Method for regenerating exhaust gas purifying filter apparatus

• US 8,001,772 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kaneko, Hiroaki, Nishizawa, Toru, Onodera, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Binh Q
• Application Number:
  US11/728,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 602/74, 602/78, 602/85, 602/86, 602/95, 602/97, 603/11
• US Class Current: 60/295
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2279/30 for treatment of exhaust gases from IC Engines
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/442 by measuring the concentration of particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/84 by heating only
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/023 using means for regenerating the filters, e.g. by burning trapped particles by electrically controlling the supply of combustible mixture or its constituents only F02D41/0235
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/0265 to decrease temperature of the exhaust gas treating apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0802 Temperature of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0812 Particle filter loading
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0245 by increasing temperature of the exhaust gas leaving the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/025 by changing the composition of the exhaust gas, e.g. for exothermic reaction on exhaust gas treating apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/029 the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a particulate filter
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for regenerating a filter that traps particulate matter contained in exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. The regeneration method includes increasing an amount of soot having a low degree of graphitization in the filter. After the amount of soot having the low degree of graphitization is increased, a temperature of the filter is increased.

Claims

1. A method for regenerating a filter of the type that traps particulate matter contained in exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

increasing an amount of soot having a low degree of graphitization in the filter; and

increasing a temperature of the filter after the amount of the soot having the low degree of graphitization is increased,

wherein the temperature of the filter is increased to a temperature at which the soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter burns, and

wherein the low degree of graphitization is defined as the degree of graphitization of soot generated when the engine operates at a high-rotation speed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter is increased by operating the internal combustion engine under conditions that decrease an in-cylinder temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter is increased by operating the internal combustion engine under conditions that shorten a time that cylinder gas dwells in a cylinder.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter is increased by operating the internal combustion engine accompanied by at least one control of the engine selected from:

an increase in engine speed and an advancement of timing for opening an exhaust gas valve.

5. The method according of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an amount of the particulate matter trapped in the filter, and

wherein the amount of the soot having the low degree of graphitization is increased after the amount of the particulate matter trapped in the filter reaches a predetermined amount.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature at which the soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter burns is in a range of about 500°

C. to about 600°

C.

7. A method for regenerating a filter of the type that traps particulate matter contained in exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

operating the internal combustion engine under operating conditions that decrease an in-cylinder temperature or that shorten a time cylinder gas dwells in a cylinder; and

increasing a temperature of the filter after the operating of the internal combustion engine is continued under the operating conditions for a predetermined time,

wherein the temperature of the filter is increased to a temperature at which the soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter burns.

8. An apparatus for purifying exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a filter that traps particulate matter contained in exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine; and

a controller connected to the internal combustion engine,

wherein the controller operates the internal combustion engine so as to increase an amount of soot having a low degree of graphitization in the filter and, after the amount of the soot having the low degree of graphitization is increased, operates the internal combustion engine so as to increase a temperature of the filter, and

wherein the controller operates the internal combustion engine so as to increase the temperature of the filter to a temperature at which the soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter burns and

wherein the low degree of graphitization is defined as the degree of graphitization of soot generated when the engine operates at a high-rotation speed.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller operates the internal combustion to increase the amount of soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter under operating conditions that decrease an in-cylinder temperature.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller operates the internal combustion engine to increases the amount of the soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter under operating conditions that shorten a time cylinder gas dwells in a cylinder.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the amount of the soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter is increased by the controller operating the internal combustion engine accompanied by at least one control selected from:

an increase in engine speed and an advancement of timing for opening an exhaust gas valve.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller determines an amount of particulate matter trapped in the filter and operates the internal combustion engine so as to increase the amount of the soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter after the amount of the particulate matter trapped in the filter is determined to reach a predetermined amount.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the temperature at which the soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter burns is in a range of about 500°

C. to about 600°

C.

14. An apparatus for purifying exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a filter that traps particulate matter contained in exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine; and

a controller connected to the internal combustion engine,

wherein the controller operates the internal combustion engine under operating conditions that decrease an in-cylinder temperature or that shorten a time cylinder gas dwells in a cylinder and, after the operating of the internal combustion engine is continued under the operating conditions for a predetermined time, operates the internal combustion engine to increase a temperature of the filter,

wherein the temperature of the filter is increased to a temperature at which the soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter burns.

15. Means for regenerating a filter of the type that traps particulate matter contained in exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

means for increasing an amount of soot having a low degree of graphitization in the filter, and

means for increasing a temperature of the filter up to a temperature at which the soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter burns, after the amount of the soot having the low degree of graphitization in the filter is increased.