g. a battery of a motor vehicle.

In various configurations, the thermal insulation has end faces on which edges of a plurality of the insulating sheet layers lie. If air flows onto one end face of such a honeycomb body, for example, then an undesirable cooling effect can occur due to an air flow through the intermediate spaces. In a favorable further development, the insulating sheet layers are therefore at least partially connected to one another in the vicinity of the end face or the end faces, so that an air flow, or another gas flow, between the intermediate spaces and the surroundings of the heat insulation is blocked or blocked. For example, the insulating sheet layers are soldered to one another in the vicinity of the end face, they are provided with a filling compound on the end face or an additional end piece is attached to the end face.

The efficiency of thermal insulation is increased in that the spaces between the layers of insulating sheet are all or partially air-sealed and evacuated. Except for the decrease in total thermal conductivity This prevents the penetration of corrosive gases into the thermal insulation.

The heat radiation within the heat insulation and / or the heat radiation from the honeycomb body to the outside is further reduced in that at least some of the insulation sheet layers of the heat insulation, in particular at least one outer insulation sheet layer, are provided with a surface that has an emissivity less than 0.1 owns. In one embodiment, these insulating sheet layers consist of a material with the desired emission properties, in another embodiment there is a material layer on the surface which is made of a different material than the majority of the insulating sheet layer. The layer can, for example, have been vapor-deposited.

Further features and advantages of honeycomb bodies according to the invention are explained on the basis of the drawing. However, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments listed there. The individual figures in the drawing show:

1 shows a cylindrical honeycomb body with a wound thermal insulation in a perspective view,

FIG. 2 shows a section through a honeycomb body with two jacket tubes,

Figure 3 shows a honeycomb body with thermal insulation from a

Sheet metal strip,

FIG. 4 shows a honeycomb body with thermal insulation made from two metal strips, FIG. 5 shows a piece of an insulating sheet layer with a microstructure and with an anti-emission layer,

FIG. 6 shows an insulating sheet layer with parallel microstructures that rise on both sides of the insulating sheet layer,

FIG. 7 an insulating sheet layer with crossed microstructures,

FIG. 8 an insulating sheet layer with microstructures parallel to an end edge,

FIG. 9 shows a partial section through a honeycomb body with thermal insulation, which consists of layers of insulating sheet metal with and without microstructures, and

FIG. 10 shows a partial section through a honeycomb body with thermal insulation which has microstructured insulating sheet metal layers on two sides.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment 1 of a honeycomb body according to the invention. The core consists of a plurality of honeycombs 2, which are formed by wound, smooth and corrugated sheet layers. The honeycombs form the channels 10 connecting the end faces. The core is enclosed by a cylindrical jacket tube 6, which in turn is enclosed by the heat insulation 43. In the embodiment, the thermal insulation 43 has insulating sheet layers, one 4 of which is smooth and another 34 is microstructured 5 on two sides. FIG. 1 shows a snapshot at a point in time just before the two insulating sheet layers 4 and 34 are completely wrapped around the core. Figure 2 shows a honeycomb body with a core as in Figure 1, which is surrounded by an inner jacket tube 6. The heat insulation 3 adjoining the inner jacket tube 6 on the outside has a considerably greater thickness in relation to the diameter of the core than the embodiment shown in FIG. The heat insulation 3 is surrounded by a second, outer jacket tube 6.

A special structure of thermal insulation 23 can be seen in FIG. The insulating sheet layers 24 are parts of a continuous spirally wound sheet metal strip 11 with microstructures 5, which rise on the inner side of the sheet metal strip 11. The sheet metal strip 11 is connected at its start 8 to the casing tube 6. At its end 9 it is attached to another section of itself.

Another possible structure of thermal insulation is shown in FIG. 4. The structure is similar to that in FIG. 1, but here the microstructures 5 of the sheet metal strip 11 run in a direction approximately parallel to the channels, while in the example of FIG. 1 they run approximately transversely to them. In contrast to the heat insulation 23 in FIG. 3, the heat insulation 33 consists of two metal strips 11; 12, one of which is 12 smooth, i.e. has no microstructures 5.

