IP Library Granted Patent US 8,037,673
Granted Patent B2
US 8,037,673 · App. 11/946,256 · Granted Oct 18, 2011

Selective catalyst reduction light-off strategy

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,037,673
App. No.
11/946,256
Granted
Oct 18, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An emissions control system includes a temperature determination module and an emissions control module. The temperature determination module determines a first temperature of a heater element of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) assembly in an exhaust system and determines a second temperature of a catalyst of the DPF assembly. The emissions control module selectively activates the heater element, selectively initiates a predefined combustion process in an engine based upon the first temperature, and selectively starts a reductant injection process based upon the second temperature.

Claims (41)

1. A method comprising:

determining a first temperature of a heater element of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) assembly in an exhaust system;

determining a second temperature of a catalyst of said DPF assembly;

selectively activating said heater element;

initiating a predefined combustion process in an engine when said first temperature is greater than a first temperature threshold; and

selectively starting a reductant injection process based upon said second temperature.

2. A method comprising:

determining a first temperature of a heater element of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) assembly in an exhaust system;

determining a second temperature of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst of said DPF assembly;

selectively activating said heater element;

selectively initiating a predefined combustion process in an engine based upon said first temperature; and

selectively starting a reductant injection process based upon said second temperature,

wherein said process provides ammonia (NH 3 ) to said SCR catalyst.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising repeatedly activating selected zones of said heater element in a predefined order.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising activating said heater element after starting said engine.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

determining a third temperature of a substrate of said DPF assembly; and

estimating said second temperature based upon said third temperature.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising estimating said first temperature based upon power delivered to said heater element.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising starting said reduction injection process when said second temperature is greater than a second temperature threshold.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising deactivating said heater element after said predefined combustion process is initiated.

9. The method of claim 2 further comprising injecting reductant into said exhaust system once said reduction injection process is started.

10. The method of claim 2 further comprising providing unburned fuel to said exhaust system during said predefined combustion process.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising estimating said second temperature based upon heating resulting from combustion of said unburned fuel.

12. An emissions control system comprising:

a temperature determination module that determines a first temperature of a heater element of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) assembly in an exhaust system and that determines a second temperature of a catalyst of said DPF assembly; and

an emissions control module that selectively activates said heater element, that selectively initiates a predefined combustion process in an engine when said first temperature is greater than a first temperature threshold, and that selectively starts a reductant injection process based upon said second temperature.

13. An emissions control system comprising:

a temperature determination module that determines a first temperature of a heater element of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) assembly in an exhaust system and that determines a second temperature of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst of said DPF assembly; and

an emissions control module that selectively activates said heater element, that selectively initiates a predefined combustion process in an engine based upon said first temperature, and that selectively starts a reductant injection process based upon said second temperature,

wherein said reductant infection process provides SCR catalyst.

14. The emissions control system of claim 13 wherein said emissions control module activates said heater element after starting said engine.

15. The emissions control system of claim 13 wherein said temperature determination module determines a third temperature of a substrate of said DPF assembly and estimates said second temperature based upon said third temperature.

16. The emissions control system of claim 13 wherein said temperature determination module estimates said first temperature based upon power delivered to said heater element.

17. The emissions control system of claim 13 wherein said emissions control module starts said reduction injection process when said second temperature is greater than a second temperature threshold.

18. The emissions control system of claim 13 wherein said emissions control module deactivates said heater element after said predefined combustion process is initiated.

19. The emissions control system of claim 13 further comprising an injector that injects reductant into said exhaust system once said reduction injection process is started.

20. The emissions control system of claim 13 wherein said heater element includes a plurality of zones.

21. The emissions control system of claim 20 further comprising a heater control module that repeatedly activates selected ones of said zones of said heater element in a predefined order.

22. The emissions control system of claim 13 wherein said engine provides unburned fuel to said exhaust system during said predefined combustion process.

23. The emissions control system of claim 22 wherein said temperature determination module estimates said second temperature based upon heating resulting from combustion of said unburned fuel.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034185/0587 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0035 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0057 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0780 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0187 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0215 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0880 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0670 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022554/0479 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0363 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2007
From: GONZE, EUGENE V.; PARATORE, MICHAEL J., JR
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 020214/0229 →