SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REGENERATING A PARTICULATE FILTER

• US 20110283682A1
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mischler, James Robert, Geyer, Stephen Mark, Henry, Luke, GALLAGHER, SHAWN MICHAEL
• Granted Patent: US 8,572,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/274
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 5/04 Arrangement or disposition of exhaust apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2900/12 said parameters being related to the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/025 using fuel burner or by adding fuel to exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2033 using a fuel burner or introducing fuel into exhaust duct
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 9/002 of filter regeneration, e.g. detection of clogging
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0812 Particle filter loading
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/702 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 25/00 Controlling two or more co-operating engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/029 the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a particulate filter
• 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 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

Various methods and systems are provided for a vehicle with an engine. In one example, a method includes identifying an approaching tunnel. The method further includes, responsive to a particulate load of a particulate filter, the particulate filter disposed in an exhaust treatment system of an engine of the vehicle, initiating regeneration of the particulate filter at a selected distance before the tunnel such that regeneration is performed before the vehicle enters the tunnel.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle, comprising:

identifying an approaching tunnel; and

initiating regeneration of a particulate filter disposed in an exhaust treatment system of an engine of the vehicle responsive to the identification and before entering the approaching tunnel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the regeneration is initiated responsive to a comparison of an estimated duration until reaching the tunnel and an estimated duration of performing the regeneration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein regeneration of the particulate filter is initiated at a selected distance before the approaching tunnel, the distance selected such that at least partial regeneration is completed before the vehicle enters the tunnel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the distance is selected based on a particulate load of the particulate filer and conditions of the tunnel.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising at least partially cooling the exhaust treatment system after regeneration but before entering the tunnel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein regeneration is initiated in response to a particulate load of the particulate filter being greater than a threshold, wherein the threshold is determined based on operating conditions, including the threshold being set to a lower particulate load threshold before entering a longer tunnel, and to a higher particulate load threshold before entering a shorter tunnel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the regeneration is initiated based on a grade of the approaching tunnel.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising terminating an incomplete regeneration before entering the approaching tunnel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a remote locomotive coupled in a train with a lead locomotive, and wherein regeneration of the particulate filter of the remote locomotive is initiated at a further distance from the tunnel than regeneration initiation of a particulate filter of the lead locomotive.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the approaching tunnel is identified by another vehicle operating in a train with the vehicle.

11. A method for operating a first vehicle, comprising:

determining a position of an approaching tunnel with respect to a position of the first vehicle; and

initiating regeneration of a particulate filter before entering the approaching tunnel, wherein the regeneration is completed within a selected duration or distance before the first vehicle enters the tunnel based on the position of the approaching tunnel and vehicle speed.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising monitoring progress of the particulate filter regeneration, and terminating the regeneration before entering the tunnel, even if the particulate filter is not fully regenerated.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the regeneration is initiated based on expected future vehicle operating conditions occurring before entering the approaching tunnel.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the regeneration is initiated based on an in-train position of the first vehicle in a train, and whether the first vehicle trails other, second vehicles in the train with an operating engine.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising shifting load distribution of the first vehicle from a forward one of the other, second vehicles during the particulate filter regeneration to increase an engine load of an engine of the first vehicle to increase exhaust temperature.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the regeneration is initiated based on a length and grade of the approaching tunnel, and whether an estimated particulate load of the particulate filter is greater than a threshold load.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a time to cool an exhaust treatment system in which the particulate filter is disposed, and determining a position at which to initiate regeneration of the particulate filter further based on the time to cool the exhaust treatment system.

18. A system, comprising:

a control module configured for operable deployment on a first rail vehicle of a rail vehicle consist including the first rail vehicle and plural second rail vehicles, the control module configured to;

determine positions of the first rail vehicle and the plural second rail vehicles with respect to a position of an approaching tunnel and with respect to each other; and

generate control signals for initiating regeneration of one or more particulate filters of the vehicles at a selected condition before the tunnel responsive to the determined positions.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the control module is further configured to generate control signals for adjusting a load distribution among the rail vehicle consist to increase an exhaust temperature in one or more of the vehicles to initiate the regeneration of the one or more particulate filters.

20. A system, comprising:

a control module configured for operable deployment on a vehicle, the control module configured to;

receive data relating to at least one of a position of the vehicle or a tunnel that the vehicle is approaching; and

generate control signals for initiating regeneration of a particulate filter of the vehicle before the vehicle enters the tunnel.

21. A method for operating a vehicle, comprising:

identifying an exit of a tunnel; and

initiating regeneration of a particulate filter disposed in an exhaust treatment system of an engine of the vehicle responsive to the identification and after exiting the tunnel.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein regeneration is initiated in response to tunnel operating conditions.