Exhaust gas system for a motor vehicle

Abstract

An exhaust-gas system for a motor vehicle includes at least one exhaust-gas cleaning system and at least one regeneration device for the exhaust-gas cleaning system, by means of which regeneration device an oxidizable fluid in vapor form can be introduced into the exhaust-gas stream ahead of the exhaust-gas cleaning system. The regeneration device includes a housing with a chamber formed in it as well as a heating element positioned in the chamber, the housing having on its upstream side an inflow opening for exhaust gases and on its downstream side an outlet opening and being arranged in the interior of the exhaust-gas stream.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . An exhaust-gas system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 at least one exhaust-gas cleaning system, and   at least one regeneration device for the exhaust-gas cleaning system, the regeneration device being configured to introduce an oxidizable fluid in vapor form into the exhaust-gas stream ahead of the exhaust-gas cleaning system,   wherein (i) the regeneration device comprises a housing with a chamber formed therein and a heating element positioned in the chamber, (ii) the housing has, on its upstream side, an inflow opening for exhaust gases and on its downstream side an outlet opening, (iii) the housing is arranged in the motor vehicle's exhaust-gas stream, and (iv) the housing has an essentially tubular shape with a tapered upstream end.   
   
   
       9 . The exhaust-gas system according to  claim 8 , wherein the heating element comprises a porous foam. 
   
   
       10 . The exhaust-gas system according to  claim 9 , wherein the foam is a ceramic foam. 
   
   
       11 . The exhaust-gas system according to  claim 9 , wherein the foam is a metallic foam. 
   
   
       12 . The exhaust-gas system according to  claim 8 , wherein the fluid is a fuel. 
   
   
       13 . The exhaust-gas system according to  claim 8 , wherein the exhaust-gas cleaning system is a diesel particle filter. 
   
   
       14 . The exhaust-gas system according to  claim 8 , wherein the exhaust-gas cleaning system is a NO x -storage catalytic converter.