Catalyst apparatus for internal combustion engine

Abstract

A catalyst apparatus is disposed in an exhaust passage for exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine and includes a catalyst section for purifying the exhaust gas, and a heater section disposed upstream of the catalyst section in the exhaust passage and adapted to heat the exhaust gas. The pressure loss of the catalyst section in the flow velocity direction of the exhaust passage is smaller than the pressure loss of the catalyst section in a direction orthogonal to the flow velocity direction, and the heat capacity of the catalyst section is larger than the heat capacity of the heater section.

1 . A catalyst apparatus for an internal combustion engine which is disposed in an exhaust passage for exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a catalyst section that is configured to purify the exhaust gas; and   a heater section disposed upstream of the catalyst section and adapted to heat the exhaust gas, wherein   a pressure loss of the catalyst section in a flow velocity direction of the exhaust passage is smaller than a pressure loss of the catalyst section in a direction orthogonal to the flow velocity direction, and   a heat capacity of the catalyst section is larger than a heat capacity of the heater section.   
     
     
         2 . The catalyst apparatus for the internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control section which is configured to use regenerated energy of a vehicle including the internal combustion engine as electric power for energizing the heater section. 
     
     
         3 . The catalyst apparatus for the internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater section and the catalyst section are adjacently disposed in a common casing. 
     
     
         4 . The catalyst apparatus for the internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a retainer that is disposed to contact an upstream side of the heater section, wherein
 the heater section is in contact with the catalyst section,   the retainer has an insulating property and allows passage of the exhaust gas therethrough, and   the heater section is sandwiched between the retainer and the catalyst section.   
     
     
         5 . The catalyst apparatus for the internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst section includes at least a reduction catalyst. 
     
     
         6 . The catalyst apparatus for the internal combustion engine according to  claim 2 , wherein the heater section and the catalyst section are adjacently disposed in a common casing. 
     
     
         7 . The catalyst apparatus for the internal combustion engine according to  claim 2 , further comprising a retainer that is disposed to contact an upstream side of the heater section, wherein
 the heater section is in contact with the catalyst section,   the retainer has an insulating property and allows passage of the exhaust gas therethrough, and   the heater section is sandwiched between the retainer and the catalyst section.   
     
     
         8 . The catalyst apparatus for the internal combustion engine according to  claim 3 , further comprising a retainer that is disposed to contact an upstream side of the heater section, wherein
 the heater section is in contact with the catalyst section,   the retainer has an insulating property and allows passage of the exhaust gas therethrough, and   the heater section is sandwiched between the retainer and the catalyst section.   
     
     
         9 . The catalyst apparatus for the internal combustion engine according to  claim 2 , wherein the catalyst section includes at least a reduction catalyst. 
     
     
         10 . The catalyst apparatus for the internal combustion engine according to  claim 3 , wherein the catalyst section includes at least a reduction catalyst. 
     
     
         11 . The catalyst apparatus for the internal combustion engine according to  claim 4 , wherein the catalyst section includes at least a reduction catalyst.