Ammonia generator, vehicle and method for generating ammonia

Abstract

The invention relates to an ammonia generator ( 2, 66, 68 ), in particular for mobile applications, a vehicle ( 62 ) with such an ammonia generator ( 2, 66, 68 ) and a method for generating ammonia from a waste gas of a combustion process. It is proposed that the waste gas originates from a free-piston engine ( 2 ) which is operated with a fuel.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A motor vehicle comprising:
 an internal combustion engine and a SCR catalytic converter in an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine;   an ammonia generator having devices for generating ammonia from an exhaust gas produced in a combustion process, the devices including a free-piston engine operated with fuel, wherein the ammonia is generated from exhaust gas of the free piston engine, and wherein the free-piston engine increases pressure of fuel being injected into the internal combustion engine.   
   
   
       12 . The vehicle according to  claim 11 , wherein that the ammonia generator includes a catalytic converter through which the exhaust gas of the free-piston engine flows. 
   
   
       13 . The vehicle according to  claim 12 , wherein that the catalytic converter is a noble-metal/ammonia catalytic converter. 
   
   
       14 . The according to  claim 12 , wherein the ammonia generator includes a fuel injecting device for injecting fuel into the exhaust gas of the free-piston motor, before the exhaust gas passes through the catalytic converter. 
   
   
       15 . The according to  claim 13 , wherein the ammonia generator includes a fuel injecting device for injecting fuel into the exhaust gas of the free-piston motor, before the exhaust gas passes through the catalytic converter. 
   
   
       16 . The vehicle according to  claim 12 , wherein the catalytic converter of the ammonia generator through which the exhaust gas of the free-piston engine flows, is in communication with the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine upstream of the SCR catalytic converter. 
   
   
       17 . The vehicle according to  claim 13 , wherein the catalytic converter of the ammonia generator through which the exhaust gas of the free-piston engine flows, is in communication with the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine upstream of the SCR catalytic converter. 
   
   
       18 . The vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein the catalytic converter of the ammonia generator through which the exhaust gas of the free-piston engine flows, is in communication with the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine upstream of the SCR catalytic converter. 
   
   
       19 . The vehicle according to  claim 15 , wherein the catalytic converter of the ammonia generator through which the exhaust gas of the free-piston engine flows, is in communication with the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine upstream of the SCR catalytic converter. 
   
   
       20 . The vehicle according to  claim 11 , wherein the free-piston engine forms an “auxiliary power unit” (APU) of the vehicle. 
   
   
       21 . The vehicle according to  claim 12 , wherein the free-piston engine forms an “auxiliary power unit” (APU) of the vehicle. 
   
   
       22 . The vehicle according to  claim 13 , wherein the free-piston engine forms an “auxiliary power unit” (APU) of the vehicle. 
   
   
       23 . The vehicle according to  claim 11 , wherein a work cylinder of the free-piston engine can be subjected directly to the fuel. 
   
   
       24 . The vehicle according to  claim 12 , wherein a work cylinder of the free-piston engine can be subjected directly to the fuel. 
   
   
       25 . The vehicle according to  claim 13 , wherein a work cylinder of the free-piston engine can be subjected directly to the fuel. 
   
   
       26 . The vehicle according to  claim 11 , wherein a pressure booster is disposed between the work cylinder of the free-piston engine and a fuel injection system of the internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       27 . The vehicle according to  claim 12 , wherein a pressure booster is disposed between the work cylinder of the free-piston engine and a fuel injection system of the internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       28 . The vehicle according to  claim 13 , wherein a pressure booster is disposed between the work cylinder of the free-piston engine and a fuel injection system of the internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       29 . An ammonia generator for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a SCR catalytic converter in an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine, comprising devices for generating ammonia from an exhaust gas produced in a combustion process, the devices including a free-piston engine operated with fuel, wherein the ammonia is generated from exhaust gas of the free piston engine, and wherein the free-piston engine increases pressure of fuel being injected into the internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       30 . A method for generating ammonia from an exhaust gas of a combustion process, the method used in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an SCR catalytic converter in an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:
 producing the exhaust gas in a combustion process in a free-piston engine operated with fuel; and   increasing the pressure of a fuel injected into the internal combustion engine by means of the free-piston engine.