Test method for an exhaust gas catalytic converter and a corresponding testing device

• US 20050016266A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Rabl, Hans-Peter
• Granted Patent: US 6,877,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/114.240
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 11/007 the diagnostic devices measuring oxygen or air concentration downstream of the exhaust apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2550/02 Catalytic activity of catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1495 Detection of abnormalities in the air/fuel ratio feedback system
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1497 With detection of the mechanical response of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/405 with post injections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A test method for an exhaust gas catalytic converter and a corresponding testing device A test method for an exhaust gas catalytic converter (8) of an internal combustion engine (1) comprises the steps of: test injection of fuel during the expansion stroke and/or during the exhaust stroke of the internal combustion engine (1), conversion in the exhaust gas catalytic converter (8) of at least a part of the unburned fuel contained in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, determination of the quantity of fuel not converted by the exhaust gas catalytic converter (8) and determination from the quantity of unconverted fuel of the operating capacity of the exhaust gas catalytic converter (8).

Claims

1. A test method for an exhaust gas catalytic converter of an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of:

Test injection of fuel during the expansion stroke and/or during the exhaust stroke of the internal combustion engine,

Conversion in the exhaust gas catalytic converter of at least a part of the unburned fuel contained in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine,

Exhaust gas recirculation of exhaust gas removed downstream of the exhaust gas catalytic converter, together with the unconverted fuel from the test injection, into an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine,

Determination of the increase in power of the internal combustion engine, which increase results from the exhaust gas recirculation of the unconverted fuel,

Determination of the quantity of unconverted fuel in the exhaust gas catalytic converter from the increase in power of the internal combustion engine, and

Determination of the operating capacity of the exhaust gas catalytic converter from the quantity of unconverted fuel.

2. The test method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:

Determination of the angular acceleration of the internal combustion engine; and

Determination from the angular acceleration of the internal combustion engine of the increase in power resulting from the test injection.

3. The test method according to claim 1, wherein in the test injection a predetermined quantity of fuel is injected and the operating capacity of the exhaust gas catalytic converter dependent on the quantity of fuel injected is determined.

4. The test method according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas recirculation rate is determined and the operating capacity of the exhaust gas catalytic converter dependent on the exhaust gas recirculation rate is determined.

5. The test method according to claim 1, wherein the operating capacity of the exhaust gas catalytic converter at various temperatures is determined.

6. The test method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature at which the conversion quantity of the exhaust gas catalytic converter essentially corresponds to a predetermined threshold value is determined.

7. A testing device for an exhaust gas catalytic converter of an internal combustion engine comprising:

an injection system for the test injection of a predetermined quantity of fuel during an expansion stroke and/or during an exhaust stroke of the internal combustion engine,

an exhaust gas recirculation device for removing exhaust gas from the exhaust gas flow of the internal combustion engine downstream of the exhaust gas catalytic converter and for recirculating the removed exhaust gas into an intake manifold located upstream of the internal combustion engine,

a measuring device for recording the increase in power of the internal combustion engine caused by the test injection, and

an evaluation unit for determining the operating capacity of the exhaust gas catalytic converter dependent on the quantity of fuel injected and the resulting increase in power.

8. The testing device according to claim 7, wherein a temperature sensor connected to the evaluation unit is provided for measuring the temperature of the exhaust gas catalytic converter.

9. The testing device according to claim 7, wherein the measuring device for determining the increase in power of the internal combustion engine has a rotational speed sensor.

10. The testing device according to claim 8, wherein the measuring device for determining the increase in power of the internal combustion engine has a rotational speed sensor.

11. A test method for an exhaust gas catalytic converter of an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of:

Injecting fuel during the expansion stroke and/or during the exhaust stroke of the internal combustion engine,

Converting in the exhaust gas catalytic converter of at least a part of the unburned fuel contained in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine,

Recirculating exhaust gas removed downstream of the exhaust gas catalytic converter, together with the unconverted fuel from the test injection, into an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine,

Determining the increase in power of the internal combustion engine, which increase results from the exhaust gas recirculation of the unconverted fuel,

Determining the quantity of unconverted fuel in the exhaust gas catalytic converter from the increase in power of the internal combustion engine, and

Determining the operating capacity of the exhaust gas catalytic converter from the quantity of unconverted fuel.

12. The test method according to claim 11, comprising the steps of:

Determining the angular acceleration of the internal combustion engine; and

Determining the increase in power from the angular acceleration of the internal combustion engine resulting from the test injection.

13. The test method according to claim 11, wherein in the test injection a predetermined quantity of fuel is injected and the operating capacity of the exhaust gas catalytic converter dependent on the quantity of fuel injected is determined.

14. The test method according to claim 11, wherein the exhaust gas recirculation rate is determined and the operating capacity of the exhaust gas catalytic converter dependent on the exhaust gas recirculation rate is determined.

15. The test method according to claim 11, wherein the operating capacity of the exhaust gas catalytic converter at various temperatures is determined.

16. The test method according to claim 11, wherein the temperature at which the conversion quantity of the exhaust gas catalytic converter essentially corresponds to a predetermined threshold value is determined.