Method for determining the fullness or quality of a catalytic converter that stores gases
First Claim
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1. A method for determining a fullness or quality of a catalytic converter situated in an exhaust gas stream and having a storage medium for storing gases, said method comprising:
- measuring a chance in at least one physical property of the storage medium that changes with an amount of gas stored therein; and
determining a fullness or quality of the catalytic converter based on a result of said measurement;
wherein the at least one physical property is complex electrical impedance.
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Abstract
A method for determining the fullness or the quality of a catalytic converter that stores gases in a storage medium includes the steps of measuring a change in at least one physical property of the storage medium that changes with the storage process, and determining the fullness or the quality of the catalytic converter.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for determining a fullness or quality of a catalytic converter situated in an exhaust gas stream and having a storage medium for storing gases, said method comprising:
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measuring a chance in at least one physical property of the storage medium that changes with an amount of gas stored therein; and
determining a fullness or quality of the catalytic converter based on a result of said measurement;
wherein the at least one physical property is complex electrical impedance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
providing an electrical device having at least two electrodes and a storage medium between the at least two electrodes; and
using said electrical device for measurement of the complex electrical impedance.
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5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the at least two electrodes are located on an inside wall of a support structure.
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6. A method according to claim 4, wherein:
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at least two electrodes are located on an inside wall of a support structure; and
at least one layer of the storage medium is applied to the at least two electrodes.
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7. A method according to claim 4, wherein:
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at least one layer of the storage medium is applied to an inside wall of a support structure; and
the at least two electrodes are located on the storage medium.
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8. A method according to claim 4, wherein the electrodes are located in an axial or a radial direction relative to a support structure.
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9. A method according to claim 2, wherein the catalytic converter stores an exhaust gas component selected from the group consisting of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and combinations thereof.
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10. A method for determining a fullness or quality of a catalytic converter situated in an exhaust gas stream and having a storage medium for storing gases, said method comprising:
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measuring a chance in at least one physical property of the storage medium that changes with an amount of gas stored therein; and
determining a fullness or quality of the catalytic converter based on a result of said measurement;
wherein the at least one physical property is selected from the group consisting of the optical index of refraction, an optical absorption coefficient, and an optical reflection coefficient of the storage medium.
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11. A method for determining a fullness or quality of a catalytic converter situated in an exhaust gas stream and having a storage medium for storing gases, said method comprising, measuring a change in at least one physical property of the storage medium that changes with an amount of gas stored therein, and, determining a fullness or quality of the catalytic converter based on a result of said measurement, wherein the at least one physical property is volume.
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12. A method for determining a fullness or quality of a catalytic converter having a storage medium for storing gases flowing in an exhaust stream, comprising:
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providing a measurement element in said exhaust stream, separate from said catalytic converter, and comprising a measurement medium similar to the storage medium;
measuring a change in at least one physical property of the measurement medium in the measurement element, that changes with an amount of gas stored therein; and
determining a fullness or quality of the catalytic converter based on said measuring. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification