US20140174848A1

US20140174848A1 - Exhaust flow spark arrestor

Info

Publication number: US20140174848A1
Application number: US14/190,712
Authority: US
Inventors: Mohamed Daoud
Original assignee: Caterpillar Inc
Current assignee: Caterpillar Inc
Priority date: 2014-02-26
Filing date: 2014-02-26
Publication date: 2014-06-26

Abstract

A spark arrestor is provided. The spark arrestor includes a housing and an inlet tube. The inlet tube is configured to receive an exhaust flow into the housing. A first baffle is positioned within the housing. The first baffle has a curved configuration and is placed such that a convex side of the first baffle faces the exhaust flow. A second baffle is positioned within the housing. The first baffle and the second baffle are configured to separate particles from the exhaust flow. An outlet tube is present within the housing and is positioned centrally in relation to the first baffle and the second baffle. An end of the outlet tube is configured to contact a concave side of the first baffle. Further, the outlet tube includes a plurality of perforations at the end. The perforations are configured to receive air separated from the exhaust flow into the outlet tube.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an exhaust system of an engine, and more particularly to a spark arrestor for the exhaust system.

BACKGROUND

Particulate matter may be introduced into an exhaust flow exiting an engine due to various combustion processes taking place within the engine. In some situations, combusting particles, such as carbon deposits, may build up on internal walls of the engine. These carbon deposits may mix with the exhaust flow. Presence of the carbon deposits and other combustion products in the exhaust flow may present a fire risk in application, such as, petroleum and chemical applications where flammability is an especial concern.
The exhaust system may include devices, such as, a spark arrestor, for treating the exhaust flowing therethrough so as to reduce the particulate matter present in the exhaust flow. The spark arrestor may be present at locations downstream of the engine with respect to the exhaust flow.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a spark arrestor is provided. The spark arrestor includes a housing. The spark arrestor also includes an inlet tube. The inlet tube is in fluid communication with the housing. The inlet tube is configured to receive an exhaust flow into the housing. The spark arrestor further includes a first baffle within the housing. The first baffle includes a curved configuration. Further, a convex side of the first baffle is configured to face the exhaust flow. Additionally, the spark arrestor includes a second baffle positioned within the housing. The second baffle has a size smaller than a size of the first baffle. The first baffle and the second baffle are configured to separate particles from the exhaust flow. The spark arrestor also includes an outlet tube. The outlet tube is disposed at least partially within the housing. Further, the outlet tube is positioned centrally in relation to the first baffle and the second baffle. An end of the outlet tube is configured to contact a concave side of the first baffle. Further, the outlet tube includes a plurality of perforations at the end. The perforations are configured to receive air separated from the exhaust flow into the outlet tube.
Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exhaust system associated with an engine; and

