METHOD FOR OPERATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WITH AN SCR CATALYTIC CONVERTER

• US 20100229541A1
• Filed: 01/20/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Wuest, Andreas, Nandyala, Rajesh Reddy, Dhanraj, Vijay Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,763,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/299
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1406 Storage means for substances, e.g. tanks or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2066 Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 33/003 Controlling the feeding of liquid fuel from storage containers to carburettors or fuel-injection apparatus control of electrical fuel pumps F02D41/3082, controlling fuel flow to a common rail F02D41/3845; Failure or leakage prevention; Diagnosis or detection of failure; Arrangement of sensors in the fuel system; Electric wiring; Electrostatic discharge
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0025 Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0275 the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a NOx trap or adsorbent
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A method for operating an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is provided, wherein at least one SCR catalytic converter for the after-treatment of exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine is present. The method serves to assure that a sufficient quantity of reducing agent is supplied for the operation of the SCR catalytic converter. The motor vehicle has a fuel tank (10) with a fill level sensor A (11) and a reducing agent tank (12) with a fill level sensor B (13). Signals from the fill level sensor B (13) or signals from the fill level sensor A (11) and the fill level sensor B (13) are acquired and evaluated by a navigation unit (16).

Claims

1. Method for operating an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, having at least one SCR catalytic converter for the after-treatment of exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine, and thereby for assuring that a sufficient quantity of reducing agent is supplied for the operation of the SCR catalytic converter, wherein a fuel tank with a fill level sensor A and a reducing agent tank with a fill level sensor B are provided, wherein signals from the fill level sensor B or signals from the fill level sensor A and the fill level sensor B are acquired and/or evaluated by a navigation unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signals from a central engine control unit and/or an SCR catalytic converter control unit are acquired, relayed and/or evaluated.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein further operating parameters are additionally acquired, relayed and evaluated, the further operating parameters preferably being engine rotational speed, vehicular speed and/or engine operating hours.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reducing agent consumption per route, the reducing agent consumption per quantity of fuel, the reducing agent consumption per engine operating time unit and/or the engine operating time per quantity of reducing agent are ascertained.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cruising range of the motor vehicle for the remaining quantity of reducing agent and/or the cruising range of the motor vehicle for the remaining quantity of fuel are ascertained.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation is taken into account during a navigation procedure of the motor vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein items of information regarding filling stations, in particular regarding filling stations which provide reducing agent, are provided by the navigation unit.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein a provision is made for predeterminable thresholds for the fill level of the fuel tank, the fill level of the reducing agent tank, for the cruising range of the motor vehicle for the remaining quantity of reducing agent and/or for the cruising range of the motor vehicle for the remaining quantity of fuel.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein a navigation procedure is activated when a predeterminable threshold is undershot.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein filling stations within the cruising range are indicated by the navigation unit when a predeterminable threshold is undershot.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein a navigation procedure to a filling station within the cruising range is carried out when a predeterminable threshold is undershot.

12. The computer program, which executes all of the steps of a method according to claim 1, if it is run on a computer or in a control unit.

13. The computer program product with program code, which is stored on a machine-readable carrier, for carrying out a method according to claim 1, if the program is executed on a computer or in a control unit.

14. Arrangement for operating an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, having at least one SCR catalytic converter for the after-treatment of exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine, and thereby for assuring that a sufficient quantity of reducing agent is supplied for the operation of the SCR catalytic converter, wherein the motor vehicle has a fuel thank with a fill level sensor A and a reducing agent tank with a fill level sensor B, wherein a navigation unit and if need be a central engine control unit and/or a SCR catalytic converter control unit are provided for acquiring, relaying and evaluating signals from the fill level sensor B or signals from the fill level sensor A and the fill level sensor B.

15. The arrangement according to claim 14, wherein items of information regarding filling stations, in particular regarding filling stations which provide reducing agent, are provided and/or deposited in the navigation unit.

16. The arrangement according to claim 14, wherein predeterminable thresholds for the fill level of the fuel tank, for the fill level of the reducing agent tank, for the cruising range of the motor vehicle for the remaining quantity of reducing agent and/or for the cruising range of the motor vehicle for the remaining quantity of fuel are preferably deposited in the central engine control unit, in the SCR catalytic converter control unit and/or in the navigation unit.