Fuel efficient ammonia generation strategy for lean-burn engines utilizing passive NH3-SCR for the control of NOx

1. A method for operating an ammonia generation cycle in an internal combustion engine and a connected aftertreatment system, the method comprising:

operating a deceleration fuel cut-off function command during normal operation of the engine, the deceleration fuel cut-off function command depriving the engine of fuel during deceleration events;

monitoring operation of the engine and the aftertreatment system;

determining a need to generate ammonia based upon the monitored operation;

based upon the determined need and prior to executing the deceleration fuel cut-off function command for an impending deceleration event:

determining a present oxygen storage amount in the aftertreatment system based upon the monitored operation;

monitoring driver commands to the engine;

determining a predicted deceleration time for the impending deceleration event based upon the monitored operation and the monitored commands;

determining a predicted air to fuel ratio in the aftertreatment system if the deceleration fuel cut-off function command is executed during the impending deceleration event;

determining a predicted oxygen storage content in the aftertreatment system after the deceleration event based upon the predicted air to fuel ratio in the aftertreatment system if the deceleration fuel cut-off function command is executed and the present oxygen storage amount;

determining a predicted air to fuel ratio in the aftertreatment system if the deceleration fuel cut-off function command is not executed during the impending deceleration event;

determining a predicted oxygen storage content in the aftertreatment system after the deceleration event based upon the predicted air to fuel ratio in the aftertreatment system if the deceleration fuel cut-off function command is not executed and the present oxygen storage amount;

comparing the predicted oxygen storage contents; and

selectively overriding the deceleration fuel cut-off function command based upon the comparing indicating an ability to reduce oxygen storage in the aftertreatment system during the impending deceleration event.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

based upon the monitored driver commands, the need to generate ammonia, and the present oxygen storage amount, operating the ammonia generation cycle.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein operating the ammonia generation cycle comprises:

monitoring a parameter of engine operation during operation in a first gear;

prior to an impending gear shift to a second gear, projecting behavior of the parameter of engine operation after the impending gear shift based on the monitored parameter of engine operation during operation in a first gear;

comparing the parameter of engine operation after the impending gear shift to a threshold delineating operation of the engine in one of a stoichiometric operation and rich operation; and

operating the ammonia generation cycle after the impending gear shift based upon the comparing indicating the parameter of engine operation exceeding the threshold.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the parameter of engine operation comprises an engine speed, and wherein the threshold comprises a lean operating limit based upon the engine speed.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the parameter of engine operation comprises an accelerator pedal position, and wherein the threshold comprises a threshold accelerator pedal position.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein projecting behavior of the parameter of engine operation after the impending gear shift comprises:

monitoring a current accelerator pedal position; and

determining a projected accelerator pedal position based upon the current accelerator pedal position and an accelerator pedal projection factor.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the parameter of engine operation comprises signals from an adaptive cruise control system; and

the method further comprising determining an opportunity to operate an ammonia generation cycle after the impending gear shift based upon the signals from the adaptive cruise control system.

8. The method of claim 3 , further comprising monitoring a vehicle position based upon data from a GPS device and a 3D map database; and

wherein the parameter of engine operation is based upon the monitored vehicle position.

9. The method of claim 3 , wherein the threshold comprises a lean operating limit for the engine.

10. The system of claim 2 , wherein the programming operating the ammonia generation cycle comprises programming configured to:

monitor a parameter of engine operation during operation in a first gear;

prior to an impending gear shift to a second gear, project behavior of the parameter of engine operation after the impending gear shift based on the monitored parameter of engine operation during operation in a first gear;

compare the parameter of engine operation after the impending gear shift to a threshold delineating operation of the engine in one of a stoichiometric operation and rich operation; and

operate the ammonia generation cycle after the impending gear shift based upon the comparing indicating the parameter of engine operation exceeding the threshold.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

an engine speed sensor;

wherein monitoring the parameter of engine operation comprises monitoring the engine speed sensor and an engine load; and

wherein the threshold comprises a lean operating limit based upon engine speed and engine load.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

an accelerator pedal position sensor;

wherein monitoring the parameter of engine operation comprises monitoring the accelerator pedal position sensor; and

wherein the threshold comprises a lean operating limit accelerator pedal position.

13. A system for operating an ammonia generation cycle in an internal combustion engine and a connected aftertreatment system, the system comprising:

a control module including programming configured to electronically control the engine, the control module configured to:

operate a deceleration fuel cut-off function command during normal operation of the engine, the deceleration fuel cut-off function command depriving the engine of fuel during deceleration events;

monitor operation of the engine and the aftertreatment system;

determine a need to generate ammonia based upon the monitored operation;

based upon the determined need and prior to executing the deceleration fuel cut-off function command for an impending deceleration event:

determine a present oxygen storage amount in the aftertreatment system based upon the monitored operation;

monitoring driver commands to the engine;

determine a predicted deceleration time for the impending deceleration event based upon the monitored operation and the monitored commands;

determine a predicted air to fuel ratio in the aftertreatment system if the deceleration fuel cut-off function command is executed during the impending deceleration event;

determine a predicted oxygen storage content in the aftertreatment system after the deceleration event based upon the predicted air to fuel ratio in the aftertreatment system if the deceleration fuel cut-off function command is executed and the present oxygen storage amount;

determine a predicted air to fuel ratio in the aftertreatment system if the deceleration fuel cut-off function command is not executed during the impending deceleration event;

determine a predicted oxygen storage content in the aftertreatment system after the deceleration event based upon the predicted air to fuel ratio in the aftertreatment system if the deceleration fuel cut-off function command is not executed and the present oxygen storage amount;

compare the predicted oxygen storage contents; and

selectively override the deceleration fuel cut-off function command based upon the comparing indicating an ability to reduce oxygen storage in the aftertreatment system during the impending deceleration event.

14. The system of claim 13 , the programming being further configured to:

based upon the monitored driver commands, the need to generate ammonia, and the present oxygen storage amount, operate the ammonia generation cycle.

15. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

an engine speed sensor;

wherein monitoring the parameter of engine operation comprises monitoring the engine speed sensor; and

wherein the threshold comprises a lean operating limit engine speed.