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic representations of different configurations of a spark arrestor, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Wherever possible the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or the like parts. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exhaust system 100 associated with an engine 102, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the engine 102 is a multi-cylinder internal combustion (IC) engine. Alternatively, the engine 102 may include a compression ignition engine, a spark ignition engine such as a natural gas engine, a gasoline engine, or any multi-cylinder reciprocating internal combustion engine known in the art.
Further, the exhaust system 100 may include an aftertreatment system (not shown). The aftertreatment system may further include an exhaust gas re-circulation (EGR) system (not shown). The EGR system is configured to decrease a content of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in an exhaust flow from the engine 102.
The exhaust system 100 may include a muffler 104. The muffler 104 is configured to reduce an amount of noise emitted by the exhaust flow. Further, a spark arrestor 106 may be associated with the exhaust system 100. The spark arrestor 106 is configured to reduce a content of sparks or particles 112 for e.g. carbon particles, or any other combustion products in the exhaust flow. As shown in the accompanying figures, the spark arrestor 106 is located downstream of the muffler 104, such that the exhaust flow exiting the muffler 104 may flow through the spark arrestor 106. The spark arrestor 106 may be external to the muffler 104, for example, the spark arrestor 106 may be mounted directly to a discharge end of the muffler 104. Alternatively, in one embodiment, the spark arrestor 106 may be integrated with the muffler 104.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the spark arrestor 106, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The spark arrestor 106 includes a housing 108. The housing 108 may have a rectangular cross section. Dimensions of the housing 108 of the spark arrestor 106 may vary based on the application. The spark arrestor 106 also includes an inlet tube 110 provided at one end of the housing 108. The inlet tube 110 may have a circular cross section. Further, the inlet tube 110 is provided in fluid communication with the housing 108. The inlet tube 110 is configured to receive the exhaust flow from the muffler 104. Arrows are used in the accompanying figures to depict the exhaust flow path.
The exhaust flow entering into the spark arrestor 106 may include the particles 112 mixed therewith that are shown as dots in the accompanying figures. The housing 108 of the spark arrestor 106 includes a first baffle 114. The first baffle 114 has a curved configuration defining a convex side 116 and a concave side 118. The convex side 116 of the first baffle 114 is configured to face the exhaust flow entering through the inlet tube 110 such that the exhaust flow entering the housing 108 may contact with the convex side 116 of the first baffle 114. The positioning and orientation of the first baffle 114 within the housing 108 may be such that the first baffle 114 is configured to deflect or direct the exhaust flow away from a central portion of the housing 108.
A second baffle 120 may be placed within the housing 108. The second baffle 120 is positioned relative to the first baffle 114. Further, a size of the second baffle 120 is smaller compared to a size of the first baffle 114. As shown in FIG. 2, the second baffle 120 may be provided such that a concave side 122 of the second baffle 120 faces the concave side 118 of the first baffle 114. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the second baffle 120 may be placed such that a convex side 124 of the second baffle 120 is configured to face the concave side 118 of the first baffle 114.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the combination of the first and second baffles 114, 120 provided within the housing 108 is configured to separate the particles 112 from the exhaust flow. As explained earlier, the first baffle 114 may be configured to direct the exhaust flow away from the central portion of the housing 108, causing the exhaust flow to follow an extended path within the spark arrestor 106. Thus, a velocity of the exhaust flow within the housing 108 may reduce, as the exhaust flow may pass over the convex side 116 of the first baffle 114. The reduced velocity of the exhaust flow may in turn allow the particles 112 to be separated out of the exhaust flow. The separated particles 112 may be pushed towards the inner walls of the housing 108. The separated particles 112 may be collected in a spark collector 126. The spark collector 126 may be disengaged from the housing 108 for cleaning purposes.
Further, the positioning of the first and second baffles 114, 120 is such that air separated from the exhaust flow may be channelized or directed to flow over the concave side 118 of the first baffle 114. Also, the second baffle 120 is placed such that the separated particles 112 may be prevented from mixing with the air.
An outlet tube 128 is positioned centrally in relation to the first baffle 114 and the second baffle 120. Further, one end of the outlet tube 128 is configured to contact with the concave side 118 of the first baffle 114. The outlet tube 128 may have a circular cross section. The outlet tube 128 includes a plurality of projections 130 provided at the end proximate to the first baffle 114. The air separated from the exhaust flow may flow into the outlet tube 128 through the perforations 130. The air may further flow downstream to other components in the system or may be released into the atmosphere.
In an alternate embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the housing 108 may include only the first baffle 114. It should be noted that the configurations of the spark arrestor 106 shown in the accompanying figures are exemplary and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. Number, dimension, positioning and orientation of the baffles 114, 120 may vary based on the application.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure relates to the spark arrestor 106. The first baffle 114 and/or the second baffles 120 provided within the housing 108 are configured to circulate the exhaust flow within the housing 108 such that the particles 112 are separated therefrom. The spark arrestor 106 is configured to create a low back-pressure in the exhaust flow within the housing 108. The design of the spark arrestor 106 is easy to manufacture. Application of the spark arrestor 106 may be extended to other systems, for example, generator sets.
While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A spark arrestor comprising:

a housing;

an inlet tube in fluid communication with the housing, the inlet tube configured to receive an exhaust flow into the housing;

a first baffle positioned within the housing, the first baffle having a curved configuration, wherein a convex side of the first baffle is configured to face the exhaust flow;

a second baffle positioned within the housing and in relation to the first baffle, the second baffle sized smaller than the first baffle, wherein the first baffle and the second baffle are configured to separate particles from the exhaust flow; and

an outlet tube disposed at least partially within the housing, the outlet tube positioned centrally in relation to the first baffle and the second baffle, the outlet tube having an end in contact with a concave side of the first baffle, wherein the outlet tube includes a plurality of perforations at the end, the perforations configured to receive air separated from the exhaust flow into the outlet tube.