IP Library Granted Patent US 8,190,352
Granted Patent B2
US 8,190,352 · App. 12/538,306 · Granted May 29, 2012

Method and device for diagnosing an exhaust gas catalytic converter

Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,190,352
App. No.
12/538,306
Granted
May 29, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A first exhaust gas sensor signal (vls_up) of a first exhaust gas sensor (AS 1 ) is detected. In addition, a second exhaust gas sensor signal (vls_down) of a second exhaust gas sensor (AS 2 ) is detected. A relevant first estimated value of an emission of at least one exhaust gas component is determined in relation to a position of the first exhaust gas sensor (AS 1 ) in the exhaust gas tract as a function of the first exhaust gas sensor signal (vls_up) and a relevant second estimated value of an emission of the at least one exhaust gas component is determined in relation to a position of the second exhaust gas sensor (AS 2 ) in the exhaust gas tract as a function of the second exhaust gas sensor signal (vls_down). A conversion rate (K) of the at least one exhaust gas component is estimated as a function of a ratio of the second estimated value and the first estimated value of the determined emission. The exhaust gas catalytic converter is diagnosed as a function of the determined conversion rate (K).

Claims (65)

1. A method for diagnosing an exhaust gas catalytic converter, comprising the steps of:

detecting a first exhaust gas sensor signal of a first exhaust gas sensor which is arranged in an exhaust gas tract upstream of the exhaust gas catalytic converter,

detecting a second exhaust gas sensor signal of a second exhaust gas sensor which is arranged in the exhaust gas tract downstream of the exhaust gas catalytic converter,

determining a relevant first estimated value of an emission of at least one exhaust gas component in relation to a position of the first exhaust gas sensor in the exhaust gas tract as a function of the first exhaust gas sensor signal,

determining a relevant second estimated value of an emission of the at least one gas component in relation to a position of the second exhaust gas sensor in the exhaust gas tract as a relation to the second exhaust gas sensor signal,

estimating a conversion rate of the at least one exhaust gas component as a function of a relation between the second estimated value and the first estimated value of the determined emission, and

diagnosing the exhaust gas catalytic converter as a function of the determined conversion rate.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the first estimated value and the second estimated value are in each case integrated over a predetermined period in time or over a predetermined length of route covered by a motor vehicle and

the conversion rate of the at least one exhaust gas component is estimated as a function of a relation between the integrated second and the integrated first estimated value of the emission.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein

at least one value, which is representative of a driving profile with which the motor vehicle is currently being driven is each time integrated over the predetermined period of time or over the predetermined distance covered by a motor vehicle,

a correspondence of the driving profile with at least one part of a predetermined test cycle is determined as a function of the at least one integrated value,

the estimated conversion rate is compared with a predetermined conversion rate for the—at least one—part of the predetermined test cycle in each case once the correspondence has been determined, and

a first error is detected as a function of the estimated conversion rate and the predetermined conversion rate.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

a temperature of the exhaust gas catalytic converter is detected or determined and the relevant estimated conversion rate is allocated,

a chronological sequence of the detected or the determined temperatures of the exhaust gas catalytic converter is checked for the presence of a predetermined temperature curve and

if the predetermined temperature curve is present, a chronological sequence that belongs to a chronological sequence of the detected or the determined temperatures of the exhaust gas catalytic converter of the estimated conversion rates is in each case checked for the presence of a conversion rate curve that is characteristic of a second error.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein as a function of the chronological sequence of the conversion rates estimated in each case, at least one of a local damage to the exhaust gas catalytic converter in a front part and a local damage to the exhaust gas catalytic converter in a rear part of the exhaust gas catalytic converter is detected as the second error.

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the predetermined temperature curve represents a monotonously rising or a monotonously falling temperature of the exhaust gas catalytic converter.

7. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the predetermined temperature curve includes a rise in the temperature above or a fall in the temperature below a predetermined minimum operating temperature of the exhaust gas catalytic converter.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the relevant estimated value of the emission of the at least one exhaust gas component is estimated as a function of an emission model as a function of the first exhaust gas sensor signal or the second exhaust gas sensor signal, a gradient signal, which is determined as a time derivation of the first or the second exhaust gas sensor signals and an mass air flow signal.