5, two details of an insulating sheet layer 14 can be explained. The insulating sheet layer 14 has approximately the same thickness on its microstructure 5 as otherwise. Such a microstructure is created, for example, by embossing or bending the insulating sheet layer 14. Another possibility for producing microstructures is to apply additional material to an insulating sheet layer. The insulating sheet layer 14 is constructed in layers. The thinner anti-emission layer 15 forms a continuous surface on one side of the insulating sheet layer 14 the base material 16 worn. An anti-emission layer 15 can be applied galvanically to the base material 16, for example.

FIG. 6 shows an insulating sheet metal layer 34, in which the microstructures 5 have a family of parallel ridges running in a line-like manner. The ridges rise alternately on both sides of the insulating sheet layer 34. The microstructures 5 abut perpendicularly on the front edge 10 of the insulating sheet layer 34.

By combining such an insulating sheet layer 34 with insulating sheet layers of the same type, a particularly advantageous construction of thermal insulation 3 can be achieved. The layers of insulating sheet metal are stacked one above the other with ridges that run in mutually crossed directions. The crossed ridges touch each other only at approximately point-like contact points at twice the distance between the parallel microstructures 5. The contact points of an insulating sheet layer 34 to a lower and an upper stack neighbor lie at a distance from the parallel microstructures 5. For the distances between parallel microstructures values between 1 mm and 20 mm are favorable, with values between 5 mm and 15 mm being preferred. Heat that is conducted in a general direction perpendicular to the insulating sheet layers 34 therefore undergoes considerable detours. Due to these detours and due to the point-like contact points, a particularly high thermal insulation effect is achieved.

The embodiment of an insulating sheet layer 44 with microstructures 5 shown in FIG. 7 is particularly mechanically stable due to the height ridges running in mutually crossed directions. Depending on the desired bending radius, it may only be possible to bend it in certain directions and wrap it around a honeycomb core. Since the ridges rise to exactly one side of the insulating sheet layer 44, the insulating sheet layer becomes 44 on the other side advantageously with insulating sheet layers 14; 24; 34; 44 combined, which also have microstructures. The combination with insulating sheet layers without microstructures would lead to an undesirably large contact on one side. The combination with insulating sheet layers 14; 24; 34, whose overall picture of the microstructures differs from the overall picture of the insulating sheet layer 44 with regard to the shape, the crossing angle and / or the spacing of the microstructures. In this way, it can be prevented that microstructures of one layer of insulating sheet can interlock positively with the microstructures of another layer of insulating sheet. FIG. 8 shows an insulating sheet layer with microstructures 5, which is suitable for a favorable combination with the insulating sheet layer shown in FIG. 7.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, pieces of a honeycomb core and a thermal insulation 43; 53 shown. The transition from the core to the thermal insulation 43; 53 takes place via an insulating sheet layer 4 without microstructures (FIG. 9) or via an insulating sheet layer 34 with microstructures (FIG. 10). The insulating sheet layers 4; 34 each form a stack, but with a different stacking sequence. In FIG. 10, all of the insulating sheet layers 34 are microstructured on two sides. In FIG. 9, the insulating sheet layers 34 with the microstructures have at least one insulating sheet layer 4 without microstructures as the next following neighbors.

The cylindrical spatial shape shown in FIG. 1, or the circular cross sections shown in further figures, are by no means the only possibilities for the shape of a honeycomb body according to the invention. Examples of other shapes are a conical spatial shape or a polygonal cross section. A thermal insulation 3; 23; 33; 43; 53 with micro-structured insulating sheet layers can also be relative to other than shown in the figures Arrange honeycomb 2. For example, it can only enclose the honeycomb 2 on one side, or it can also be honeycomb 2 outside of it.

Reference list

1 honeycomb body

2 honeycombs 3 thermal insulation

4 smooth insulating sheet layer

5 micro structure

6 casing tube

7 Insulating sheet layer as protection against damage 8 Start of sheet metal strip

9 metal strip end

10 end face

11 Sheet metal strip with micro structure

12 Sheet metal strip without micro structure 14 Insulating sheet layer with anti-emission layer

15 anti-emission layer

16 base material

23 Thermal insulation from a sheet metal strip

24 one-sided micro-structured insulating sheet layer 33 thermal insulation from two sheet metal strips

34 double-sided micro-structured insulating sheet layer

43 Thermal insulation with micro-structured and smooth sheet metal layers

44 Insulating sheet metal layer with crossed microstructures on one side 53 Thermal insulation made of microstructured sheet metal layers

Claims

claims

1. honeycomb body with a plurality of honeycombs and with thermal insulation, characterized in that the thermal insulation (3; 23; 33; 43; 53) a plurality of stacked and / or wound insulating sheet layers (4; 7; 14; 24; 34; 44 ) which are supported with each other by microstructures (5) formed in the insulating sheet layers (14; 24; 34; 44), so that there are spaces between the insulating sheet layers (4; 7; 14; 24; 34; 44) the microstructures (5) have a height of 15 μm to 250 μm.

