Method for monitoring the conversion capacity of a catalytic converter

• US 5,938,715 A
• Filed: 04/07/1998
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Zhang, Hong, Beer, Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): DOMBROSKE, GEORGE M
• Application Number:
  US09/056,380
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 701/109, 73/23.31, 73/23.32, 73/118.1, 73/116, 73/117.2, 73/117.3, 60/276, 60/277
• US Class Current: 701/109
• 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 11/005 the temperature or pressure being estimated, e.g. by means of a theoretical model
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/0097 the purifying devices are arranged in a single housing
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2550/02 Catalytic activity of catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/22 Control of additional air supply only, e.g. using by-passes or variable air pump drives
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/32 using air pump using jet air pumps F01N3/34; pumps in general F04
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 9/005 using models instead of sensors to determine operating characteristics of exhaust systems, e.g. calculating catalyst temperature instead of measuring it directly
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method for monitoring the conversion capacity of a catalytic converter assesses a conversion capacity of a preliminary catalytic converter by calculating thermal energy generated in a reference catalytic converter that is not catalytically coated in accordance with a temperature model and making a comparison with a measured thermal energy generated in the preliminary catalytic converter. A measure of the conversion capacity of the preliminary catalytic converter is ascertained from the difference, and it is compared with a comparison value. The preliminary catalytic converter has an adequate conversion capacity if the difference is above the comparison value.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the conversion capacity of a catalytic converter for an internal combustion engine, which comprises:

measuring an inlet temperature of an exhaust gas upstream of a catalytic converter;

measuring a first outlet temperature of the exhaust gas downstream of the catalytic converter;

calculating a second outlet temperature from the inlet temperature according to a temperature model;

comparing the first outlet temperature and the second outlet temperature, and assessing a conversion capacity of the catalytic converter on the basis of the comparison; and

utilizing the second outlet temperature to determine a conversion capacity of a raw emissions catalytic converter having no catalytic coating and operating under substantially the same conditions as the catalytic converter.

2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises calculating the energy catalytically produced in the catalytic converter from the first and second outlet temperatures, and using the calculated energy as a measure for assessing the conversion capacity.

3. The method according to claim 2, which comprises integrating the calculated energy over a predetermined temperature range, and using the integrated energy as a measure of the conversion capacity of the catalytic converter.

4. The method according to claim 1, which comprises performing the step of calculating the second outlet temperature by taking into account an exhaust gas flow rate composed of a secondary air flow rate, an aspirated engine air flow rate and a quantity of fuel supplied.

5. The method according to claim 1, which comprises performing the step of calculating the second outlet temperature by taking into account energy output by at least one of convection and radiation by the raw emissions catalytic converter.

6. The method according to claim 1, which comprises performing the step of assessing the conversion capacity of the catalytic converter by assessing a first part located at an inlet of the catalytic converter in terms of a flow direction of the exhaust gas.

7. The method according to claim 1, which comprises performing the step of assessing the conversion capacity of the catalytic converter by assessing a preliminary catalytic converter located at an inlet of the catalytic converter in terms of a flow direction of the exhaust gas.

8. The method according to claim 3, which comprises performing the integrating step only beyond an initial temperature above 50°

C.

9. The method according to claim 3, which comprises performing the integrating step only beyond an initial temperature above 100°

C.

10. The method according to claim 3, which comprises performing the integrating step up to a maximum temperature of 350°

C.

11. The method according to claim 3, which comprises performing the integrating step up to a maximum temperature of 200°

C.

12. The method according to claim 2, which comprises:

calculating an exothermic energy of a comparison catalytic converter by using the same steps and the same temperature model as for the catalytic converter;

barely meeting a predetermined emissions standard with the comparison catalytic converter; and

assessing the catalytic converter as having adequate conversion capacity if the exothermic energy of the catalytic converter is greater than the exothermic energy of the comparison catalytic converter.