Optimized exhaust after-treatment integration

• US 8,899,018 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Frazier, Tim, Andrews, Eric, Federle, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): BOGUE, JESSE SAMUEL
• Application Number:
  US11/655,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20070245714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,874 Days
• Field of Search: 602/73, 60284-287, 603/01
• US Class Current: 60/285
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/02 the substance being ammonia or urea
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/146 Control thereof, e.g. control of injectors or injection valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2900/08 said parameters being related to the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2900/102 Travelling distance
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2900/12 said parameters being related to the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2900/1812 Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2900/1814 Tank level
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/208 Control of selective catalytic reduction [SCR], e.g. dosing of reducing agent
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0625 Fuel consumption, e.g. measured in fuel liters per 100 kms or miles per gallon
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/005 according to engine operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0235 in relation with the state of the exhaust gas treating apparatus control of exhaust gas treating apparatus per se F01N
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1406 with use of a optimisation method, e.g. iteration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

Through the use transfer functions, or other modeling types, directed toward the individual operation of an engine and after-treatment subsystems, an optimizer determines the trade-offs between fuel consumption, urea consumption, and reduction of NOx and PM emissions for each component of the integrated system. Evaluation of these trade-offs permits the optimizer to dictate how each component should be controlled, or adjusted, to achieve optimal fuel (and urea) consumption while meeting the constraints bounding the solution. Response characteristics can be triggered by adjusting certain engine operating levers in order to achieve optimal performance of the integrated system.

Claims

1. A system for optimizing exhaust emissions from a combustion engine, the system comprising:

a combustion engine producing engine exhaust emissions;

at least one exhaust after-treatment device adapted to convert the engine exhaust emissions to converted exhaust emissions; and

an optimizer adapted to adjust at least one operating parameter according to at least one cost/response function based on cost of consumption of fuel and cost of consumption of a reducing agent used for the exhaust after-treatment device,

wherein at least one of the engine and the at least one after-treatment device responds to adjustment of the at least one operating parameter, and

the at least one cost/response function provides a cost for a response to adjustment of the at least one operating parameter.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust emissions from the combination of the engine and the at least one after-treatment device is below target emissions levels after the optimizer adjusts the at least one operating parameter.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the response to adjustment of the at least one operating parameter is determined from at least one transfer function.

4. A method for optimizing exhaust emissions from a combustion engine, the method comprising:

determining, from at least one transfer function, a response from at least one of a combustion engine and at least one after-treatment device to adjustment of at least one operating parameter;

determining at least one cost/response function for each of the combustion engine and the at least one exhaust after-treatment device based on cost of consumption of fuel and cost of consumption of a reducing agent used for the exhaust after-treatment device,

wherein the at least one cost/response function provides a cost for the response to adjustment of the at least one operating parameter; and

adjusting the at least one operating parameter according to the at least one cost/response function.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein, after the step of adjusting the at least one operating parameter, the exhaust emissions from the combination of the engine and the at least one after-treatment device is below target emissions levels.