Detecting leakage of engine exhaust gas using exhaust mass flow measurement
First Claim
1. A method of measuring mass flow of exhaust gas through an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
- developing temperature data representing temperature of exhaust gas flowing past a temperature sensor disposed in temperature sensing relation to the exhaust gas flow;
developing power data representing power required to heat an electric heater disposed downstream of the temperature sensor in heat exchange relation with the exhaust gas flow to a temperature in excess of temperature of exhaust gas flow past the heater; and
processing the temperature data and the power data according to an algorithm for yielding data representing mass flow of exhaust gas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An internal combustion engine has cylinders within which combustion occurs and an exhaust system through which products of combustion are exhausted from the cylinders. A temperature sensor and an electric heater are disposed in temperature sensing relation to the exhaust gas flow. A processor develops temperature data obtained from the temperature sensor, and power data representing power required to heat the electric heater to a temperature in excess of temperature of exhaust gas flow past the heater. The processor processes the temperature data, the power data, and data representing mass flow through the engine upstream of the temperature sensor and heater according to an algorithm for yielding data representing difference between mass flow of exhaust gas past the temperature sensor and heater and mass flow upstream of the temperature sensor and heater. The measurement may then be used to measure leakage from the exhaust system by subtracting it from flow measurement in a different location.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of measuring mass flow of exhaust gas through an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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developing temperature data representing temperature of exhaust gas flowing past a temperature sensor disposed in temperature sensing relation to the exhaust gas flow; developing power data representing power required to heat an electric heater disposed downstream of the temperature sensor in heat exchange relation with the exhaust gas flow to a temperature in excess of temperature of exhaust gas flow past the heater; and processing the temperature data and the power data according to an algorithm for yielding data representing mass flow of exhaust gas. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of measuring leakage of exhaust gas from an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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developing temperature data representing temperature of exhaust gas flowing past a temperature sensor disposed in temperature sensing relation to the exhaust gas flow; developing power data representing power required to heat an electric heater disposed in heat exchange relation with the exhaust gas flow to a temperature in excess of temperature of exhaust gas flow past the heater; and processing the temperature data, the power data, and data representing mass flow through the engine upstream of the temperature sensor and heater according to an algorithm for yielding data representing difference between mass flow of exhaust gas past the temperature sensor and heater and mass flow upstream of the temperature sensor and heater. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An internal combustion engine comprising:
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engine cylinders within which combustion occurs; an exhaust system through which products of combustion are exhausted from the cylinders; a temperature sensor disposed in temperature sensing relation to the exhaust gas flow; an electric heater disposed downstream of the temperature sensor in heat exchange relation to the exhaust gas flow; a processor for developing temperature data obtained from the temperature sensor, for developing power data representing power required to heat the electric heater to a temperature in excess of temperature of exhaust gas flow past the heater, and for processing the temperature data and the power data according to an algorithm for yielding data representing mass flow of exhaust gas past the sensor and heater. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. An internal combustion engine comprising:
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engine cylinders within which combustion occurs; an exhaust system through which products of combustion are exhausted from the cylinders; a temperature sensor disposed in temperature sensing relation to the exhaust gas flow; an electric heater disposed in heat exchange relation to the exhaust gas flow; a processor for developing temperature data obtained from the temperature sensor, for developing power data representing power required to heat the electric heater to a temperature in excess of temperature of exhaust gas flow past the heater, and for processing the temperature data, the power data, and data representing mass flow through the engine upstream of the temperature sensor and heater according to an algorithm for yielding data representing difference between mass flow of exhaust gas past the temperature sensor and heater and mass flow upstream of the temperature sensor and heater. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of measuring mass flow of exhaust gas through an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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developing temperature data representing temperature of exhaust gas flowing past a temperature sensor disposed in temperature sensing relation to the exhaust gas flow; developing power data representing power required to heat an electric heater of an exhaust gas sensor that senses a constituent of the exhaust gas flow and is disposed in heat exchange relation with the exhaust gas flow to a temperature in excess of temperature of exhaust gas flow past the heater; and processing the temperature data and the power data according to an algorithm for yielding data representing mass flow of exhaust gas. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An internal combustion engine comprising:
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engine cylinders within which combustion occurs; an exhaust system through which products of combustion are exhausted from the cylinders; a temperature sensor disposed in temperature sensing relation to the exhaust gas flow; an exhaust gas sensor that senses a constituent of the exhaust gas flow and comprises an electric heater disposed in heat exchange relation to the exhaust gas flow; a processor for developing temperature data obtained from the temperature sensor, for developing power data representing power required to heat the electric heater to a temperature in excess of temperature of exhaust gas flow past the heater, and for processing the temperature data and the power data according to an algorithm for yielding data representing mass flow of exhaust gas past the temperature sensor and heater. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An internal combustion engine comprising:
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engine cylinders within which combustion occurs; an exhaust system through which products of combustion are exhausted from the cylinders; a temperature sensor disposed in temperature sensing relation to the exhaust gas flow; an exhaust gas sensor comprising an electric heater disposed in heat exchange relation to the exhaust gas flow; a processor for developing temperature data obtained from the temperature sensor, for developing power data representing power required to heat the electric heater to a temperature in excess of temperature of exhaust gas flow past the heater, and for processing the temperature data, the power data, and data representing mass flow through the engine upstream of the temperature sensor and heater according to an algorithm for yielding data representing difference between mass flow of exhaust gas past the temperature sensor and heater and mass flow upstream of the temperature sensor and heater. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification