Arrangement of a Catalytic Converter in an Exhaust System

Abstract

An arrangement of a catalytic converter in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine which can be operated with fuel containing manganese is provided, wherein the catalytic converter is arranged in the exhaust tract in an exhaust gas flow path from the internal combustion engine. A sacrificial disk, which is permeable to exhaust gas, is arranged in the exhaust tract upstream of the catalytic converter in the flow direction of the exhaust gas. When the exhaust gas back pressure becomes too high for normal internal combustion engine operation owing to manganese deposits, the relatively inexpensive sacrificial disk can be replaced other than exchanging and/or cleaning the relatively expensive catalytic converter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exhaust gas system arrangement, for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a catalytic converter arranged in an exhaust gas flow path of an exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine being operable with fuel containing manganese;   a sacrificial disk, which is permeable to the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, arranged in the exhaust tract upstream of the catalytic converter.   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial disk is operatively configured to cover at least 70% of a flow cross-section of the exhaust tract. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the sacrificial disk has a thickness between 2 mm and 50 mm in a flow direction of the exhaust gas. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial disk has a thickness between 2 mm and 50 mm in a flow direction of the exhaust gas. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial disk is made of at least one of an interwoven fabric, a knitted fabric, a nonwoven fabric, and a catalytic converter support body. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein the sacrificial disk has a gas permeable cell size of 20% to 400% of a cell size of the catalytic converter. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial disk comprises at least one of an anti-twist locking element and an axial securing element. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the sacrificial disk comprises at least one of an anti-twist locking element and an axial securing element. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein the sacrificial disk comprises at least one of an anti-twist locking element and an axial securing element. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust tract comprises a closable opening, the closable opening being operatively configured to allow for removal of the sacrificial disk from the flow path of the exhaust gas. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the exhaust tract comprises a closable opening, the closable opening being operatively configured to allow for removal of the sacrificial disk from the flow path of the exhaust gas. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein the exhaust tract comprises a closable opening, the closable opening being operatively configured to allow for removal of the sacrificial disk from the flow path of the exhaust gas. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement according to  claim 10 , further comprising a clamp operatively configured to close the closable opening. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein the clamp is a band clamp. 
     
     
         15 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an exhaust gas turbocharger having a turbine arranged in the flow path of the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine; and   wherein the sacrificial disk is arranged between the turbine and the catalytic converter.   
     
     
         16 . The arrangement according to  claim 15 , further comprising a band clamp operatively configured to couple a housing of the turbine and the catalytic converter, said band clamp being detachable to allow for replacement of the sacrificial disk.