System and method for inhibiting regeneration of a diesel particulate filter

• US 20070271906A1
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Tyo, Matthew, Berke, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/711,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20070271906A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/285
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/009 having two or more separate purifying devices arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2430/085 at least a part of the injection taking place during expansion or exhaust stroke
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/106 Auxiliary oxidation catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 9/002 of filter regeneration, e.g. detection of clogging
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/101 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/604 Engine control mode selected by driver, e.g. to manually start particle filter regeneration or to select driving style
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0055 Special engine operating conditions, e.g. for regeneration of exhaust gas treatment apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/024 to increase temperature of the exhaust gas treating apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/029 the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a particulate filter
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/08 for idling F02D41/06, F02D41/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/40 with means for controlling injection timing or duration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/405 with post injections
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/07 Mixed pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is either taken out upstream of the turbine and reintroduced upstream of the compressor, or is taken out downstream of the turbine and reintroduced downstream of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A system and method for initiation and control of passive regeneration (38) of a diesel particulate filter (34), and the integration of that regeneration strategy with an active regeneration strategy (36) and a strategy (40, 40A) for inhibiting passive regeneration. Passive regeneration can be initiated by driver actuation of an instrument panel device, such as a switch, while the vehicle is parked with the engine idling provided that certain conditions confirming that the vehicle is parked and the engine is at proper temperature are satisfied. Regeneration is inhibited by driver actuation of another switch for a maximum amount of time that may be shorter, or even prevented if DPF loading is too high.

Claims

1. A diesel engine comprising:

an exhaust system through which exhaust gases created by combustion in combustion chambers pass to atmosphere and which comprises an after-treatment device that treats the gases before leaving the exhaust system but that at times requires regeneration by elevation of temperature of the gases to a regeneration temperature range;

an engine control system comprising a regeneration strategy for processing various data to control engine operation in a way that conditions the gases to cause regeneration of the after-treatment device; and

one or more personnel operated devices for enabling a person to selectively allow and disallow the regeneration strategy to be active.

2. A diesel engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the one or more personnel operated devices comprise at least one manually operated switch.

3. A diesel engine as set forth in claim 2 wherein the at least one manually operated switch comprises a switch that when manually actuated allows the regeneration strategy to be active and a switch that when manually actuated disallows the strategy to be active.

4. A diesel engine as set forth in claim 2 wherein the regeneration strategy comprises one that conditions the gases to cause nitrogen-dioxide-based regeneration, and at least one manually operated switch comprises a switch that when manually actuated allows the regeneration strategy to be active, provided that certain parameters are concurrently satisfied as conditions precedent to initiating nitrogen-dioxide-based regeneration, one of the conditions being that the engine is running at low idle speed in accordance with a low idle speed control strategy.

5. A diesel engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the various data include engine speed, and the regeneration strategy comprises distinct engine speed ranges one of which inhibits the regeneration strategy from being active, another of which automatically allows the regeneration strategy to be active, and still another of which allows the regeneration strategy to be made active in response to intentional activation by a person.

6. A diesel engine as set forth in claim 1 further including a wheeled motor vehicle that is propelled by the engine, and comprising inputs to the control system that are used by the control system to condition initiation of the after-treatment device by a regeneration-initiation input to the control system on satisfaction of certain conditions precedent to such initiation, including a condition of a regeneration-initiation device being operated, a condition of the vehicle being stationary, and a condition of engine temperature sufficiently high to initiate nitrogen dioxide-based regeneration.

7. A diesel engine as set forth in claim 6 further including a manual switch that when manually actuated is effective to disallow both initiation of nitrogen dioxide-based regeneration and continuation of an on-going nitrogen dioxide-based regeneration.

8. A method for selectively allowing and disallowing a regeneration strategy for controlling regeneration of an exhaust after-treatment device in an exhaust system of a diesel engine that propels a motor vehicle to be active, the method comprising:

manually actuating a switch in the vehicle to select one of allowing the regeneration strategy to be active and disallowing the regeneration strategy to be active.