Exhaust treatment system

Abstract

A system for ventilating a crankcase of an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust system having a treatment element, and the treatment element includes a catalyst configured to assist in passively regenerating a filter of the exhaust system. The system for ventilating the crankcase also includes first flow path configured to transmit a first flow from the crankcase to a port upstream of the filter, and a second flow path configured to transmit a second flow from a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine to the exhaust system. The catalyst is configured to treat a combined flow comprising the first flow and the second flow.

1 . A system for ventilating a crankcase of an internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 an exhaust system including a treatment element, the treatment element comprising a catalyst configured to assist in passively regenerating a filter of the exhaust system;    a first flow path configured to transmit a first flow from the crankcase to a port upstream of the filter; and    a second flow path configured to transmit a second flow from a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine to the exhaust system, the catalyst being configured to treat a combined flow comprising the first flow and the second flow.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment element further comprises a regeneration device.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is an oxidation catalyst.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is disposed on a substrate of the filter.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst includes at least one of aluminum, platinum, palladium, rhodium, barium, cerium, an alkali metal, an alkaline-earth metal, and a rare-earth metal.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is a diesel particulate filter.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is configured to assist in passively regenerating a filter of the treatment element.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is configured to oxidize one or more components of the combined flow.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more components of the combined flow include particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , further including an energy extraction assembly disposed in the second flow path and configured to reduce the pressure of the second flow.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a third flow path configured to transmit a portion of the treated combined flow to an intake system of the internal combustion engine.  
   
   
       12 . A method of controlling exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 pressurizing a crankcase of the internal combustion engine;    releasing a pressurized flow from the crankcase;    combining the pressurized flow with a main exhaust flow from a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine to form a combined flow;    treating the combined flow with a filter; and    passively regenerating at least a portion of the filter.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein treating the combined flow includes oxidizing a component of the combined flow.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein passively regenerating at least a portion of the filter includes at least one of burning and removing matter trapped within the filter.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein passively regenerating at least a portion of the filter includes increasing the temperature of the portion of the filter to a passive temperature below a regeneration temperature of the filter.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein treating the combined flow includes removing particulate matter from the combined flow.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , further including directing a portion of the treated combined flow to an intake of the internal combustion engine.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , further including reducing the pressure of the main exhaust flow.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , further including actively regenerating at least a portion of the filter.  
   
   
       20 . A method of controlling exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 releasing a pressurized flow of exhaust from a crankcase of the internal combustion engine;    directing the pressurized flow of exhaust to a catalyst;    treating at least a portion of the pressurized flow of exhaust with a filter; and    passively regenerating at least a portion of the filter.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the catalyst is disposed on a substrate of the filter.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the catalyst is an oxidation catalyst.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the filter is a particulate filter.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , further including combining the pressurized flow of exhaust gas with a main exhaust flow of the combustion engine, thereby forming a combined flow.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further including directing the combined flow to the catalyst.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , further including oxidizing at least a portion of the combined flow.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , further including directing at least a portion of the combined flow to an intake of the internal combustion engine.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 20 , further including oxidizing at least a portion of the pressurized flow of exhaust.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 20 , further including directing at least a portion of the pressurized flow of exhaust to an intake of the internal combustion engine.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein treating at least a portion of the pressurized flow of exhaust includes removing matter from the portion.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 20 , further including increasing the temperature of the pressurized flow of exhaust upstream of the catalyst.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 20 , further including actively regenerating at least a portion of the filter.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein passively regenerating at least a portion of the filter includes at least one of burning and removing matter trapped within the filter.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein passively regenerating at least a portion of the filter includes increasing the temperature of the portion of the filter to a passive temperature below a regeneration temperature of the filter.