IP Library Granted Patent US 8,041,498
Granted Patent B2
US 8,041,498 · App. 12/248,246 · Granted Oct 18, 2011

Lean nitrogen oxide emission control system and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,041,498
App. No.
12/248,246
Granted
Oct 18, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control system comprising an NH 3 storage level determination module that determines an NH 3 storage level in an exhaust system, and a fuel control module that controls an air-to-fuel (A/F) ratio in an engine based on the NH 3 storage level. A method comprising determining an NH 3 storage level in an exhaust system, and controlling an A/F ratio in an engine based on the NH 3 storage level.

Claims (24)

1. A control system, comprising:

an NH 3 storage level determination module that determines an NH 3 storage level corresponding to a level of ammonia absorbed in a selective catalytic reduction unit of an exhaust system; and

a fuel control module that controls an air-to-fuel (A/F) ratio of an engine based on said NH 3 storage level.

2. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a minimum NH 3 storage level determination module that determines a minimum NH 3 storage level based on an exhaust temperature.

3. The control system of claim 2 wherein said fuel control module sets said A/F ratio to lean when said NH 3 storage level exceeds said minimum NH 3 storage level.

4. The control system of claim 2 wherein said fuel control module sets said A/F ratio to rich when said NH 3 storage level does not exceed said minimum NH 3 storage level.

5. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a target NH 3 storage level determination module that determines a target NH 3 storage level based on an exhaust temperature.

6. The control system of claim 5 wherein said fuel control module sets said A/F ratio to lean when said NH 3 storage level exceeds said target NH 3 storage level.

7. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a NO x mass flow rate determination module that determines a NO x mass flow rate based on a NO x concentration.

8. The control system of claim 7 wherein said NH 3 storage level determination module determines a change in said NH 3 storage level based on said NO x mass flow rate.

9. The control system of claim 8 wherein said NH 3 storage level determination module determines said change in said NH 3 storage level further based on at least one of an exhaust temperature, a catalyst type, and said A/F ratio.

10. The control system of claim 8 wherein said NH 3 storage level determination module determines said NH 3 storage level based on a previous NH 3 storage level and said change in said NH 3 storage level.

11. A method, comprising:

determining an NH 3 storage level corresponding to a level of ammonia absorbed in a selective catalytic reduction unit of an exhaust system; and

controlling an air-to-fuel (A/F) ratio of an engine based on said NH 3 storage level.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining a minimum NH 3 storage level based on an exhaust temperature.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising setting said A/F ratio to lean when said NH 3 storage level exceeds said minimum NH 3 storage level.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising setting said A/F ratio to rich when said NH 3 storage level does not exceed said minimum NH 3 storage level.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining a target NH 3 storage level based on an exhaust temperature.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising setting said A/F ratio to lean when said NH 3 storage level exceeds said target NH 3 storage level.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining a NO x mass flow rate based on a NO x concentration.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising determining a change in said NH 3 storage level based on said NO x mass flow rate.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising determining said change in said NH 3 storage level further based on at least one of an exhaust temperature, a catalyst type, and said A/F ratio.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising determining said NH 3 storage level based on a previous NH 3 storage level and said change in said NH 3 storage level.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034384/0758 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0245 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0515 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0046 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0909 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0237 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0313 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023126/0914 →
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 023155/0769 →
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 022554/0538 →
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 Oct 9, 2008
From: BROWN, DAVID B.; CLEARY, DAVID J.; LI, WEI
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 021654/0961 →