DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM FOR EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS

• US 20160047751A1
• Filed: 08/07/2015
• Published: 02/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson Matthey PLC
• Original Assignee: Johnson Matthey PLC
• Inventors: MARKATOU, Penelope, PLESS, Jason, SAPP, Darrell Scott
• Application Number:
  US14/820,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20160047751A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/90 Physical characteristics of catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/9454 characterised by a specific device
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 11/002 the diagnostic devices measuring or estimating temperature or pressure in, or downstream of the exhaust apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/008 Mounting or arrangement of exhaust sensors in or on exhaust apparatus sensor arrangements for engine control F02D41/1439
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2510/00 Surface coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2550/02 Catalytic activity of catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2560/06 the means being a temperature sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2560/12 Other sensor principles, e.g. using electro conductivity of substrate or radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/06 using melting, freezing, or softening
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/12 using changes in colour, translucency or reflectance
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2205/04 for measuring exhaust gas temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7796 Special mountings, packaging of indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/786 with auxiliary heating for reaction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A diagnostic system for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The diagnostic system comprises a catalyst component and a marker that undergoes a physical transition above a transition temperature of the marker. A method for determining if a catalyst component in an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine has been exposed to a deactivating temperature is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A diagnostic system for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the diagnostic system comprising a catalyst component and a marker that undergoes a physical transition above a transition temperature of the marker.

2. The diagnostic system of claim 1 wherein the marker is a ceramic material comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of boron compounds, titanium compounds, zinc compounds, sodium compounds, silicon compounds, potassium compounds, calcium compounds, aluminum compounds, chromium compounds, cobalt compounds, iron compounds, nickel compounds, copper compounds, manganese compounds, vanadium compounds, magnesium compounds, and mixtures thereof.

3. The diagnostic system of claim 2 wherein the ceramic material is a metal carbonate selected from the group consisting of a nickel carbonate, a cobalt carbonate, a chromium carbonate, a manganese carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

4. The diagnostic system of claim 1 wherein the marker comprises one or more mixed metal oxides comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, sodium, vanadium, molybdenum, nickel, cobalt, lanthanum, and mixtures thereof.

5. The diagnostic system of claim 4 wherein the one or more mixed metal oxides are selected from the group consisting of Mg₃(VO₄)₂, Ni₂(VO₄)₂, Na₃(VO₄), and mixtures thereof.

6. The diagnostic system of claim 1 wherein the catalyst component is selected from the group consisting of a three-way catalyst, a diesel oxidation catalyst, a lean NO_x trap, an SCR catalyst, a catalyzed soot filter (CSF), and an SCR coated.

7. The diagnostic system of claim 1 wherein the catalyst component comprises a catalyst coating coated on a substrate.

8. The diagnostic system of claim 7 wherein the catalyst component comprises a can or a shell that houses the catalyst coated-substrate.

9. The diagnostic system of claim 1 wherein the marker is located within 12 inches of the catalyst component.

10. The diagnostic system of claim 8 wherein the marker is located on the can or shell of the catalyst component.

11. The diagnostic system of claim 8 wherein the marker is located on the substrate of the catalyst-coated substrate.

12. The diagnostic system of claim 1 wherein the marker is located at or near an outlet of the catalyst component.

13. The diagnostic system of claim 1 further comprising an exhaust pipe wherein the marker is located on the inside or outside of the exhaust pipe.

14. The diagnostic system of claim 13 wherein the marker is located on a separate probe within the exhaust pipe.

15. A method for determining if a catalyst component in an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine has been exposed to a deactivating temperature, said method comprising:

(a) visually inspecting a marker that is located within close proximity of the catalyst component; and

(b) determining if the markers has undergone a physical transition that is indicative of exposure to a temperature above a transition temperature of the marker.