SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AN EXHAUST GAS TREATMENT SYSTEM

• US 20130118149A1
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sloss, Jeffrey David
• Granted Patent: US 8,667,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/274
• 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 2410/06 at cold starting
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2560/02 the means being an exhaust gas sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2026 directly electrifying the catalyst substrate, i.e. heating the electrically conductive catalyst substrate by joule effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

Various systems and methods are provided for an exhaust gas treatment system. In one example, a system includes an exhaust gas treatment device and a wire wrapped around an exterior circumference of the exhaust gas treatment device. Continuity of the wire is monitored such that degradation of the wire due to degradation of the exhaust gas treatment device is indicated.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a catalyst;

a wire wrapped around an exterior of the catalyst; and

a sensor configured to electrically couple ends of the wire and to monitor electrical continuity of the wire.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wire is wrapped in a spiral configuration

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a spacing between windings of the spiral configuration is between 1 cm and 2 cm.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein one end of the wire traverses over the windings of the spiral configuration without electrically contacting the windings of the spiral configuration, with both ends of the wire extending from a same end of the catalyst.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a resistor is coupled to the wire and configured to heat the catalyst during a cold engine start.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a circumference of the catalyst is surrounded by a mat, the mat disposed between an exterior surface of the catalyst and an interior surface of a catalyst can and configured to insulate the wire from contacting the catalyst can.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the catalyst is formed of a ceramic brick.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wire is contiguous with the exterior of the catalyst.

9. A method for an exhaust gas treatment system, comprising:

indicating degradation of a catalyst of the exhaust gas treatment system based on electrical continuity of a wire wrapped around an exterior of the catalyst; and

adjusting an operating parameter responsive to the indication of degradation.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising heating the catalyst via the wire when a temperature of the catalyst is less than a threshold temperature.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the wire does not contact exhaust gas flowing through the catalyst.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the operating parameter is engine speed, and the engine speed is reduced responsive to the indication of degradation.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein indicating degradation includes setting a fault code in a controller.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein indicating degradation includes turning on an indicator light.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the wire is wrapped around the catalyst in a spiral configuration with a spacing of 1 cm to 2 cm between windings of the spiral configuration.

16. An exhaust system, comprising:

a catalyst disposed in an exhaust passage of an engine;

a wire wrapped around an exterior circumference of the catalyst;

a sensor configured to electrically couple ends of the wire and to monitor electrical continuity of the wire; and

a controller in communication with the sensor and configured to indicate degradation of the catalyst when electrical continuity of the wire is reduced, and to adjust an operating parameter responsive to the indication of degradation.

17. The exhaust system of claim 16, wherein indicating degradation includes one more of setting a fault code in the controller and turning on an indicator light.

18. The exhaust system of claim 16, wherein the wire is wrapped around the exterior circumference of the catalyst in a spiral configuration, and one end of the wire traverses over windings of the spiral configuration without electrically contacting the windings, with both ends of the wire extending from a same end of the catalyst.

19. The exhaust system of claim 18, wherein at least part of the wire is insulated such that the one end of the wire that traverses over the windings of the spiral configuration does not electrically contact the windings of the spiral configuration.

20. The exhaust system of claim 16, wherein the wire further includes a resistor, and the controller is further configured to supply current to the resistor to heat the wire for catalyst heating when a temperature of the catalyst is less than a threshold temperature.