Reagent refill and supply system for an SCR exhaust aftertreatment system

Abstract

An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust manifold, and a selective catalytic reduction exhaust aftertreatment system. The selective catalytic reduction exhaust aftertreatment system includes a reduction catalytic converter in communication with the exhaust manifold; a reagent holding tank in fluid communication with the reduction catalytic converter; and a reagent supply canister selectively and removably couplable with the reagent holding tank.

1 . An internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 an exhaust manifold; and    a selective catalytic reduction exhaust aftertreatment system, including: 
 a reduction catalytic converter in communication with said exhaust manifold;  
 a reagent holding tank in fluid communication with said reduction catalytic converter; and  
 a reagent supply canister selectively and removably couplable with said reagent holding tank.  
   
   
   
       2 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 1 , wherein said reagent holding tank includes a refill head with a seal and a latch.  
   
   
       3 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 2 , wherein said seal comprises an O-ring seal.  
   
   
       4 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 2 , wherein said reagent supply canister includes a nozzle with a spring biased valve and a mating latch.  
   
   
       5 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 4 , wherein said valve includes a valve disk biased by a compression spring.  
   
   
       6 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 5 , wherein said refill head includes a valve opener pin for biasing said valve disk to an open position when said reagent supply canister is coupled with said reagent holding tank.  
   
   
       7 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 4 , wherein said latch comprises a bayonet latch and said mating latch comprises a mating bayonet latch.  
   
   
       8 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 1 , wherein said reagent holding tank includes a heater.  
   
   
       9 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 8 , wherein said heater includes at least one resistance heater.  
   
   
       10 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 1 , wherein said reagent holding tank includes at least one reagent level sensor.  
   
   
       11 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 10 , further including a visual indicator coupled with at least one said reagent level sensor.  
   
   
       12 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 10 , wherein said reagent holding tank includes two reagent level sensors.  
   
   
       13 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 1 , wherein said reagent holding tank includes a sump and a suction line having an inlet in said sump.  
   
   
       14 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 1 , including at least one of a reagent quality sensor and a NOx sensor.  
   
   
       15 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 14 , wherein said reagent quality sensor is positioned in said reagent holding tank.  
   
   
       16 . An internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 an exhaust manifold; and    a selective catalytic reduction exhaust aftertreatment system, including: 
 a reduction catalytic converter in communication with said exhaust manifold; and  
 a reagent holding tank in communication with said reduction catalytic converter, said reagent holding tank including a refill head selectively couplable with a reagent supply canister, said refill head being substantially sealed with said reagent supply canister when coupled with said reagent supply canister, and substantially sealed with an ambient environment when not coupled with said reagent supply canister.  
   
   
   
       17 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 16 , wherein said refill head includes a seal and a latch.  
   
   
       18 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 17 , wherein said seal comprises an O-ring seal.  
   
   
       19 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 17 , wherein said latch comprises a bayonet latch.  
   
   
       20 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 16 , wherein said reagent holding tank includes a heater.  
   
   
       21 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 20 , wherein said heater includes at least one resistance heater.  
   
   
       22 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 16 , wherein said reagent holding tank includes at least one reagent level sensor.  
   
   
       23 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , further including a visual indicator coupled with at least one said reagent level sensor.  
   
   
       24 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein said reagent holding tank includes two reagent level sensors.  
   
   
       25 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 16 , wherein said reagent holding tank includes a sump and a suction line having an inlet in said sump.  
   
   
       26 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 16 , including at least one of a reagent quality sensor and a NOx sensor.  
   
   
       27 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 26 , wherein said reagent quality sensor is positioned in said reagent holding tank.  
   
   
       28 . An exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 a reduction catalytic converter;    a reagent holding tank in communication with said reduction catalytic converter; and    a reagent supply canister selectively and removably couplable with said reagent holding tank.    
   
   
       29 . The exhaust aftertreatment system of  claim 28 , wherein said reagent holding tank includes a refill head with a seal and a latch.  
   
   
       30 . The exhaust aftertreatment system of  claim 29 , wherein said seal comprises an O-ring seal.  
   
   
       31 . The exhaust aftertreatment system of  claim 29 , wherein said reagent supply canister includes a nozzle with a spring biased valve and a mating latch.  
   
   
       32 . The exhaust aftertreatment system of  claim 31 , wherein said valve includes a valve disk biased by a compression spring.  
   
   
       33 . The exhaust aftertreatment system of  claim 32 , wherein said refill head includes a valve opener pin for biasing said valve disk to an open position when said reagent supply canister is coupled with said reagent holding tank.  
   
   
       34 . The exhaust aftertreatment system of  claim 31 , wherein said latch comprises a bayonet latch and said mating latch comprises a mating bayonet latch.  
   
   
       35 . The exhaust aftertreatment system of  claim 28 , wherein said reagent holding tank includes a heater.  
   
   
       36 . The exhaust aftertreatment system of  claim 35 , wherein said heater includes at least one resistance heater.  
   
   
       37 . The exhaust aftertreatment system of  claim 28 , wherein said reagent holding tank includes at least one reagent level sensor.  
   
   
       38 . The exhaust aftertreatment system of  claim 37 , further including a visual indicator coupled with at least one said reagent level sensor.  
   
   
       39 . The exhaust aftertreatment system of  claim 37 , wherein said reagent holding tank includes two reagent level sensors.  
   
   
       40 . The exhaust aftertreatment system of  claim 28 , wherein said reagent holding tank includes a sump and a suction line having an inlet in said sump.  
   
   
       41 . The exhaust aftertreatment system of  claim 28 , including at least one of a reagent quality sensor and a NOx sensor.  
   
   
       42 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 41 , wherein said reagent quality sensor is positioned in said reagent holding tank.  
   
   
       43 . A method of operating an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: 
 treating exhaust gas with a selective catalytic reduction system including a reduction catalytic converter;    supplying a reagent to said reduction catalytic converter from a reagent holding tank;    coupling a reagent supply canister with a refill head on said reagent holding tank; and    refilling said reagent holding tank with reagent from said reagent supply canister.    
   
   
       44 . The method of operating an internal combustion engine of  claim 43 , including the step of removing said reagent supply canister from said refill head.  
   
   
       45 . The method of operating an internal combustion engine of  claim 43 , wherein said coupling step includes sealing and latching said reagent supply canister with said reagent holding tank.  
   
   
       46 . The method of operating an internal combustion engine of  claim 43 , including the step of opening a valve in said reagent supply canister, thereby allowing said refilling step.  
   
   
       47 . The method of operating an internal combustion engine of  claim 46 , wherein said opening step occurs concurrently with said coupling step.