Electrically heated particulate filter regeneration methods and systems for hybrid vehicles

• US 20080282674A1
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Gonze, Eugene V., Paratore, Michael J. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 7,810,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/285
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/476 Regeneration of particle filters
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 11/005 the temperature or pressure being estimated, e.g. by means of a theoretical model
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2560/025 for measuring or detecting O2, e.g. lambda sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2560/06 the means being a temperature sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/00 Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust electric control F01N9/00; monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus F01N11/00 ; collecting or removing exhaust gases of vehicle engines in workshops B08B15/00, on highways E01C1/005
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/027 using electric or magnetic heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 9/002 of filter regeneration, e.g. detection of clogging
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/00 Engines characterised by provision of pumps driven at least for part of the time by exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/029 the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a particulate filter
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/062 for starting F02D41/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0829 related to special engine control, e.g. giving priority to engine warming-up or learning
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/026 Catalyst temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A control system for controlling regeneration of a particulate filter for a hybrid vehicle is provided. The system generally includes a regeneration module that controls current to the particulate filter to initiate regeneration. An engine control module controls operation of an engine of the hybrid vehicle based on the control of the current to the particulate filter.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling regeneration of a particulate filter for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a regeneration module that controls current to the particulate filter to initiate regeneration; and

an engine control module that controls operation of an engine of the hybrid vehicle based on the control of the current to the particulate filter.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the engine control module starts the engine when the regeneration has begun.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the engine control module controls a flow of exhaust from the engine during the regeneration.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a temperature module that estimates a temperature of the particulate filter and wherein the regeneration module controls the current to the particulate filter based on the temperature of the particulate filter.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the temperature module estimates the temperature of a resistive grid of the particulate filter.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the temperature module estimates the temperature of the resistive grid based on at least one of the current and a voltage supplied to the particulate filter.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a propagation module that estimates a propagation status of combustion of particulate matter in the particulate filter and wherein the regeneration module determines that the regeneration is complete based on the propagation status.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the propagation module estimates a propagation status based on a temperature of the combustion and a flow of exhaust.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the propagation module estimates the temperature of the combustion based on at least one of a temperature of the particulate filter, a temperature of the exhaust, a level of oxygen in the exhaust, and a level of the particulate matter in the particulate filter.

10. A method of controlling regeneration of a particulate filter for hybrid vehicles, comprising:

initiating regeneration by controlling current to the particulate filter;

determining a temperature of the particulate filter; and

starting an engine of the hybrid vehicle based on the temperature of the particulate filter.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising controlling a flow of exhaust from the engine to propagate combustion of particulate matter through the particulate filter.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising controlling a flow of exhaust from the engine such that combustion of particulate matter is not extinguished.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising estimating a propagation status based on a temperature of the combustion of the particulate matter and the flow of exhaust and wherein the controlling the flow of exhaust is based on the propagation status.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising estimating the temperature of the combustion of the particulate matter based on at least one of a level of the particulate matter in the particulate filter, a temperature of the exhaust, an oxygen level in the exhaust, and a temperature of the particulate filter.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining whether the regeneration is desired based on a level of particulate matter in the particulate filter.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the estimating the temperature of the particulate filter further comprises estimating a temperature of a resistive grid of the particulate filter based on at least one of the current and a voltage supplied to the particulate filter.

17. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a particulate filter that filters particulate matter from engine exhaust wherein an upstream end of the particulate filter receives the engine exhaust;

a grid of electrically resistive material that is applied to an exterior upstream surface of the particulate filter and that selectively heats exhaust passing through the grid to initiate combustion of the particulate matter within the particulate filter; and

a control module that initiates regeneration by controlling current to the grid, that determines a temperature of the grid, and that starts an engine of the hybrid vehicle based on the temperature of the grid.

18. The hybrid vehicle of claim 17 wherein the control module controls a flow of the engine exhaust to propagate the combustion of the particulate matter through the particulate filter.

19. The hybrid vehicle of claim 17 wherein the control module controls a flow of the engine exhaust such that the combustion of the particulate matter is not extinguished.

20. The hybrid vehicle of claim 18 wherein the control module estimates a propagation status based on a temperature of the combustion of the particulate matter and the flow of engine exhaust and wherein the control module controls the flow of engine exhaust based on the propagation status.

21. The hybrid vehicle of claim 20 wherein the control module estimates the temperature of the combustion of the particulate matter based on at least one of a level of the particulate matter in the particulate filter, a temperature of the engine exhaust, an oxygen level in the engine exhaust, and the temperature of the grid.

22. The hybrid vehicle of claim 17 wherein the control module determines whether the regeneration is desired based on a level of the particulate matter in the particulate filter.

23. The hybrid vehicle of claim 17 wherein the control module estimates the temperature of the grid based on at least one of the current and a voltage supplied to the particulate filter.