| abstract |
In order to reduce the pollutant emissions in the exhaust gas (30) of an internal combustion engine (4) operated at variable load and speed, devices such as catalytic converters (12) and particle filters (18) are known, which remove pollutant emissions from the exhaust gas (30). Owing to the different load conditions of the internal combustion engine (4), the exhaust gas temperatures, the pollutant emissions content of the exhaust gas (30) and the air rate of flow are subject to wide fluctuations which, in particular, adversely affect the efficiency of the catalytic converter (12). In order to improve the catalytic pollutant emission control whilst at the same time suppressing undesirable secondary catalytic reactions, it is proposed according to the invention that a device for reducing the pollutant emissions in the exhaust gas (30) of an internal combustion engine (4), operatable at variable load and speed, be equipped with a catalytic converter (12) and a device for adjusting the temperature of the catalytic converter (12). The temperature of the catalytic converter (12) when the internal combustion engine (4) is in operation is thereby at any time set within a preferred temperature range for catalytic conversion of the pollutant emissions. In principle, the invention can be used in all devices for reducing the pollutant emissions of the exhaust gases of internal combustion engines. <IMAGE> |