Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a fuel-fired burner of an emission abatement assembly

1 . A method of operating an emission abatement assembly, comprising the steps of:

generating heat with a fuel-fired burner to combust soot trapped in a particulate filter,

determining the temperature of the heat, and

adjusting the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner based on the temperature of the heat.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the determining step comprises determining temperature of the heat and generating a temperature signal in response thereto, and

the adjusting step comprises adjusting fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner based on the temperature signal.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the determining step comprises determining if the temperature of the heat is above a predetermined temperature limit, and

the adjusting step comprises decreasing the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is above the predetermined temperature limit.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the determining step comprises determining if the temperature of the heat is below a predetermined temperature limit, and

the adjusting step comprises increasing the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is below the predetermined temperature limit.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the determining step comprises determining if the temperature of the heat is within a predetermined temperature range, and

the adjusting step comprises increasing the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is outside the predetermined temperature range.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the determining step comprises determining if the temperature of the heat is within a predetermined temperature range, and

the adjusting step comprises decreasing the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is outside the predetermined temperature range.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

determining the temperature of the heat subsequent to adjustment of the amount of fuel being supplied to the fuel-fired burner, and

ceasing to supply fuel to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat, as determined subsequent to adjustment of the amount of fuel being supplied to the fuel fired burner, is outside a predetermined range.

8 . A method of operating an emission abatement assembly, comprising the steps of:

generating heat with a fuel-fired burner to combust soot trapped in a particulate filter,

determining if the temperature of the heat is within a predetermined temperature range, and

adjusting the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is outside of the predetermined temperature range.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the determining step comprises sensing the temperature of the heat with a temperature sensor.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the adjusting step comprises decreasing the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is above a predetermined upper limit of the temperature range.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the adjusting step comprises increasing the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is below a predetermined lower limit of the temperature range.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

determining the temperature of the heat subsequent to the adjusting step, and

ceasing to supply fuel to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat, as determined subsequent to the adjusting step, is outside of the predetermined temperature range.

13 . An emission abatement assembly, comprising:

a particulate filter,

a fuel-fired burner positioned upstream of the particulate filter,

an electronically-controlled fuel delivery assembly operable to deliver fuel to the fuel fired burner,

a temperature sensor positioned to sense the temperature of heat generated by the fuel-fired burner, and

a controller electrically coupled to the fuel delivery assembly and the temperature sensor, the controller comprising (i) a processor, and (ii) a memory device electrically coupled to the processor, the memory device having stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

operate the fuel delivery assembly to generate heat with the fuel-fired burner to combust soot trapped in the particulate filter,

communicate with the temperature sensor to determine if the temperature of the heat is within a predetermined temperature range, and

operate the fuel delivery assembly to adjust the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is outside of the predetermined temperature range.

14 . The emission abatement assembly of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to operate the fuel delivery assembly to decrease the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is above a predetermined upper limit of the temperature range.

15 . The emission abatement assembly of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to operate the fuel delivery assembly to increase the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is below a predetermined lower limit of the temperature range.

16 . The emission abatement assembly of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

communicate with the temperature sensor to determine the temperature of the heat subsequent to adjustment of the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner, and

operate the fuel delivery system to cease to supply fuel to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat, subsequent to adjustment of the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner, is outside of the predetermined temperature range.