Vaporizer

Abstract

A vaporizer device which works together with an exhaust pipe carrying process exhaust gas. An exhaust duct of the vaporizer device opens into the exhaust pipe. The vaporizer device has a burner comprising an injection device for fuel and air, a combustion chamber, and the exhaust duct. An exhaust gas aftertreatment device is inserted into the exhaust pipe downstream of the junction with the exhaust duct. A method for the operation of such a vaporizer device. According to the invention, a vaporizer device and a method for the operation of such a vaporizer device are provided, and are expanded or improved with respect to the functionality thereof. This is achieved in that an introduction device for the vaporizable liquid is inserted into the exhaust duct. The corresponding method is characterized in that the burner provides sufficient thermal energy, wherein the lower limit thereof is prespecified by the provision of an amount of energy which is sufficient for the vaporization of an amount of vaporizable liquid which is larger than the amount of vaporizable liquid introduced into the exhaust duct.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A vaporizer device working together with an exhaust pipe carrying a process exhaust gas, the vaporizer device comprising:
 a burner with a supply device for combustible fuel and air, a combustion chamber, and an exhaust duct opening into the exhaust pipe;   an exhaust gas aftertreatment device in the exhaust pipe downstream from the opening of the exhaust duct; and   an introducer for a vaporizable liquid in the exhaust duct.   
     
     
         30 . The vaporizer device as recited in  claim 29  herein the combustible fuel is a gaseous or liquid fuel. 
     
     
         31 . The vaporizer device as recited in  claim 29  wherein the vaporizable liquid is an aqueous solution of urea or a liquid combustible fuel. 
     
     
         32 . The vaporizer device as recited in  claim 29  wherein the introducer has an atomizer nozzle. 
     
     
         33 . The vaporizer device as recited in  claim 29  wherein a venturi device is arranged in the exhaust duct in a region of an opening of the introducer. 
     
     
         34 . The vaporizer device as recited in  claim 29  further comprising a housing, the burner, the exhaust duct, and the introduction device being integrated into the housing, and the housing is adapted on the exhaust pipe. 
     
     
         35 . The vaporizer device as recited in  claim 29  wherein the exhaust duct projects with a port at the opening into the exhaust pipe. 
     
     
         36 . The vaporizer device as recited in  claim 35  wherein the exhaust duct is concentrically inserted into the exhaust pipe in such a manner that the port of the exhaust duct is arranged in a direction of the process exhaust gas stream. 
     
     
         37 . The vaporizer device as recited in  claim 35  further comprising a quenching device and/or a venturi device in a region of the port. 
     
     
         38 . The vaporizer device as recited in  claim 29  further comprising a gas feed device carrying a process exhaust gas and opening into the exhaust duct. 
     
     
         39 . The vaporizer device as recited in  claim 29  wherein the exhaust gas aftertreatment device has an oxidative catalytic converter and a particulate filter. 
     
     
         40 . The vaporizer device as recited in  claim 29  wherein the exhaust gas aftertreatment device has a catalytic converter which selectively catalytically reduces nitrogen oxides. 
     
     
         41 . The vaporizer device as recited in  claim 29  wherein the exhaust gas aftertreatment device has an NO x  storage catalytic converter. 
     
     
         42 . A method for the operation of a vaporizer device working together with an exhaust pipe carrying a process exhaust gas, an exhaust duct of the vaporizer device opening into the exhaust pipe, the vaporizer device has a burner with a supply device for combustible fuel and air, as well as a combustion chamber, and the exhaust duct, an exhaust gas aftertreatment device being inserted into the exhaust pipe downstream from the opening of the exhaust duct, the method comprising:
 providing thermal energy via the burner, a lower limit of the thermal energy being prespecified by a provision of an amount of energy sufficient for vaporization of an amount of vaporizable liquid which is larger than the amount of vaporizable liquid introduced into the exhaust duct via an introducer.   
     
     
         43 . The method as recited in  claim 42  wherein various different vaporizable liquids are introduced into the exhaust duct via the introducer. 
     
     
         44 . The method as recited in  claim 42  wherein the burner provides additional thermal energy heating the process exhaust gas to a prespecified temperature. 
     
     
         45 . The method as recited in  claim 42  wherein the burner provides energy sufficient to vaporize an aqueous solution of urea introduced as the vaporizable liquid, and to heat a catalytic converter to an operating temperature thereof, the catalytic converter being a part of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device and selectively catalytically reducing nitrogen oxides present in the system. 
     
     
         46 . The method as recited in  claim 42  wherein generation of NH 3  from the introduced urea solution is facilitated by a catalytic converter installed in the exhaust duct. 
     
     
         47 . The method as recited in  claim 42  wherein the burner provides energy sufficient at least to vaporize a liquid fuel introduced as the vaporizable liquid, and to heat an NO x  storage catalytic converter present as a part of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device. 
     
     
         48 . The method as recited in  claim 42  wherein the burner provides energy sufficient at least to vaporize a liquid fuel introduced as the vaporizable liquid, and to heat an oxidative catalytic converter present as a part of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device to an operating temperature required for the catalytic oxidation of the fuel. 
     
     
         49 . The method as recited in  claim 48  wherein the heating process is facilitated by a catalytic converter installed in the exhaust duct. 
     
     
         50 . The method as recited in  claim 48  wherein the oxidative catalytic converter is a multi-purpose catalytic converter containing vanadium and suitable for facilitating the selective catalytic reduction of NO x . 
     
     
         51 . The method as recited in  claim 42  wherein a partial volume of a total volume of combustible fuel is oxidized inside the exhaust duct and/or a location where the fuel is brought together with the process exhaust gas, releasing heat. 
     
     
         52 . The method as recited in  claim 51  wherein a thermal energy of the partial volume of oxidized fuel is held at least approximately constant independent of the total volume of fuel. 
     
     
         53 . The method as recited in  claim 51  wherein a total volume of fuel is vaporized once a threshold volume is exceeded. 
     
     
         54 . The method as recited in  claim 42  wherein the process exhaust gas is introduced into the exhaust duct by a gas feed device. 
     
     
         55 . The method as recited in  claim 42  wherein desired chemical reactions are facilitated by influencing a temperature and composition of a gas at a location of injection o fteh vaporizable liquid. 
     
     
         56 . The method as recited in  claim 55  wherein a catalytic converter is inserted in the exhaust duct for the purpose of facilitating the desired reaction.