Method and Device for Reducing Nitrogen Oxide Emissions from Internal Combustion Engines

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

The patent describes a device and method for reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust gases of vehicle internal combustion engines or fuel cells. It employs hydrogen as a reducing agent, which is stored in a chemical form (liquid organic hydrogen carrier, LOHC), released on-demand in a dehydrogenation reactor, and then introduced in controlled amounts into a reduction reactor to convert harmful NOx into water and nitrogen. The system operates efficiently at lower temperatures than existing urea-SCR systems, does not require complex heating for the hydrogen carrier, and can be flexibly installed in various vehicle exhaust setups.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Exhaust after-treatment systems for passenger cars, trucks, and buses with internal combustion engines (diesel, gasoline).
• Retrofitting existing vehicle fleets to comply with stricter NOx emission standards.
• Reduction of NOx emissions in off-road vehicles (tractors, construction equipment).
• NOx control in fuel cell vehicles where small amounts of NOx may still be produced.
• Pollution control for stationary internal combustion engines (generators, industrial engines).

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables highly efficient NOx reduction at lower process temperatures, including during engine cold-start, reducing total NOx emissions.
• Reduces need for additional heating or complex infrastructure, as LOHC remains liquid at lower temperatures than urea solutions.
• Decreases fuel consumption, as engine operation does not have to be adjusted to maintain minimum exhaust temperatures for SCR activation.
• Reduces particulate (soot) emissions, allowing engines to operate at their efficiency optimum.
• Lower running costs and simpler logistics versus AdBlue/urea SCR systems: no urea freezing risk, and LOHC is easy to handle, refill, and recycle.
• Minimizes CO2 emissions in comparison to conventional deNOx strategies, enabling a cleaner engine operation.
• Supports circular economy via recycling and reloading of LOHC carriers with hydrogen from renewable sources.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a device for reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust from a drive unit (4) for a vehicle, comprising the drive unit (4) for providing drive energy, a first storage container (7) for at least partially laden hydrogen carrier material, a dehydration reactor (10) connected to the first storage container (7) for releasing hydrogen from the hydrogen carrier material, and a reduction reactor (9) connected to the dehydration reactor (10) for using the released hydrogen as a reduction agent for nitrogen oxide (NOx).