IP Library Granted Patent US 7,829,048
Granted Patent B1
US 7,829,048 · App. 12/537,373 · Granted Nov 9, 2010

Electrically heated catalyst control system and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,829,048
App. No.
12/537,373
Granted
Nov 9, 2010
Kind
B1
Abstract

An exhaust treatment system comprises M electrically heated substrates and a heater control module. The M electrically heated substrates are coated with a catalyst material and arranged in series to receive exhaust gas of an engine. M is an integer greater than one. The heater control module applies power to N of the M substrates to heat the N substrates during a predetermined period. N is an integer less than M. The engine is turned off and the M electrically heated substrates do not receive exhaust gas during the predetermined period.

Claims (33)

1. An exhaust treatment system comprising:

M electrically heated substrates that are coated with a catalyst material and that are arranged in series to receive exhaust gas of an engine, wherein M is an integer greater than one; and

a heater control module that applies power to N of the M substrates to heat the N substrates during a predetermined period, wherein N is an integer less than M,

wherein the engine is turned off and the M electrically heated substrates do not receive exhaust gas during the predetermined period.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine is disabled during the predetermined period.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heater control module stops applying power to the N substrates and starts applying power to P other ones of the M substrates to heat the P substrates after the N substrates reach a predetermined temperature, wherein P is an integer less than M.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein N is one and the heater control module applies power to a first one of the M substrates, and wherein the heater control module stops applying power to the first one and starts applying power to a second one of the M substrates when a temperature of the first one reaches a threshold temperature.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein N is one and the heater control module applies power to each of the M substrates one at a time, and wherein the heater control module stops applying power to each substrate when a temperature of the substrate reaches a threshold temperature during the predetermined period.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heater control module applies power to the N substrates for a predetermined period.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the M electrically heated substrates includes an electrically resistive substrate that generates heat when the heater control module applies power.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst material includes a three-way catalyst material.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising P non-electrically heated substrates coated with the catalyst material and arranged in series with the M electrically heated substrates that receive the exhaust gas of the engine, wherein P is an integer greater than or equal to one.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein M is three or more and N is one.

11. A method comprising:

providing M electrically heated substrates that are coated with a catalyst material and that are arranged in series to receive exhaust gas of an engine, wherein M is an integer greater than one; and

applying power to N of the M substrates to heat the N substrates during a predetermined period, wherein N is an integer less than M,

wherein the engine is turned off and the M electrically heated substrates do not receive exhaust gas during the predetermined period.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disabling the engine during the predetermined period.

13. The method of claim 11 , furthering comprising:

stopping application of power to the N substrates; and

applying power to P other ones of the M substrates to heat the P substrates after the N substrates reach a predetermined temperature, wherein P is an integer less than M.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

applying power to a first one of the M substrates, wherein N is one;

stopping application of power to the first one; and

applying power to a second one of the M substrates when a temperature of the first one reaches a threshold temperature.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

applying power to each of the M substrates one at a time, wherein N is one; and

stopping application of power to each substrate when a temperature of the substrate reaches a threshold temperature during the predetermined period.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising applying power to the N substrates for a predetermined period.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing M electrically heated substrates that each includes an electrically resistive substrate that generates heat when power is applied.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the catalyst material includes a three-way catalyst material.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing P non-electrically heated substrates coated with the catalyst material and arranged in series with the M electrically heated substrates that receive the exhaust gas of the engine, wherein P is an integer greater than or equal to one.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein M is three or more and N is one.

Assignments (9)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2010
From: GONZE, EUGENE V.; SANTOSO, HALIM G.; SPOHN, BRIAN; ROOS, BRYAN NATHANIEL
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 024637/0030 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023990/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023989/0155 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2009
From: GONZE, EUGENE V.; SANTOSO, HALIM G.; SPOHN, BRIAN; ROOS, BRYAN NATHANIAL
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023095/0381 →