IP Library Granted Patent US 8,341,945
Granted Patent B2
US 8,341,945 · App. 12/496,009 · Granted Jan 1, 2013

Electrically heated particulate filter

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,341,945
App. No.
12/496,009
Granted
Jan 1, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control system comprises a particulate matter (PM) filter, an electric heater, a first heating module, and a second heating module. The PM filter includes M zones that filter PM from exhaust gas. The electric heater includes M segments corresponding to the M zones that heat exhaust gas input to selected ones of the M zones when activated. The first heating module activates N of the M segments to heat exhaust gas input to N of the M zones to regenerate the N zones. The second heating module operates in one of a first mode and a second mode to regenerate other ones of the M zones after the N zones are regenerated. The first mode includes adjusting an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas. The second mode includes activating other ones of the M segments to heat exhaust gas input to other ones of the M zones.

Claims (30)

1. A control system comprising

a particulate matter (PM) filter that receives exhaust gas of an engine and filters PM from the exhaust gas, wherein the PM filter includes M zones and wherein M is an integer greater than one;

an electric heater that includes M segments corresponding to the M zones that heat exhaust gas input to selected ones of the M zones when activated;

a first heating module that activates N of the M segments to heat exhaust gas input to N of the M zones to regenerate the N zones, wherein N is an integer less than M; and

a second heating module that is configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode to regenerate other ones of the M zones after the N zones are regenerated,

wherein the first mode includes adjusting an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas to heat exhaust gas input to the M zones, and wherein the second mode includes activating other ones of the M segments to heat exhaust gas input to other ones of the M zones.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the second heating module operates in the first mode when a flow rate of the exhaust gas is greater than a predetermined flow rate.

3. The control system of claim 2 , wherein the second heating module operates in the second mode when the flow rate is less than or equal to the predetermined flow rate.

4. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the first mode includes heating the exhaust gas to a predetermined temperature.

5. The control system of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined temperature causes PM in the other ones of the M zones to combust.

6. The control system of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined temperature is greater than 650° C.

7. The control system of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined temperature is greater than 700° C.

8. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the first mode includes adjusting the air-fuel ratio by injecting fuel into at least one of a cylinder of an engine and an exhaust system.

9. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the first heating module activates the N segments until PM in the N zones combusts.

10. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the N zones include an axially centered portion of the PM filter, and wherein the others of the M zones include portions of the PM filter surrounding the N zones.

11. A method comprising:

providing a particulate matter (PM) filter that receives exhaust gas of an engine and filters PM from the exhaust gas, wherein the PM filter includes M zones and wherein M is an integer greater than one;

providing an electric heater that includes M segments corresponding to the M zones that heat exhaust gas input to selected ones of the M zones when activated;

activating N of the M segments to heat exhaust gas input to N of the M zones to regenerate the N zones, wherein N is an integer less than M; and

operating in a first mode and a second mode to regenerate other ones of the M zones after the N zones are regenerated,

wherein the first mode includes adjusting an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas to heat exhaust gas input to the M zones, and wherein the second mode includes activating other ones of the M segments to heat exhaust gas input to other ones of the M zones.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising operating in the first mode when a flow rate of the exhaust gas is greater than a predetermined flow rate.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising operating in the second mode when the flow rate is less than or equal to the predetermined flow rate.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein operating in the first mode includes heating the exhaust gas to a predetermined temperature.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined temperature causes PM in the other ones of the M zones to combust.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined temperature is greater than 650° C.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined temperature is greater than 700° C.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein operating in the first mode includes adjusting the air-fuel ratio by injecting fuel into at least one of a cylinder of an engine and an exhaust system.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising activating the N segments until PM in the N zones combusts.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the N zones include an axially centered portion of the PM filter, and wherein the others of the M zones include portions of the PM filter surrounding the N zones.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034185/0789 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0299 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0555 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0091 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025246/0056 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0048 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023201/0118 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2009
From: GONZE, EUGENE V.; PARATORE, MICHAEL J., JR.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022903/0596 →