Diesel engine

Abstract

An engine ( 10 ) comprising a drain system ( 80 ) for removing the fuel-filter-separated water into the engine's exhaust line ( 61 ). The fuel-filter-removed water can be directly introduced into the exhaust line ( 61 ), and/or it can be directly introduced into a hydrocarbon-dosing line ( 71 ) that later merges with the exhaust line ( 61 ). A control system ( 90 ) can control the fuel-filter-removed-water introduction, such as by adjustment of a valve ( 84 ) in the drain line ( 83 ), the system ( 90 ) and can time such introduction so as to not disturb engine operation.

1 . An engine comprising:
 a combustion chamber;   a fuel system comprising a fuel line for supplying fuel from a fuel tank to the combustion chamber and a fuel filter in the fuel line upstream of the combustion chamber, wherein the fuel filter separates water from fuel;   an exhaust system comprising an exhaust line for exhausting the combustion chamber and an exhaust pipe that forms an outlet for the exhaust line from the engine to the environment; and   a drain system for introducing the water separated by the fuel filter into the exhaust line;   wherein the drain system introduces the filter-separated water to the exhaust line downstream of the combustion chamber and upstream of the exhaust pipe.   
   
   
       2 . An engine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drain system introduces fuel-filter-separated water directly to the exhaust line. 
   
   
       3 . An engine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drain system introduces the fuel-filter-separated water indirectly to the exhaust line, by introducing the water to a line upstream of its connection to the exhaust line. 
   
   
       4 . An engine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the fuel-filter-separated water is collected in a sump associated with the fuel filter, and wherein a drain line extends from the sump, with a valve for adjusting flow therethrough. 
   
   
       5 . An engine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drain system includes a pumping device to aid introduction of the fuel-filter-removed water to the exhaust line. 
   
   
       6 . An engine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust system comprises an exhaust manifold that receives exhaust gas from the combustion chamber, wherein the exhaust line extends from the exhaust manifold to the exhaust pipe, and wherein the drain system introduces the fuel-filter-removed water to the exhaust line downstream of the exhaust manifold. 
   
   
       7 . An engine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust system comprises a turbine and wherein the drain system introduces the fuel-filter-removed water to the exhaust line downstream of the turbine. 
   
   
       8 . An engine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust system comprises a pollution-preventing device and wherein the drain system introduces the fuel-filter-removed water to the exhaust line upstream of the pollution-preventing device. 
   
   
       9 . An engine as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the pollution-preventing device includes an oxidation catalyst. 
   
   
       10 . An engine as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the pollution-preventing device further includes a particulate filter downstream of the oxidation catalyst. 
   
   
       11 . An engine as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a hydrocarbon-dosing system that introduces fuel to the exhaust line through a dosing line, and wherein the drain system introduces the fuel-filter-removed water to the dosing line upstream of its connection to the exhaust line. 
   
   
       12 . An engine as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the exhaust system includes a pollution-preventing device in the exhaust line, and wherein the hydrocarbon-dosing system introduces fuel to the exhaust line upstream of the pollution-preventing device. 
   
   
       13 . An engine as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the pollution-preventing device comprises an oxidation catalyst. 
   
   
       14 . An engine as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the hydrocarbon dosing system is supplied from the bottom of the fuel filter whereby the fuel-filter-removed water is expelled into the exhaust during hydrocarbon dosing. 
   
   
       15 . An engine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the fuel system comprises fuel injectors that inject fuel to initiate combustion and accomplish piston power strokes, wherein these fuel injectors also inject fuel into exhaust gas to hydrocarbon dose the exhaust gas, and wherein the introduction of the fuel-filter-removed water into the exhaust line is coordinated with the injection of fuel into the exhaust gas. 
   
   
       16 . An engine as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a control system having an input interface for receiving engine-operating information, a processor for processing the input information and determining optimum engine operating conditions, and an output panel for providing engine-operating instructions in accordance with the determined optimum engine operating conditions; and
 wherein the control system controls the introduction of fuel-filter-removed water into the exhaust line based on input engine-operating information.   
   
   
       17 . An engine as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the control system controls hydrocarbon dosing of exhaust gas in the exhaust line and wherein the fuel-filter-removed-water introduction is coordinated with the hydrocarbon dosing. 
   
   
       18 . An engine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the engine is a diesel engine. 
   
   
       19 . A drain system for draining fuel-filter-removed water from an engine, said drain system comprising:
 a sump in which water removed from fuel by a fuel filter collects,   a sensor for sensing the amount of water in the sump;   a drain line extending from the sump and adapted for connection to an exhaust line,   a valve for adjusting the flow of fuel-filter-removed water through the drain line; and   a control system receiving input from the sensor and providing output to the valve to control the flow of fuel-filter-removed water through the drain line to the exhaust line.   
   
   
       20 . In combination, the drain system set forth in  claim 19  and a fuel filter for removing water from fuel in a fuel line, wherein the water removed by the fuel filter collects in the sump.