WO2007141625A1

WO2007141625A1 - Exhaust gas polluting agents cut down apparatus for internal combustion engines

Info

Publication number: WO2007141625A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/001471
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Spigai
Original assignee: O.M.G. S.R.L.
Priority date: 2006-06-06
Filing date: 2007-06-05
Publication date: 2007-12-13
Also published as: ITPI20060065A1

Abstract

An apparatus intended to cut down polluting agents, and in particular thin powders emitted by internal combustion engines, comprises a hollow main body (11) which can be directly applied to the exhaust line of the engine, in said main body (11) being injected a liquid under pressure, transversally with respect to the exhaust gas flow, by means of nozzles (14, 14', 14' ' ) fed by a specific tank (15). The liquid and the polluting agents therein, taken apart from the gas flow thanks to the washing action of the liquid under pressure, is recovered through collecting channels (20) housed in said main body (11) and redirected to said tank (15) provided with a filter (28) apt to restrain the polluting powders. Into the main body (11) are housed baffles (36) and filters apt to help collecting the washing liquid, whereas proper indicators (24, 25, 26), mounted mainly in correspondence to the tank (15), monitor the status of the apparatus.

Description

EXHAUST GAS POLLUTING AGENTS CUT DOWN APPARATUS FOR

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

O O O O O

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention refers to an apparatus for cutting down polluting agents

emitted by internal combustion engines.

In particular the invention refers to an apparatus for cutting down the emission of thin powders.

STATE OF THE ART

The increasing problems concerning pollution of the environment caused by

road vehicles, deeply serious within towns, ask for the development of solutions allowing the present engines, fed with hydrocarbons, to respect the more and

more restricting regulations about this matter.

Further and together with solutions directly involving the layout and design of the propulsor are, as known, object of research and development solutions

concerning the treatment of the exhaust emissions.

In particular are object of development solutions for diesel engines whose

diffusion has increased thanks to their intrinsic low fuel consumption.

Such propulsors produce, as you know, a specific kind of polluting emissions, in which the percentage of nitrogen and carbon oxides emission is quite low with

respect to petrol engines' emission, but in that percentage there are thin powders, or particles, which need to be treated by special devices. This last essentially perform a filtering of the exhaust gas and they have to be provided with auxiliary devices for regenerating the filters and cleaning off the powders

gathered.

The various solutions developed, and object of patent applications, regarding the above kind of propulsors, are mainly devoted to fix in different ways the

matter of a good working of the devices which filter the powders apart from the exhaust gas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Main object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus allowing an innovatory and efficient way for reducing the various polluting agents emitted

by internal combustion engines.

Further object of the invention is to propose an apparatus for reducing, in

particular, the thin powders which are in the exhaust gas of the above said engines.

The aforesaid objects are attained through an apparatus for reducing the polluting agents emitted by internal combustion engines, comprising a hollow

main body which can be directly applied to the engine's exhaust line, in said main body being injected a liquid under pressure, transversally with respect to

the exhaust gas flow, by means of nozzles bound at the periphery of said main body and fed by a specific tank. In the case the internal combustion engine is the

propulsor of a vehicle, the above said tank is placed onboard the vehicle itself. Collecting channels are housed in said main body to recover the liquid and the

polluting agents therein, taken apart from the gas flow thanks to the washing action of the liquid under pressure. A proper arrangement of baffles and filter inside the main body helps recovering

the washing liquid.

Advantageously, a set of walls arranged according to a double helical sweep

inside the hollow main body allows an optimum flowing of the exhaust gas

through the main body, in a way that in a series of adjacent rooms the liquid sprayed in each room by the above nozzles efficiently washes the exhaust gas.

Proper indicators, mounted mainly in correspondence to the tank of the washing

liquid, monitor the status of the apparatus.

The signals emitted by said indicators are transmitted to control instruments dedicated both to let the user check the status of the apparatus and, in any case, to report the working status of the apparatus in order to comply with the

emission limits determined by the law.

According to a second embodiment, the main body of the apparatus is shaped to be placed in a vertical position in order to upward emit the exhaust gas of the engine.

The advantages resulting from the use of an apparatus with the above

characteristics are clear in view of the reduction of polluting agents, in particular the thin powders and the carbon oxides and dioxides emitted by

internal combustion engines, avoiding the matters concerning management,

regeneration and cleaning of the filters presently used at this aim. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Anyway, for a better understanding of the characteristics and the advantages of the present invention, some embodiments will now be described, by way of

examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows a schematic general view of an apparatus according to the

invention;

- Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section view of a component of the apparatus

of the invention according to a first embodiment; - Figures 3 and 4 show two cross section views of the component of fig.2;

- Figure 5 shows a longitudinal section view of a component of the apparatus

of the invention according to a second embodiment;

- Figure 6 and 7 show two cross section views of the component of fig.5;

- Figure 8 shows a longitudinal section view of a component of the apparatus

of the invention according to a further embodiment;

- Figure 9 shows a cross section view of the component of fig.8.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to fig.l, it is pointed as whole with 10 an apparatus for reducing

the polluting agents emitted by internal combustion engines.

