IP Library Granted Patent US 9,957,911
Granted Patent B2
US 9,957,911 · App. 15/046,580 · Granted May 1, 2018

Dedicated exhaust gas recirculation control systems and methods

Inventors: David P. Sczomak (Troy, MI); Kushal Narayanaswamy (Troy, MI); Edward J. Keating (Ortonville, MI)
Assignees: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC; U.S. Department of Energy
F02D41/3011F01N3/2066F01N3/2073F02D35/0015F02D41/005F02D41/008F02D41/0052F02D41/0065F02D41/1463F02M26/05F02M26/15F02M26/35F02M26/38F02M26/43F02M26/71Y02T10/22Y02T10/47
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,957,911
App. No.
15/046,580
Granted
May 1, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An engine control system of a vehicle includes a fuel control module that controls fuel injection of a first cylinder of an engine based on a first target air/fuel ratio that is fuel lean relative to a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and that controls fuel injection of a second cylinder of the engine based on a second target air/fuel ratio that is fuel rich relative to stoichiometry. The first cylinder outputs exhaust to a first three way catalyst (TWC), and the second cylinder outputs exhaust to an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. An EGR control module controls opening of the EGR valve to: (i) a second TWC that reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust and outputs ammonia to a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst; and (ii) a conduit that recirculates exhaust back to an intake system of the engine.

Claims (62)

1. An engine control system of a vehicle, comprising:

a fuel control module that controls fuel injection of a first cylinder of an engine based on a first target air/fuel ratio that is fuel lean relative to a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and that controls fuel injection of a second cylinder of the engine based on a second target air/fuel ratio that is fuel rich relative to stoichiometry,

wherein the first cylinder outputs exhaust to a first three way catalyst (TWC), and

wherein the second cylinder outputs exhaust to an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve; and

an EGR control module that controls opening of the EGR valve to:

(i) a second TWC that reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust and outputs ammonia to a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst;

(ii) a conduit that recirculates exhaust back to an intake system of the engine at a location downstream of a compressor of a turbocharger; and

(iii) the first TWC.

2. An engine control system of a vehicle, comprising:

a fuel control module that controls fuel injection of a first cylinder of an engine based on a first target air/fuel ratio that is fuel lean relative to a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and that controls fuel injection of a second cylinder of the engine based on a second target air/fuel ratio that is fuel rich relative to stoichiometry,

wherein the first cylinder outputs exhaust to a first three way catalyst (TWC), and

wherein the second cylinder outputs exhaust to an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve; and

an EGR control module that controls opening of the EGR valve to:

(i) a second TWC that reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust and outputs ammonia to a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst;

(ii) a conduit that recirculates exhaust back to an intake system of the engine; and

(iii) the first TWC.

3. The engine control system of claim 2 wherein the fuel control module increases the second target air/fuel ratio to lean fueling of the second cylinder when NOx measured using a Nox sensor downstream of the SCR catalyst is less than a target Nox at the Nox sensor.

4. The engine control system of claim 2

wherein, when NOx measured using a Nox sensor downstream of the SCR catalyst is greater than a target Nox at the Nox sensor, the EGR control module:

increases the opening of the EGR valve to the second TWC to increase exhaust flow to the second TWC; and

decreases the opening of the EGR valve to the conduit that directs exhaust back to the intake system to decrease exhaust recirculation back to the intake system.

5. The engine control system of claim 2

wherein, when NOx measured using a Nox sensor downstream of the SCR catalyst is less than a target Nox at the Nox sensor, the EGR control module:

decreases the opening of the EGR valve to the second TWC to decrease exhaust flow to the second TWC; and

increases the opening of the EGR valve to the conduit that directs exhaust back to the intake system to increase exhaust recirculation back to the intake system.

6. The engine control system of claim 2 wherein the fuel control module decreases the second target air/fuel ratio to richen fueling of the second cylinder when an air/fuel ratio measured using a sensor in the conduit is greater than a target air/fuel ratio at the sensor.

7. The engine control system of claim 2 wherein the fuel control module increases the second target air/fuel ratio to lean fueling of the second cylinder when an air/fuel ratio measured using a sensor in the conduit is less than a target air/fuel ratio at the sensor.

