Heating apparatus for internal combustion engine exhaust aftertreatment

Abstract

A heating apparatus for engine exhaust includes a housing having an inlet for connection in an exhaust gas conduit to receive exhaust gas and an outlet for connection in an exhaust gas conduit to discharge exhaust gas, the housing defining an interior space, a burner unit mounted in the housing for combustion of a fuel in the interior space, and, a turbocompressor, including a turbine having an inlet to receive exhaust gas to drive the turbine and an outlet connected to the housing to discharge exhaust gas and a compressor driven by the turbine and having an inlet to receive ambient air and an outlet connect to deliver compressed air to the burner. The turbocompressor may be mounted on the housing upstream of the burner unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating apparatus for an engine exhaust, comprising:
 a housing having an inlet for connection in an exhaust gas conduit to receive exhaust gas and an outlet for connection in an exhaust gas conduit to discharge exhaust gas, the housing defining an interior space;   a burner unit mounted in the housing for combustion of a fuel in the interior space; and,   a turbo-compressor, including a turbine having an inlet to receive exhaust gas to drive the turbine and an outlet connected to the housing to discharge exhaust gas and a compressor driven by the turbine and having an inlet to receive ambient air and an outlet connect to deliver compressed air to the burner.   
     
     
         2 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the burner unit comprises a combustion chamber disposed in the interior space, including a wall enclosing a combustion space, the wall being spaced from the housing to provide an exhaust flow space surrounding the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The heating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the housing wall is insulated. 
     
     
         4 . The heating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the housing inlet communicates with the exhaust flow space to direct exhaust gas into the exhaust flow space. 
     
     
         5 . The heating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the combustion chamber wall includes fins formed on an outer surface extending into the exhaust flow space and oriented to guide exhaust gas in a spiral flow. 
     
     
         6 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a valve to control a flow of exhaust gas to the turbine inlet. 
     
     
         7 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing inlet comprises an extended tubular member, wherein the turbo-compressor is mounted to the tubular member with the turbine inlet and turbine outlet connected to the tubular member. 
     
     
         8 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the burner includes a combustion air inlet connected to receive air from the compressor outlet, the combustion air inlet oriented to guide an inflow of combustion air in a swirl pattern in the burner. 
     
     
         9 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a mixing space allowing combustion gas from the burner and exhaust gas to mix before being discharged through the housing outlet.