DEVICE FOR PURIFYING EXHAUST OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

摘要

NOx absorbent (18) is disposed in the exhaust gas path in the internal combustion engine and exhaust gas is adapted to flow constantly through said absorbent (18) during the operation of said engine. NOx absorbent (18) absorbs NOx when an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into said absorbent (18) is lean and, when an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas becomes equal to the theoretical air-fuel ratio or rich, it discharges NOx having been absorbed therein. Over almost the entire range of operation of the engine, lean mixed gas is burnt in the combustion chamber (3) and NOx generated at this time is absorbed by said absorbent (18). An air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into the NOx absorbent (18) is periodically made equal to the theoretical one or rich and NOx having been absorbed by the absorbent (18) is discharged and reduced at the same time.