GLOW PLUG HEATER CONTROL

• US 20120138033A1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kurtz, Eric, Tennison, Paul Joseph, May, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,281,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/676
• 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 20/16 for reducing engine exhaust emissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/194 related to low temperature conditions, e.g. high viscosity of hydraulic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0802 Temperature of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0812 Particle filter loading
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/24 by using an external load, e.g. a generator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0255 to accelerate the warming-up of the exhaust gas treating apparatus at engine start
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/029 the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a particulate filter
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/064 at cold start F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/065 at hot start or restart F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/068 for warming-up
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/401 Controlling injection timing F02D41/402 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 19/026 Glow plug actuation during engine operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Methods and systems for operating a glow plug are disclosed. In one example, current supplied to a glow plug can be controlled to promote combustion stability of a cylinder after an engine start. Engine feedgas hydrocarbons may be reduced during conditions where combustion stability may be otherwise reduced in order to reduce tailpipe emissions.

Claims

1. An engine operating method, comprising:

performing combustion in a cylinder of an engine; and

retarding combustion phasing in the cylinder and increasing current supplied to a glow plug in the cylinder in response to a temperature of a catalyst and a temperature of the engine.

2. The engine operating method of claim 1, further comprising retarding combustion phasing in the cylinder and increasing current to the glow plug in response to a request to regenerate an emissions control device in an exhaust system coupled to the engine.

3. The engine operating method of claim 1, where the temperature of the engine is indicative of a warm engine operating temperature.

4. The engine operating method of claim 3, where the temperature of the catalyst is less than a catalyst light off temperature.

5. The engine operating method of claim 1, further comprising advancing combustion phasing of the cylinder and reducing current supplied to the glow plug when the catalyst reaches a threshold temperature.

6. The engine operating method of claim 1, further comprising retarding combustion phasing of the cylinder and increasing current supplied to the glow plug when a load level of the cylinder is less than a threshold load level.

7. The engine operating method of claim 1, further comprising anticipating or identifying a catalyst light out and retarding combustion phasing in the cylinder and increasing current supplied to a glow plug in the cylinder in response to the catalyst light out.

8. An engine operating method, comprising:

performing combustion in a cylinder of an engine;

retarding combustion phasing of the cylinder and increasing current supplied to a glow plug in the cylinder in response to a temperature of a catalyst and a temperature of the engine; and

increasing glow plug current and retarding combustion phasing of the cylinder in response to an operating condition of a degraded condition of an emissions control device.

9. The engine operating method of claim 8, where the degraded condition of the emissions control device is a differential pressure greater than a threshold level.

10. The engine operating method of claim 8, where the degraded condition of the emissions control device is an efficiency of the emissions control device less than a threshold level due to degradation of the emissions control device.

11. The engine operating method of claim 8, further comprising advancing combustion phasing of the cylinder and decreasing glow plug current in response to an operating condition of the emissions control device.

12. The engine operating method of claim 8, further comprising increasing combustion phase retard after a portion of the emissions control device is regenerated.

13. The engine operating method of claim 12, further comprising advancing combustion phasing to base combustion phase timing after the emissions control device is regenerated.

14. The engine operating method of claim 13, further comprising continuing to supply current to the glow plug after the emissions control device is regenerated.

15. An engine system, comprising:

an engine having a combustion chamber;

a glow plug protruding into the combustion chamber; and

a controller including instructions to identify a catalyst light out and retard combustion phasing in the combustion chamber and increasing current supplied to a glow plug in the combustion chamber in response to the catalyst light out after the engine has reached a temperature indicative of warm engine operating conditions.

16. The engine system of claim 15, further comprising continuously supplying a current to the glow plug throughout a time when the engine is operating.

17. The engine system of claim 15, further comprising additional controller instructions for increasing a negative torque supplied to the engine via a motor in response to a request to increase a temperature of the glow plug.

18. The engine system of claim 15, further comprising additional controller instructions for retarding combustion phasing of the combustion chamber and increasing current supplied to the glow plug in response to a request to regenerate an emissions control device in an exhaust system that is coupled to the engine.

19. The engine system of claim 18, further comprising additional controller instructions for gradually ramping glow plug temperature in response to the request to regenerate the emissions control device.

20. The engine system of claim 19, further comprising additional controller instructions for advancing combustion phasing of the combustion chamber in response to a level of regeneration of the emissions control device, and where the emissions control device is a DPF or LNT.