Method and system for magnetic particle detection in a charge air system

• US 9,032,787 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Peters, Eric David, Anderson, Larry Gene, Kotian, Roshan Shekhar, Parikh, Chirag Bipinchandra
• Primary Examiner(s): Kirkland, III, Freddie
• Application Number:
  US13/770,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20140230407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 731/140.1, 731/147.7
• US Class Current: 73/114.01
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 11/00 Monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus , e.g. for catalytic activity safety, indicating or supervising devices for internal combustion engines F02B77/08; testing of machines G01M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2560/05 the means being a particulate sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2590/08 for heavy duty applications, e.g. trucks, buses, tractors, locomotives
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/083 relating to maintenance, e.g. diagnostic device relating to lubrication F01M11/10
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/144 Sensor in intake manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1444 characterised by the characteristics of the combustion gases
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/45 Sensors specially adapted for EGR systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0656 using electric, e.g. electrostatic methods or magnetic methods by investigating individual particles G01N15/1031, G01N15/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0046 in gas, e.g. smoke
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

Various methods and systems are provided for detecting particles generated from engine component degradation within an engine system. In one embodiment, a method for an engine comprises indicating engine degradation in response to a buildup of particles in a magnetic field, the magnetic field positioned in a flow of gas.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

applying a magnetic field within a gas flow passage through which a gas flow passes, the gas flow including at least some exhaust gas; and

measuring a signal produced by particles in the gas flow interacting with the magnetic field.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal includes a current produced by the particles bridging a gap between a first surface and a second surface within the gas flow passage, the current flowing from the first surface, across the gap, and to the second surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas flow passage is part of an engine system, and the method further comprises indicating engine degradation of the engine system in response to the signal.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining one or more of an amount of the particles within the magnetic field or an accumulation rate of the particles within the magnetic field, based on a level of the signal, wherein the indicating engine degradation is further based on the one or more of the amount or the accumulation rate.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the applying the magnetic field includes applying the magnetic field with one or more magnetic probes attached to the gas flow passage and positioned in at least a portion of the gas flow.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the signal is produced by the particles accumulating between the one or more magnetic probes and an electrode.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the signal is produced by the particles accumulating between a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode separated by one of the one or more magnetic probes, the one of the one or more magnetic probes centrally located between the first electrode and the second electrode.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the signal is produced by the particles accumulating between a first magnetic probe and a second magnetic probe of the one or more magnetic probes.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining an amount of the particles accumulated between the first magnetic probe and the second magnetic probe based on a spacing between the first magnetic probe and the second magnetic probe and a level of the signal over time, wherein the indicating engine degradation is further based on the amount of the particles accumulated between the first magnetic probe and the second magnetic probe.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas flow passage includes an exhaust gas recirculation passage of an engine.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas flow passage includes an intake passage of an engine downstream of an outlet of an exhaust gas recirculation system of the engine.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas flow passage includes an intake manifold of an engine at a distal end of a bank of cylinders of the engine.

13. A method, comprising:

indicating engine degradation of an engine in response to a buildup of particles in a magnetic field, the magnetic field positioned in a flow of gas through a gas flow passage of the engine.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the buildup of particles includes particles accumulated between a first magnetic probe and a second magnetic probe disposed in the gas flow passage.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the buildup of particles includes particles accumulated between a magnet and an electrode, wherein the magnet is operably coupled with the gas flow passage for establishing the magnetic field in the flow of gas, and wherein the electrode is disposed in the gas flow passage.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising indicating the engine degradation when the buildup of particles increases above a threshold amount.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the gas flow passage is part of an exhaust gas recirculation system of the engine and disposed downstream of an exhaust gas recirculation cooler of the engine.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising applying the magnetic field with one or more magnetic probes, the one or more magnetic probes coated with a temperature resistant material, and cooling the probes.

19. A system, comprising:

an engine;

a flow passage coupled to the engine for passage of a gas flow comprising at least some exhaust gas;

a device configured to generate a magnetic field positioned in the flow passage for attracting particles traveling in the flow passage;

a detection circuit electrically coupled to at least one of the device or an electrode and configured to produce a signal responsive to presence of the particles between the device and the electrode; and

a controller configured to indicate engine degradation when the signal from the detection circuit is indicative of the particles being present in an amount above a threshold level.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the device comprises a magnet.