9. A device for diagnosing an exhaust gas catalytic converter, the device being operable to

detect a first exhaust gas sensor signal of a first exhaust gas sensor, which is arranged in an exhaust gas tract upstream of the exhaust gas catalytic converter,

detect a second exhaust gas sensor signal of a second exhaust gas sensor, which is arranged in the exhaust gas tract downstream of the exhaust gas catalytic converter,

determine a relevant first estimated value of an emission of at least one exhaust gas component in relation to a position of the first exhaust gas sensor in the exhaust gas tract as a function of the first exhaust gas sensor signal,

determine a relevant second estimated value of an emission of the at least one exhaust gas component in relation to a position of the second exhaust gas sensor in the exhaust gas tract as a function of the second exhaust gas sensor signal,

estimate a conversion rate of the—at least one—exhaust gas component as a function of a ratio of the second estimated value and the first estimated value of the emission determined and to

diagnose the exhaust gas catalytic converter as a function of the determined conversion rate.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the device is further operable to

integrate the first estimated value and the second estimated value are in each case over a predetermined period in time or over a predetermined length of route covered by a motor vehicle, and to

estimate the conversion rate of the at least one exhaust gas component as a function of a relation between the integrated second and the integrated first estimated value of the emission.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein

at least one value, which is representative of a driving profile with which the motor vehicle is currently being driven is each time integrated over the predetermined period of time or over the predetermined distance covered by a motor vehicle,

a correspondence of the driving profile with at least one part of a predetermined test cycle is determined as a function of the at least one integrated value,

the estimated conversion rate is compared with a predetermined conversion rate for the—at least one—part of the predetermined test cycle in each case once the correspondence has been determined, and

a first error is detected as a function of the estimated conversion rate and the predetermined conversion rate.

12. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the device is further operable to

detect or determine a temperature of the exhaust gas catalytic converter and to allocate the relevant estimated conversion rate,

check a chronological sequence of the detected or the determined temperatures of the exhaust gas catalytic converter for the presence of a predetermined temperature curve and

if the predetermined temperature curve is present, to check a chronological sequence that belongs to a chronological sequence of the detected or the determined temperatures of the exhaust gas catalytic converter of the estimated conversion rates in each case for the presence of a conversion rate curve that is characteristic of a second error.

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein as a function of the chronological sequence of the conversion rates estimated in each case, at least one of a local damage to the exhaust gas catalytic converter in a front part and a local damage to the exhaust gas catalytic converter in a rear part of the exhaust gas catalytic converter is detected as the second error.

14. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the predetermined temperature curve represents a monotonously rising or a monotonously falling temperature of the exhaust gas catalytic converter.

15. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the predetermined temperature curve includes a rise in the temperature above or a fall in the temperature below a predetermined minimum operating temperature of the exhaust gas catalytic converter.

16. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the device is further operable to estimate the relevant estimated value of the emission of the at least one exhaust gas component as a function of an emission model as a function of the first exhaust gas sensor signal or the second exhaust gas sensor signal, a gradient signal, which is determined as a time derivation of the first or the second exhaust gas sensor signals and an mass air flow signal.

17. A system for diagnosing an exhaust gas catalytic converter, comprising:

a first exhaust gas sensor which is arranged in an exhaust gas tract upstream of the exhaust gas catalytic converter and provides a first exhaust gas sensor signal,

a second exhaust gas sensor which is arranged in the exhaust gas tract downstream of the exhaust gas catalytic converter and provides a second exhaust gas sensor signal,

means for determining a relevant first estimated value of an emission of at least one exhaust gas component in relation to a position of the first exhaust gas sensor in the exhaust gas tract as a function of the first exhaust gas sensor signal,

means for determining a relevant second estimated value of an emission of the at least one gas component in relation to a position of the second exhaust gas sensor in the exhaust gas tract as a relation to the second exhaust gas sensor signal,

means for estimating a conversion rate of the at least one exhaust gas component as a function of a relation between the second estimated value and the first estimated value of the determined emission, and

means for diagnosing the exhaust gas catalytic converter as a function of the determined conversion rate.

18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein

the first estimated value and the second estimated value are in each case integrated over a predetermined period in time or over a predetermined length of route covered by a motor vehicle and

the conversion rate of the at least one exhaust gas component is estimated as a function of a relation between the integrated second and the integrated first estimated value of the emission.

19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein

at least one value, which is representative of a driving profile with which the motor vehicle is currently being driven is each time integrated over the predetermined period of time or over the predetermined distance covered by a motor vehicle,

a correspondence of the driving profile with at least one part of a predetermined test cycle is determined as a function of the at least one integrated value,

the estimated conversion rate is compared with a predetermined conversion rate for the—at least one—part of the predetermined test cycle in each case once the correspondence has been determined, and

a first error is detected as a function of the estimated conversion rate and the predetermined conversion rate.

20. The system according to claim 17 , wherein

a temperature of the exhaust gas catalytic converter is detected or determined and the relevant estimated conversion rate is allocated,

a chronological sequence of the detected or the determined temperatures of the exhaust gas catalytic converter is checked for the presence of a predetermined temperature curve and

if the predetermined temperature curve is present, a chronological sequence that belongs to a chronological sequence of the detected or the determined temperatures of the exhaust gas catalytic converter of the estimated conversion rates is in each case checked for the presence of a conversion rate curve that is characteristic of a second error.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2020
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 053349/0476 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2009
From: BRANDT, MARTIN; ROSEL, GERD
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 023291/0796 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2008 038 677 · Aug 12, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100037592A1 · Feb 18, 2010