The apparatus comprises a main body, 11, with a tubular shape, provided with

an inlet fitting, 12, for the connection to the exhaust line, and an outlet fitting,

13, for discharging residue in the outer space.

A set of spraying nozzles, 14, are bound to the cylindrical surface of said main body, 11, said nozzles being fed with liquid under pressure coming from a tank, 15, through an adduction pipe, 16, 16', provided with an adduction pump, 18, and a valve, 19.

According to a preferred embodiment the main body, 11, provides a channel,

20, useful to take away the liquid and the polluting agents received by the channel itself. The channel 20 is connected to a pipe, 21, 21' through which the liquid flows back to the tank. Along the pipe 21, 21' there are a recirculation pump, 22, and a second valve, 23.

The tank is accessorized with many indicators and control devices. In particular

there can be found: a level gauge, 24; a densimeter, 25; a thrust meter, 26.

This last is located in the upper part of the tank, to detect the pressure existing

in the space, 27, above an horizontal filter, 28, covering all the cross section of

the tank with the aim of restraining impurities of specific size and consistency

coming with the liquid from the conduit 21'. The signals produced by each of said indicators are transmitted, through specific

transmission lines, 29, to the control unit of the vehicle where the apparatus is installed, or, anyway, to a control panel allowing to timely check the working status of the apparatus.

One more filter, 30, is placed inside the tank 15, at the opening of the conduit,

16', leading to the adduction pump 18.

According to a preferred embodiment shown in fig.2, inside the main body, 11, of the apparatus 10, baffles, 31, are arranged staggered in a double helical

sweep; the gas entering the apparatus is so separated in two different flows

running separate parallel paths affected by two sets of nozzles, 14, 14', aligned

in turns along the cylindrical surface of the main body 11. It is worth noting that the nozzles 14, 14', are oriented so that they spray

against the current of the exhaust gas flow, as you can see in detail in fig.4. In

this figure is also well shown, at the opposite side of the main body, the channel, 20, collecting the liquid, which has a progressively increasing section. Above said channel, all along its length, is arranged a wall, 32, apt to deflect towards the channel the most peripheral part of the gas flow, where, thanks to the centrifugal force of its revolving movement, there are the thin powders

eventually present in the flow, and, in any case, the substances having the

highest mass density.

The liquids, and the polluting agents therein, are collected in an even easier way

at the bottom section of the main body 11 thanks to its tapered shape, both in a

vertical direction, toward the channel 20, and in a horizontal direction, toward the outlet fitting 13, as it can be seen in the detailed view of fig.3 where three cross sections, 33, 34, 35, of said main body are drafted, corresponding to the

section lines I-I, II-II, m-IH of fig.2. A similar shape tapered toward the outlet fitting 13', has the hollow main body

of the embodiment of fig.5.

In this case, as it can be seen in fig.7, the cross section of said main body 11'

has an elliptical shape; into the main body are arranged parallel baffles, 36, disposed inclined, each of them providing a round aperture 37 through which passes the exhaust gas flow. The baffles 36 are arranged so that the apertures 37 thereof are located in turns in the upper and in the lower part of the main body 11'. Such distribution implies a progress of the gas flow, schematically shown in

fig.5, which causes the nozzles 14" to spray against the current of the gas. It should be noted that the last baffle, 38, has a bigger aperture, 39, than the other apertures, 37. Before said aperture 39 is placed a screen, 40, apt to let the

liquid flow toward the channel 20'. A further screen, 41, performing the same

function, is placed at the beginning of the outlet fitting, 13'. In the embodiment of fig.8, the main body, 11", of the apparatus of the invention is structured in a way useful to be vertically arranged. The inlet fitting,

12", provides two sets of side holes, 42, leading the gas to the beginning of two parallel paths defined by baffles, 31", arranged staggered in a double helical

sweep, just like the ones of fig.2. A proper cap, 43, prevent the liquid sprayed

into the main body by the nozzles 14 from entering the inlet fitting 12" through

the holes 42. The liquid, and the polluting agents therein, is led to the adduction

tank through the pipe 21" which is inserted at the bottom surface of the main body 11".

Finally it can be noticed that a further cap, 44, is hinged to the top end of the outlet fitting, 13", in order to protect the apparatus in non use conditions.

The apparatus works in a way that is immediately understandable from what

above described.

When the engine to which the apparatus is connected is powered, the apparatus

starts working. In particular both the adduction pump, 18, and the recirculation pump, 22, are activated, starting the admission of the nebulized liquid into the main body 11, as well as the suction of the liquid and the polluting agents through the channel 20. The liquid, and the polluting agents therein, are then

conveyed toward the upper space, 27, of the tank 15, where the liquid is

properly filtered by a main filter, 28, and by an auxiliary filter, 30, before flowing again, through the adduction pump 18, toward the spraying nozzles 14.

A correct working of the apparatus is assured by a continuous monitoring. At this aim three different parameters are analysed, that is the liquid level, its

density and the pressure in the upper space, 27, of the tank 15. The first parameter is always required irrespective of the kind of engine to which the

apparatus is connected, whereas the second parameter changes as a function of

the specific pollution agent whose emission has to be reduced, by using specific substances dissolved in the liquid, for instance to facilitate the flocculation of specific polluting agents. The second parameter, and even more the third one,

give information about the need of cleaning or replacing the filter 28 which separates the polluting agents from the liquid.

