Regeneration device having air-assisted fuel nozzle

Abstract

A regeneration device for use with an exhaust treatment system is disclosed. The regeneration device may have a housing with a fuel passageway and a first air passageway. The regeneration device may also have an injector disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the fuel passageway and the first air passageway. The regeneration device may further have a combustion canister connected to receive a fuel/air mixture from the injector.

1 . A regeneration device, comprising:
 a housing having a fuel passageway and a first air passageway;   an injector disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the fuel passageway and the first air passageway and configured to mix fuel with air; and   a combustion canister connected to receive a fuel/air mixture from the injector.   
   
   
       2 . The regeneration device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a second air passageway in fluid communication with the combustion canister to supply unmixed air directly to the combustion canister. 
   
   
       3 . The regeneration device of  claim 2 , wherein the second air passageway annularly surrounds the injector and directs the unmixed air into the combustion canister at a plurality of locations. 
   
   
       4 . The regeneration device of  claim 1 , wherein the combustion canister houses a combustion of the fuel/air mixture. 
   
   
       5 . The regeneration device of  claim 4 , wherein the combustion canister directs the combustion out of the combustion canister into an exhaust flow. 
   
   
       6 . The regeneration device of  claim 4 , further including an ignition source that ignites the fuel/air mixture as it enters the combustion canister. 
   
   
       7 . The regeneration device of  claim 6 , wherein the ignition source is a spark plug. 
   
   
       8 . The regeneration device of  claim 6 , wherein the ignition source is a heater. 
   
   
       9 . A method of regenerating a particulate trap that receives a flow of exhaust, comprising:
 mixing fuel with air prior to an injection event;   injecting the mixture of fuel and air to atomize the fuel during the injection event;   igniting the atomized fuel outside of the flow of exhaust; and   introducing the ignited fuel/air mixture into the flow of exhaust upstream of the particulate trap.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further including directing combustion air to an ignition location. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein directing combustion air includes directing multiple jets of combustion air to the ignition location. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein igniting includes heating a localized area at the ignition location. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein heating includes generating a current discharge. 
   
   
       14 . An exhaust treatment system for a combustion unit, comprising:
 a passageway configured to receive a flow of exhaust from the combustion unit;   a particulate trap located within the passageway to remove particulate matter from the flow of exhaust; and   a regeneration device located upstream of the particulate trap to facilitate oxidation of the removed particulate matter, the regeneration device including:
 a housing having a fuel passageway, an atomizing air passageway, and a combustion air passageway; 
 an injector disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the fuel passageway and the atomizing air passageway and configured to mix fuel with air; and 
 a combustion canister connected to the housing to receive a fuel/air mixture from the injector and unmixed air from the combustion air passageway, house a combustion of the fuel/air mixture, and direct the combustion from the combustion canister into the flow of exhaust. 
   
   
   
       15 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 14 , wherein the combustion air passageway annularly surrounds the injector and directs the unmixed air into the combustion canister at a plurality of locations. 
   
   
       16 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 14 , further including an ignition source that ignites the fuel/air mixture as it enters the combustion canister. 
   
   
       17 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 16 , wherein the ignition source is a spark plug. 
   
   
       18 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 16 , wherein the ignition source is a heater. 
   
   
       19 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 14 , further including:
 a source of fuel in communication with the fuel passageway; and   a source of air in fluid communication with the atomizing air passageway and the combustion air passageway.   
   
   
       20 . The exhaust treatment system of  claim 19 , wherein the source of air is dedicated to supplying air to only the regeneration device, and supplies air at a substantially constant flow rate.