Apparatus for reducing hydrogen concentration in exhaust gas of an exhaust system for a fuel cell vehicle

Abstract

An apparatus for reducing hydrogen concentration in exhaust gas of an exhaust system of a fuel cell vehicle includes a bumper cover disposed at a rear portion of the fuel cell vehicle, the bumper cover forming a streamlined exterior surface, and an exhaust gas guiding unit interconnecting the exhaust system and the bumper cover, the exhaust gas guiding unit guiding the exhaust gas to the streamlined exterior surface of the bumper cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for reducing hydrogen concentration in exhaust gas of an exhaust system of a fuel cell vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 a bumper cover disposed at a rear portion of the fuel cell vehicle, the bumper cover forming a streamlined exterior surface; and   an exhaust gas guiding unit interconnecting the exhaust system and the bumper cover, the exhaust gas guiding unit guiding the exhaust gas to the streamlined exterior surface of the bumper cover.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, while the exhaust gas is guided to the streamlined exterior surface of the bumper cover, hydrogen in the exhaust gas flows along the streamlined exterior surface of the bumper cover, the hydrogen thereby being diffused to, and diluted by, exterior air. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the exhaust gas guiding unit comprises an extension portion formed by extending an exhaust end of the exhaust system, the extension portion being connected with a bottom of the bumper cover. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for reducing hydrogen concentration in exhaust gas of an exhaust system of a fuel cell vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 a bumper cover disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle, the bumper cover forming a closed space connected with an exhaust end of the exhaust system, the bumper cover further forming a streamlined exterior surface, the closed space being connected with a rear of the bumper cover by a gap formed along a length direction of the bumper cover; and   an air amplifier exhausting the exhaust gas to the streamlined exterior surface through the gap, the air amplifier guiding exterior air to the streamlined exterior surface.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the air amplifier guides the exhaust gas to stick to, and flow along, the streamlined exterior surface of the bumper cover such that hydrogen in the exhaust gas is diffused to, and diluted by, the exterior air. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the bumper cover is formed in a shape of a hollow loop in cross-section;   the streamlined curved surface is formed as a rear surface of the bumper cover; and   the rear surface is overlapped by a front surface with the gap at a bottom of the bumper cover.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein a blocking protrusion is formed at a top of the bumper cover so as to block hydrogen contained in the exhaust gas from flowing upward. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for reducing hydrogen concentration in exhaust gas of an exhaust system of a fuel cell vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 a collecting member installed at an interior of a bumper cover, the bumper cover being disposed at a rear portion of the fuel cell vehicle, the collecting member collecting exhaust gas exhausted from the exhaust system, the collecting member exhausting the collected exhaust gas to the interior of the bumper cover, the bumper cover forming a streamlined exterior surface; and   an exhaust portion comprising a mesh screen formed at the bumper cover, the exhaust portion discharging exhaust gas at the interior of the bumper cover to an exterior of the bumper cover, the exhaust portion guiding the discharged gas to the streamlined exterior surface of the bumper cover.