Sensors, of known technique, are provided to check the status of the pumps 18, 22.

Inspections apt to verify that the parameters are within specific limits can be performed directly by the user or they can be left to an automatic electronic

system which alerts with light signals of different colours, or with other means,

about the result of the inspections. Laboratory tests performed by the applicant revealed that when the apparatus

works correctly in accordance with the above parameters, the polluting agents, measured before and after the main body, are reduced of a variable amount,

function of the rate of the engine, amount which is relevant as regards the

carbon oxides and dioxides and even more relevant as regards thin powders.

Further reduction are measured, even if they are less relevant, as regards

nitrogen oxides when mere water is used as recirculation liquid, whereas more

relevant reductions can be obtained, and that is object of continuous researches and tests, by adding flocculent agents, surface-active agents or other agents.

Anyway, irrespective of the agents added to the liquid, the advantages coming from the invention about reduction of emissions are clear, and it is also clear that they remain even if changes or modifications are made to what above disclosed.

For instance, the main body can be shaped differently with respect to the above

embodiments. Also the arrangement of the baffles and internal walls can be different, still designed to help the washing action of exhaust gas, and, meanwhile, the recovery of the sprayed liquid, avoiding, in any case, counter pressures which could affect the proper way of working of the engine to which

the apparatus is connected.

The liquid sprayed can be mere water as well as agents or substances may be

added, having a specific chemical action acting on one or another of the

polluting agents of the exhaust gas.

The number of spraying nozzles may obviously vary, and the pressure of the

adduction pump 18 may vary as well.

A single component may comprise the adduction pump and the recirculation pump 22.

The auxiliary filter, 30, mounted at the beginning of the adduction pipe 16' can

be located into the tank 15 or just outside it.

These and other changes or modifications can be brought to the apparatus for

reducing the polluting agents emitted by internal combustion engines, according

to the invention, still remaining in the ambit of protection defined by the following claims.

Claims

1- Apparatus for reducing the polluting agents emitted by internal combustion

engines characterized in that it comprises a hollow main body which can

be directly applied to the exhaust line of the engine, in said main body being injected a liquid under pressure, transversally with respect to the exhaust gas flow, by means of nozzles bound at the periphery of said main body and fed

by a specific tank.

2- Apparatus according to the previous claim characterized in that said main

body (11) comprises collecting channels (20) apt to recover the liquid and the polluting agents therein, taken apart from the gas flow thanks to the

washing action of the liquid under pressure, said channels (20) being

connected to a pipe (21, 21') through which the liquid flows back into the tank (15).

3- Apparatus according to claims 1 or 2 characterized in that it is joined to an internal combustion engines which is the propulsor of a road vehicle, said

tank (15) being placed onboard said vehicle.

4- Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that said spraying nozzles (14) spray liquid under pressure coming from said tank (15) through an

adduction pipe (16, 16') providing at least one adduction pump (18).

5- Apparatus according to claim 2 or 4 characterized in that said pipes (16,

16', 21, 21') comprise at least one valve (19, 23).

6- Apparatus according to one of the previous claims characterized in that

said tank (15) comprises at least one filter (28) apt to restrain impurities of specific size coming with the liquid from said pipe (21, 21'). 7- Apparatus according to one of the previous claims characterized in that said tank (15) provides at least a level gauge (24), at least a densimeter (25) and at least a thrust meter (26) apt to detect the pressure in a space (27) of said tank (15) existing between said adduction pipe (21') and said filter (28). 8- Apparatus according to the previous claim characterized in that the signals emitted by the indicators (24, 25, 26) are transmitted to control and alarm instruments apt to allow a prompt ascertainment that the signals and the parameters thereof remain within their own specified working limits.

9- Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 characterized in that said tank (15) comprises at least a second filter (30) mounted at the beginning of the adduction pipe (16').

10- Apparatus according to one of the previous claims characterized in that said main body (11) has a substantially tubular shape and it is provided with an inlet fitting (12) for the connection to the exhaust line of the engine, and an outlet fitting, (13) for discharging residue in the outer space.

11- Apparatus according to the previous claim characterized in that said main body (11) comprises an inside set of walls arranged so that they form a sequence of rooms in which takes place, thanks to said spraying nozzles (14), an effective, counter current, washing action of the exhaust gas. 12- Apparatus according to the previous claim characterized in that said main body (11) comprises an inside set of walls arranged so that they form at least one helical sweep coaxial with said main body.

13- Apparatus according to claim 11 characterized in that said main body

(11 ') comprises inside parallel baffles (36), disposed inclined, each of them providing an aperture (37) through which passes the exhaust gas flow, said baffles (36) being arranged so that the apertures (37) thereof are located in turns in the upper and in the lower part of said main body (11 ')• - Apparatus according to claim 11 characterized in that said main body

(11 ') of the apparatus is structured in a way suitable to be arranged in a

vertical position.