METHOD FOR DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER REGENERATION IN A VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A HYBRID ENGINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

• US 20110257821A1
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Beaucaire, James T., Berke, Paul L., Majewski, Michael A., Wieshuber, Paul A., Rodgers, David V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,306,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/16 for reducing engine exhaust emissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/476 Regeneration of particle filters
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 11/00 Monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus , e.g. for catalytic activity safety, indicating or supervising devices for internal combustion engines F02B77/08; testing of machines G01M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/027 using electric or magnetic heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0802 Temperature of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/029 the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a particulate filter
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

The method for regeneration of a diesel particulate filter of a vehicle equipped with a hybrid engine, wherein the temperature of the exhaust exiting the diesel engine is increased above a predetermined level by increasing load thereon, through optimization of interaction between the diesel particulate filter aftertreatment system and the hybrid engine control through messaging via a communication bus is disclosed. The load on the engine may be increased with or without the assistance of the electric motor/generator of the hybrid engine, and will not affect required acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for regeneration of a diesel particulate filter of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

determining if a hybrid engine comprising a diesel engine in combination with an electric motor/generator, is present, and if so;

determining if regeneration of the diesel particulate filter is necessary, and if so;

determining if the torque on the diesel engine is sufficient to produce a temperature of the exhaust passing through the filter sufficiently high for a sufficient period of time to clear the filter of particulate matter therein; and

if not;

increasing the load on the diesel engine by increasing torque placed thereon to produce a sufficiently high temperature of exhaust for a sufficient period of time to clear the filter without affecting vehicle motion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electric motor/generator of the hybrid engine is used to increase load on the diesel engine.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electric motor/generator of the hybrid engine is not used to increase load on the diesel engine.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the electric motor/generator is operated as a generator to apply charge to a battery pack of the vehicle when the charge on the battery pack is below maximum level.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the electric motor/generator is disabled when a battery pack of the vehicle is at a maximum level of charge, or converted into thermal energy which can be used to supplement the thermal regeneration of the DPF

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the load absorbed from the diesel engine by the electric motor/generator when operating as a generator is a negative load, as relates to not affecting required motion.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein load on the diesel engine is increased by an amount equal to the load absorbed by the electric motor/generator when operating as a generator to not affect required vehicle motion.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein in the steps are carried out via a communication bus.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein the electric motor/generator is disabled during diesel particulate filter regeneration.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the electric motor/generator is enabled once diesel particulate filter regeneration is completed.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein the diesel engine control module increases load on the diesel engine in an amount equal to the amount of load subtracted therefrom by operation of the electric motor/generator as a generator, in order to maintain drive train torque at an amount equal to an amount of driver demand torque so as not to affect required motion of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the amount of increased diesel engine load, when set equal to the amount of load subtracted from the diesel engine through operation of the electric motor/generator as a generator, produces a net zero effect on operation of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein, if it is determined that a hybrid engine is not present, the method ends.

14. A method for regeneration of a diesel particulate filter of a vehicle equipped with a hybrid engine comprising a diesel engine in combination with an electric motor/generator, comprising the steps of:

determining if regeneration of the diesel particulate filter is necessary, and if so;

determining if the torque on the diesel engine is sufficient to produce a temperature of the exhaust passing through the filter sufficiently high for a sufficient period of time to clear the filter of particulate matter therein; and

if not;

increasing the load on the diesel engine by increasing torque placed thereon to equally offset load subtracted therefrom by operation of the electric motor/generator in generator mode to produce a sufficiently high temperature of exhaust for a sufficient period of time to clear the filter without affecting vehicle motion.