This invention generally relates to a fuel fired burner for a vehicle exhaust component that includes an airless nozzle.
Fuel fired burners are desirable for reliable regeneration of diesel particulate filters (DPFs) as well as for thermal management of other exhaust catalysts and components. For example, a DPF can become clogged over time, which decreases engine operating efficiency. These particulate filters can be regenerated to burn off the trapped particulate matter. The fuel fired burner is used to generate/increase heat such that the particulate matter can be burned off. Typically, the fuel delivery system of a fuel fired burner has an air flow and a fuel flow that provide a fuel/air mixture via a nozzle. An igniter ignites the fuel/air mixture sprayed from the nozzle to increase heat for regeneration or thermal management of aftertreatment.
In certain applications, an airless nozzle configuration is used instead of a fuel/air mixture configuration. An airless nozzle is desirable because this type of nozzle eliminates parasitic loss of compressed air, as well as eliminating the additional cost and complexity due to added components to supply air. In this type of configuration, the nozzle receives only a fuel supply and does not include a source of compressed air. Exhaust gas flows in an axial direction along the nozzle and mixes with fuel droplets sprayed from the nozzle. An igniter then ignites the mixture of exhaust gas and fuel droplets.
One concern with an airless nozzle is fuel coking within the nozzle as well as the associated fuel line if it is exposed to heat. During engine operation, the fuel can undergo chemical changes leading to the formation of carbon based dry materials that can plug the nozzle. This chemical degradation of the fuel is often referred to as fuel “coking.”
A fuel fired burner with an airless fuel supply nozzle includes an exhaust gas side entry configuration.
In one example, the fuel fired burner defines an axially extending flow path. The airless fuel nozzle sprays fuel droplets within the fuel fired burner in a direction generally along the axially extending flow path. An exhaust gas inlet directs exhaust gases from a vehicle exhaust system toward the airless nozzle in a direction that is transverse to the axially extending flow path. The exhaust gas mixes with the fuel droplets resulting in an exhaust gas/fuel mixture. An igniter then ignites the mixture to increase the temperature of the exhaust gases as needed.
The heated exhaust gases are directed to an exhaust component in a vehicle exhaust system. In one example, the exhaust component comprises a diesel particulate filter.
In one example, the fuel fired burner includes a housing extending along a length that is greater than a width. The airless nozzle is positioned at one end of the housing and an exhaust gas outlet is positioned at an opposite end of the housing. The exhaust gas inlet is positioned on a side of the housing at a location between the nozzle and the exhaust gas outlet.
In one example, an inner chamber is positioned within the housing. The inner chamber has one end at the airless nozzle and an opposite end facing the exhaust gas outlet. The inner chamber can include one or more openings as needed.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
As shown in
The fuel fired burner 14 includes an airless nozzle 16 that is positioned within a housing 26 having a length extending between opposed ends and a width defined in a radial direction. In one example, airless nozzle 16 receives fuel via a fuel line 18 connected to a fueling system, schematically shown at 28, which includes a source of pressurized fuel and other associated fuel supply components such as injectors, valves, etc. Any type of fuel supply system for an airless injector configuration can be used to supply fuel to the airless nozzle 16. For example, a metering device, such as an automotive type fuel injector, can be connected via a fuel line to a fuel spray nozzle, or a fuel injector can be used to directly spray into the burner.
The fuel fired burner 14 defines an axially extending flow path 20 along a length of the housing 26 of the fuel fired burner 14. Fuel droplets 22 are sprayed by the airless nozzle 16 and mix with the exhaust gas to form an exhaust gas/fuel mixture that is then subsequently ignited by an igniter 24. Any type of igniter 24 can be used such as one or more electrodes, for example.
Exhaust gas is introduced for mixture with the fuel droplets 22 via an inlet 30. The inlet 30 comprises a side-entry configuration to the housing 26 where exhaust gas is directed toward the airless nozzle 16 in a direction that is transverse to the axially extending flow path 20. This side introduction of exhaust gas induces a swirl in the incoming exhaust gas without the need for any other components, such as a mixing element for example. This swirling action of the exhaust gas can result in a more evenly distributed and thoroughly mixed fuel/exhaust gas mixture. Further, this side entry configuration reduces fuel coking within the nozzle.
It should also be understood that while the side entry configuration for the airless nozzle is shown as being used with a fuel fired burner for a DPF, the subject airless system could also be used with other types of exhaust components 12 where fine accurate sprays are required. Examples include: Hydrocarbon Dosing of a Diesel oxidation catalyst and dosing of urea in a SCR system for NOx reduction.
Once the exhaust gas/fuel mixture has been ignited the heated exhaust gases exit the fuel fired burner 14 via an outlet 32. In one example, the outlet 32 is at one end of the housing 26 and the airless nozzle 16 with the fuel line connection to the fuel supply system 28 is at an opposite end of the housing 26. In another example, the outlet 32 could be located along a side of the housing 26 in a radial configuration as indicated by the dashed lines in
As discussed above, the airless nozzle 16 receives fuel via the fuel line 18 connected to the fuel supply system 28. The side entry configuration reduces exposure of the fuel line 18 to heated exhaust gases, which in turn reduces coking within the fuel line itself.
In one example, an inner chamber 40 is positioned within the housing 26 of the fuel fired burner 14 as shown in
In one example, the outer surface 46 of the inner chamber 40 includes at least one opening 54 into the open interior 48 as shown in
Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
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