8. The engine control system of claim 2 further comprising a throttle control module that, when an air/fuel ratio measured using a sensor in the conduit is greater than a target air/fuel ratio at the sensor, decreases an opening of a throttle valve that regulates flow from an intake manifold into the second cylinder,

wherein the throttle valve does not regulate flow from the intake manifold into the first cylinder.

9. The engine control system of claim 2 further comprising a throttle control module that, when an air/fuel ratio measured using a sensor in the conduit is less than a target air/fuel ratio at the sensor, increases an opening of a throttle valve that regulates flow from an intake manifold into the second cylinder,

wherein the throttle valve does not regulate flow from the intake manifold into the first cylinder.

10. The engine control system of claim 2 wherein:

the first TWC includes one or more materials that provide an oxygen storage capacity of at least a predetermined capacity that is greater than zero; and

the second TWC has an oxygen storage capacity of approximately zero.

11. An engine control method for a vehicle, comprising:

controlling fuel injection of a first cylinder of an engine based on a first target air/fuel ratio that is fuel lean relative to a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio,

wherein the first cylinder outputs exhaust to a first three way catalyst (TWC);

controlling fuel injection of a second cylinder of the engine based on a second target air/fuel ratio that is fuel rich relative to stoichiometry,

wherein the second cylinder outputs exhaust to an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve; and

controlling opening of the EGR valve to:

(i) a second TWC that reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust and outputs ammonia to a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst; and

(ii) a conduit that recirculates exhaust back to an intake system of the engine; and

(iii) the first TWC.

12. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising decreasing the second target air/fuel ratio to richen fueling of the second cylinder when NOx measured using a NOx sensor downstream of the SCR catalyst is greater than a target NOx at the NOx sensor.

13. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising increasing the second target air/fuel ratio to lean fueling of the second cylinder when NOx measured using a NOx sensor downstream of the SCR catalyst is less than a target NOx at the NOx sensor.

14. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising, when NOx measured using a NOx sensor downstream of the SCR catalyst is greater than a target NOx at the NOx sensor:

increasing the opening of the EGR valve to the second TWC to increase exhaust flow to the second TWC; and

decreasing the opening of the EGR valve to the conduit that directs exhaust back to the intake system to decrease exhaust recirculation back to the intake system.

15. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising, when NOx measured using a NOx sensor downstream of the SCR catalyst is less than a target NOx at the NOx sensor:

decreasing the opening of the EGR valve to the second TWC to decrease exhaust flow to the second TWC; and

increasing the opening of the EGR valve to the conduit that directs exhaust back to the intake system to increase exhaust recirculation back to the intake system.

16. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising:

decreasing the second target air/fuel ratio to richen fueling of the second cylinder when an air/fuel ratio measured using a sensor in the conduit is greater than a target air/fuel ratio at the sensor; and

increasing the second target air/fuel ratio to lean fueling of the second cylinder when the air/fuel ratio measured using the sensor in the conduit is less than the target air/fuel ratio at the sensor.

17. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising, when an air/fuel ratio measured using a sensor in the conduit is greater than a target air/fuel ratio at the sensor, decreasing an opening of a throttle valve that regulates flow from an intake manifold into the second cylinder,

wherein the throttle valve does not regulate flow from the intake manifold into the first cylinder.

18. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising, when an air/fuel ratio measured using a sensor in the conduit is less than a target air/fuel ratio at the sensor, increasing an opening of a throttle valve that regulates flow from an intake manifold into the second cylinder,

wherein the throttle valve does not regulate flow from the intake manifold into the first cylinder.

19. The engine control method of claim 11 wherein:

the first TWC includes one or more materials that provide an oxygen storage capacity of at least a predetermined capacity that is greater than zero; and

the second TWC has an oxygen storage capacity of approximately zero.

20. The engine control system of claim 2 wherein the fuel control module decreases the second target air/fuel ratio to richen fueling of the second cylinder when NOx measured using a Nox sensor downstream of the SCR catalyst is greater than a target Nox at the Nox sensor.

Assignments (3)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Sep 17, 2025
From: GENERAL MOTORS GLOBAL PROPULSION SYSTEMS
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 072910/0274 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jan 6, 2017
From: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 041293/0009 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2016
From: SCZOMAK, DAVID P.; NARAYANASWAMY, KUSHAL; KEATING, EDWARD J.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 038264/0430 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170241364A1 · Aug 24, 2017