Regeneration apparatus

Abstract

A regeneration apparatus for a particulate filter of an exhaust gas system is provided which includes an exhaust gas duct and a catalyst which is integrated into the exhaust gas duct upstream of the particle filter. The exhaust gas system or the combustion engine includes an injection apparatus which is in communication with a fuel reservoir and is able to input fuel, in particular fuel containing hydrocarbons, into the exhaust gas flow. The regeneration apparatus includes a burner and at least one switching device. The burner is able to heat the catalyst to a reaction temperature at which an exothermic reaction of the fuel takes place. The switching device is able to activate and deactivate the burner and/or the injection apparatus selectively in dependence on an operating state of the exhaust gas system. An exhaust gas system for a combustion engine and a method for the regeneration of a particulate filter of an exhaust gas system are also provided.

1 . A regeneration apparatus for a particulate filter of an exhaust gas system which includes an exhaust gas duct for the conducting of a hot exhaust gas flow away from a combustion engine, in particular from a diesel engine, and a catalyst, in particular an oxidation catalyst which is integrated into the exhaust gas duct upstream of the particulate filter, wherein the exhaust gas system or the combustion engine includes an injection apparatus which is in communication with a fuel reservoir and which is able to input fuel, in particular fuel containing hydrocarbons, into the exhaust gas flow; characterized in that the regeneration apparatus comprises:
 a burner which is able to heat the catalyst to a reaction temperature at which an exothermic reaction of the fuel takes place; and   at least one switching device which is able to activate and deactivate the burner and/or the injection apparatus selectively in dependence on an operating state of the exhaust gas system and/or of the combustion engine.   
   
   
       2 . A regeneration apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that the switching device is made to activate the burner and, as required, the injection apparatus, when the temperature of the catalyst is below the reaction temperature and a regeneration of the particulate filter should be carried out. 
   
   
       3 . A regeneration apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that the switching device is made only to activate the injection apparatus when the temperature of the catalyst is above the reaction temperature and a regeneration of the particulate filter should be carried out. 
   
   
       4 . A regeneration apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that the switching device is made to deactivate the burner again when the temperature of the catalyst has risen above the reaction temperature. 
   
   
       5 . A regeneration apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that it is made as a modular unit. 
   
   
       6 . A regeneration apparatus in accordance with  claim 5 , characterized in that the injection apparatus is integrated into the modular unit. 
   
   
       7 . A regeneration apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that the burner and the injection apparatus are realized by a common component. 
   
   
       8 . An exhaust gas system for a combustion engine, in particular for a diesel engine, comprising:
 an exhaust gas duct for the conducting of a hot exhaust gas flow away from the combustion engine;   a particulate filter; and   a catalyst, in particular an oxidation catalyst which is integrated into the exhaust gas duct upstream of the particulate filter;   wherein the exhaust gas system or the combustion engine includes an injection apparatus which is in communication with a fuel reservoir and is able to input fuel, in particular fuel containing hydrocarbons, into the exhaust gas flow;   characterized in that the exhaust gas system furthermore comprises a regeneration apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.   
   
   
       9 . A method for the regeneration of a particulate filter of an exhaust gas system which includes an exhaust gas duct for the conducting of a hot exhaust gas flow away from a combustion engine, in particular from a diesel engine, and a catalyst, in particular an oxidation catalyst which is integrated into the exhaust gas duct upstream of the particulate filter, wherein the exhaust gas system or the combustion engine includes an injection apparatus which is in communication with a fuel reservoir and which is able to input fuel, in particular fuel containing hydrocarbons, into the exhaust gas flow,
 characterized by the following steps:
 providing a burner which is able to heat the catalyst to a reaction temperature at which an exothermic reaction of the fuel takes place; 
 determining an operating state of the exhaust gas system and/or of the combustion engine; and 
 activating the burner and/or the injection apparatus in dependence on the determined operating state in the case of a regeneration of the particulate filter. 
   
   
   
       10 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , characterized in that a temperature of the catalyst is determined for the determination of the operating state of the exhaust gas system. 
   
   
       11 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , characterized in that the burner and, as necessary, the injection apparatus are activated when the temperature of the catalyst is below the reaction temperature and a regeneration of the particulate filter should be carried out. 
   
   
       12 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , characterized in that only the injection apparatus is activated when the temperature of the catalyst is above the reaction temperature and a regeneration should be carried out. 
   
   
       13 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , characterized in that the burner is deactivated again when the temperature of the catalyst has risen above the reaction temperature.