Method for improved vehicle performance

• US 6,532,732 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Surnilla, Gopichandra, Bidner, David Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TU MINH
• Application Number:
  US10/214,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20020189234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 224 Days
• Field of Search: 602/74, 602/77, 602/85, 602/86, 602/95, 602/97, 603/01, 73/233.1, 73/233.2, 731/181, 701/102, 701/103, 701/104, 701/108, 701/109, 701/112
• US Class Current: 60/274
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2570/04 Sulfur or sulfur oxides
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0842 Nitrogen oxides
• 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 2200/501 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/028 Desulfurisation of NOx traps or adsorbent
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1446 the characteristics being exhaust temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

An engine control system for managing lean NOx trap decontamination uses associated fuel economy impacts to determine when decontamination is enabled. In particular, a maximum achievable benefit provided by lean operation with a decontaminated NOx trap, a present fuel economy benefit being provided by lean operation, and a fuel economy penalty for performing decontamination are used. When a resulting benefit is greater than a penalty, decontamination is enabled.

Claims

1. A method for determining a penalty of a decontamination cycle, the decontamination cycle for an emission control device coupled to an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

calculating an excess quantity of fuel used during any decontamination cycle that removes sulfur compounds that are contaminating the emission control device; and

generating the penalty based on said excess quantity of fuel, wherein said generating further comprises generating the penalty based on said excess quantity of fuel and a distance traveled between decontamination cycles.

2. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said decontamination cycle comprises operating the engine at near stoichiometric operation or rich operation when the emission control device is above a predetermined temperature.

3. The method recited in claim 1 further comprises determining whether to enable decontamination cycles based on the penalty.

4. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising adjusting an engine operating parameter based on the penalty.

5. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said decontamination cycle reduces Sox stored in the emission control device.

6. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising storing the penalty as a function of an operating condition.

7. The method recited in claim 6 wherein said operating condition is vehicle speed.