2. honeycomb body according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Thermal insulation (3; 23; 33; 43; 53) only partially surrounds the honeycomb (2).

3. honeycomb body according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is a converter for the catalytic conversion of exhaust gases, in particular of exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, in particular gasoline engines.

4. honeycomb body according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the insulating sheet layers (4; 7; 14; 24; 34; 44) are at least partially interconnected, preferably soldered, to one another.

5. honeycomb body according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the honeycombs (2) have metallic honeycomb walls.

6. honeycomb body according to claim 5, characterized in that the metallic honeycomb walls are at least partially connected to one another by joining technology, preferably soldered.

7. honeycomb body according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the material of the metallic honeycomb walls and the material of the insulating sheet layers (4; 7; 14; 24; 34; 44) differ, in particular the former being corrosion-resistant at temperatures above 800 ° C and the latter is less corrosion resistant.

Honeycomb body according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that part of the honeycomb walls is joined, preferably soldered, to at least one of the insulating sheet layers (4; 14; 24; 34; 44).

Honeycomb body according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has a tubular casing (6) in the interior of which the honeycombs (2) lie.

10. honeycomb body according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has a jacket tube (6) and that the thermal insulation (3; 23; 33; 43; 53) is outside the jacket tube (6).

11. Honeycomb body according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the outermost insulating sheet layer (7) is thicker than the insulating sheet layers (4; 14; 24; 34; 44) lying within it.

12. Honeycomb body according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it has a jacket tube (6), in the tube interior, the thermal insulation (3; 23; 33; 43; 53).

13. honeycomb body according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the insulating sheet layers (4; 14; 24; 34; 44) are parts of a continuous spirally wound sheet metal strip (11; 12).

14. honeycomb body according to claim 13, characterized in that the

Thermal insulation (33) has two metal strips (11; 12), the microstructures (5) being formed in at least one, and the two metal strips (11; 12) being intertwined in a spiral winding.

15. honeycomb body according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the honeycombs (2) at least partially have walls which are heatable.

16. Honeycomb body according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the thermal insulation (3; 23; 33; 43; 53) has an end face (10) on the edges of a plurality of the insulating sheet layers (4; 7; 14; 24; 34; 44), and that the insulating sheet layers (4; 7; 14; 24; 34; 44) in the vicinity of the end face (10) are at least partially interconnected, so that a

Air flow between the gaps and the area around the thermal insulation (3; 23; 33; 43; 53) is blocked or blocked.

17. Honeycomb body according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the intermediate spaces are all or partially air-sealed and evacuated.

18. Honeycomb body according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that at least part of the insulating sheet layers (4; 7; 14; 24; 34; 44), in particular at least one insulating sheet layer (4; 7; 14; 24; 34; 44) on an outside of the thermal insulation (3; 23; 33; 43; 53), has an emissivity less than 0.1 for the emission of thermal radiation.

19. honeycomb body according to claim 18, characterized in that on the surface of such an insulating sheet layer (14) is an anti-emission material layer (15), which consists of a different material than the majority of the insulating sheet layer otherwise (16).

20. Honeycomb body according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that in at least one, but preferably in all insulating sheet layers (14; 24; 34; 44) with the microstructures (5), the microstructures (5) have at least one set of one another have parallel linear ridges.

21. Honeycomb body according to claim 20, characterized in that the

MicroStructures (5) each have a set of distances between 1 mm and 20 mm from each other, preferably 5 to 15 mm.

22. A honeycomb body according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the microstructures (5) have two such shares with ridges extending in mutually crossed directions.

23. honeycomb body according to claim 20 or 21 with at least one pair of insulating sheet layers (4; 7; 14; 24; 34; 44), which have at least one common space, characterized in that the pair is supported with each other by exactly one such share , with the ridges running in mutually crossed directions.