System Containing Oxygen Enriched Diesel Particulate Filter and Method Thereof

Abstract

A system for treatment of exhaust emissions from a compression-ignited internal combustion engine comprises (A) a superatmospheric-pressurized source of gaseous oxygen, (B) an inlet for the gaseous oxygen of component (A) where the exhaust emissions from the engine flow past the inlet and form a mixture with the gaseous oxygen from the inlet, and (C) a diesel particulate filter or catalyzed diesel particulate filter through which the mixture of engine exhaust emissions and gaseous oxygen flows, where the oxygen content of the mixture is greater than the oxygen content of the exhaust emissions from the engine. A method for improving the performance of a diesel particulate filter or catalyzed diesel particulate filter in a compression-ignited internal combustion engine comprises operating the engine and treating the exhaust emissions from the engine with the exhaust emissions treatment system.

1 . A system for treatment of exhaust emissions from a compression-ignited internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 (A) a superatmospheric-pressurized source of gaseous oxygen;    (B) an inlet for the gaseous oxygen from the superatmospheric-pressurized source wherein the exhaust emissions from the engine flow past the inlet and form a mixture with the gaseous oxygen from the inlet; and    (C) a diesel particulate filter or catalyzed diesel particulate filter through which the mixture of exhaust emissions from the engine and gaseous oxygen from the inlet flows, wherein the oxygen content of the mixture is greater than the oxygen content of the exhaust emissions from the engine.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the gaseous oxygen is continuously introduced into the inlet for mixing with the engine exhaust emissions during the operation of the engine.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the gaseous oxygen is intermittently introduced into the inlet for mixing with the engine exhaust emissions during the operation of the engine.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the oxygen content of the mixture is greater than the oxygen content of the exhaust emissions from the engine by at least 0.1% by volume.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the source of gaseous oxygen is air, oxygen, an oxygen containing gas, or a mixture thereof wherein the oxygen containing gas has an oxygen content of 1 to 99% by volume.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the superatmospheric-pressurized source of gaseous oxygen comprises a compressor, a blower, a compressed gas storage container, or a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the gas in the compressed gas storage container is air, oxygen, or an oxygen containing gas having an oxygen content greater than 21% by volume to 99% by volume.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the superatmospheric-pressurized source of gaseous oxygen further comprises a permeable membrane wherein the membrane provides oxygen or a gas having an increased oxygen content from a mixture of gases that includes oxygen.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the diesel particulate filter or catalyzed diesel particulate filter comprises 2 or more sections wherein each section is capable of being separately regenerated.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the catalyzed diesel particulate filter is a coated wall-flow ceramic monolith wherein the coating comprises 5 to 150 g/ft 3  of a catalyst metal.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the catalyst metal is platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, vanadium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, copper, silver, or a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       12 . A system for treatment of exhaust emissions from a compression-ignited internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 atmospheric air as a source of gaseous oxygen;    an inlet for the atmospheric air wherein exhaust emissions from the engine flow through a venturi which draws in the atmospheric air through the inlet forming a mixture of exhaust emissions and atmospheric air; and    the diesel particulate filter or catalyzed diesel particulate filter of  claim 1  through which the mixture of exhaust emissions and atmospheric air flows wherein the oxygen content of the mixture is greater than the oxygen content of the exhaust emissions from the engine.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (D) at least one heat source.    
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the heat source is a heater or a heat exchanger.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (E) a control unit.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (F) at least one component selected from the group consisting of a diesel oxidation catalyst, a selective catalytic reduction catalyst and a lean NO x  catalyst.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (G) an outlet for recirculating a portion of the exhaust emissions from the engine to an air intake of a combustion system of the engine.    
   
   
       18 . A method for improving the performance of a diesel particulate filter or catalyzed diesel particulate filter in a compression-ignited internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 operating the engine; and    treating the exhaust emissions from the engine with the system of  claim 1 .    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the temperature for regeneration of the diesel particulate filter or catalyzed diesel particulate filter is decreased by 1 to 200° C.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the rate for regeneration of the diesel particulate filter or catalyzed diesel particulate filter is increased.