Controlled catalytic converter heating
First Claim
1. A method of operating an engine system, the engine system including an internal combustion engine that is operable to apply drive to a drive train, a catalytic converter through which exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine pass and a control system, the method comprising:
- determining, by the control system, that the internal combustion engine is in an operating phase in which the catalytic converter is not at its working temperature; and
activating, by the control system, an electrical load element that is powered by the internal combustion engine so that an additional load is placed on the internal combustion engine in response to said determining by the control system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The rate at which a catalytic converter for an internal combustion engine heats up to its normal operating temperature range can be increased by applying an electrical load that is powered by the internal combustion engine. Applying the electrical load demands more power from the engine which therefore has to work harder to maintain a given engine speed. The internal combustion engine then generates more heat that can be used to reduce the time to bring the catalytic converter up to its working temperature. The electrical load can be a catalytic converter heater to further reduce the time to bring the catalytic converter up to its working temperature. The result is a reduction in emissions.
12 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method of operating an engine system, the engine system including an internal combustion engine that is operable to apply drive to a drive train, a catalytic converter through which exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine pass and a control system, the method comprising:
-
determining, by the control system, that the internal combustion engine is in an operating phase in which the catalytic converter is not at its working temperature; and activating, by the control system, an electrical load element that is powered by the internal combustion engine so that an additional load is placed on the internal combustion engine in response to said determining by the control system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An engine system comprising:
-
an internal combustion engine that is operable to apply drive to a drive train; a catalytic converter through which exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine pass; and a control system operable to determine that the internal combustion engine is in an operating phase in which the catalytic converter is not at its working temperature, and then to activate an electrical load element that is powered by the internal combustion engineso that an additional load is placed on the internal combustion engine in response to the determination by the control system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A motor vehicle comprising an engine system, the engine system comprising:
-
an internal combustion engine that is operable to apply drive to a drive train; a catalytic converter through which exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine pass; and a control system operable to determine that the internal combustion engine is in an operating phase in which the catalytic converter is not at its working temperature, and then to activate an electrical load element that is powered by the internal combustion engine so that an additional load is placed on the internal combustion engine in response to the determination by the control system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A method of controlling an engine system having an internal combustion engine and a catalytic converter, the method comprising:
-
determining that the catalytic converter is not within a predetermined operating range of temperature; based on said determining, activating a heater of the catalytic converter so that an additional load is placed on the internal combustion engine; drawing power away from the internal combustion engine to provide power to the activated heater while maintaining an engine speed of the internal combustion engine; and heating the catalytic converter with heat provided from both the heater and the internal combustion engine at least while the additional load is placed on the internal combustion engine.
-
Specification