IP Library Granted Patent US 8,539,759
Granted Patent B2
US 8,539,759 · App. 11/531,466 · Granted Sep 24, 2013

Regeneration control system for a particulate filter

Inventors: Frank Ament (Troy, MI); David B. Brown (Brighton, MI)
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,539,759
App. No.
11/531,466
Granted
Sep 24, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A regeneration control system for a particulate filter (PF) includes a condition module and an oxygen-level module. The condition module determines whether an oxygen limiting event is required for the PF during a regeneration event. The oxygen-level control module communicates with the condition module and selectively limits an oxygen level in the PF during the regeneration event.

Claims (43)

1. A regeneration control system for a particulate filter (PF) comprising:

a mass air flow (MAF) sensor that generates a MAF signal;

a condition module that determines whether an oxygen limiting event is to be performed for the PF during a regeneration event based on the MAF signal;

an oxygen-level module that communicates with the condition module and selectively limits an oxygen level in the PF during the oxygen limiting event,

wherein the condition module determines a maximum oxygen content level based on the MAF signal and generates an air flow reduction signal in response to detecting the oxygen level in the PF being greater than the maximum oxygen content level; and

a timer that starts timing when the oxygen-level module limits the oxygen level in the PF, wherein

the condition module generates a disable signal to disable the timer and stop the limiting of the oxygen level in the PF after a predetermined period,

in response to the timer expiring and while the oxygen level in the PF is greater than the maximum oxygen content level, the oxygen-level module does not limit the oxygen level in the PF, and

while the oxygen level in the PF is less than or equal to the maximum oxygen content level, the oxygen-level module limits the oxygen level in the PF and the condition module determines whether the timer has expired.

2. The regeneration control system of claim 1 wherein the condition module determines whether to limit the oxygen level in the PF based on at least one of an oxygen level signal and a temperature signal.

3. The regeneration control system of claim 2 wherein the oxygen-level module limits the oxygen level in the PF during the oxygen limiting event in response to the oxygen level signal exceeding the maximum oxygen content level.

4. The regeneration control system of claim 3 wherein the oxygen-level module limits the oxygen level in the PF during the oxygen limiting event in response to the temperature signal exceeding a temperature threshold.

5. The regeneration control system of claim 4 wherein the oxygen-level module limits the oxygen level in the PF during the oxygen limiting event when the MAF signal does not exceed an airflow threshold.

6. The regeneration control system of claim 1 wherein the oxygen-level module limits the oxygen level in the PF with at least one of an exhaust gas recirculation valve, a variable nozzle turbine turbo, and a throttle.

7. The regeneration control system of claim 1 wherein the oxygen-level module refrains from limiting the oxygen level in the PF in response to the disable signal being generated.

8. The regeneration control system of claim 1 wherein the oxygen-level module generates a control signal based on the air flow reduction signal to adjust at least one of a throttle, an exhaust gas recirculation valve and a turbine turbo.

9. The regeneration control system of claim 1 wherein the condition module determines the maximum oxygen content level based on an exhaust flow rate.

10. The regeneration control system of claim 1 wherein the oxygen-level module generates a control signal based on the air flow reduction signal to adjust a throttle, an exhaust gas recirculation valve and a turbine turbo.

11. The regeneration control system of claim 1 , wherein the condition module generates the air flow reduction signal to prevent the oxygen level in the PF from being greater than the maximum oxygen content level.

12. The regeneration control system of claim 1 wherein:

the condition module (i) determines a temperature of exhaust gases received by the PF, and (ii) determines whether the oxygen level in the PF is greater than the maximum oxygen content level in response to the temperature of exhaust gases received by the PF being greater than a temperature threshold;

the timer is started in response to the temperature of exhaust gases received by the PF being greater than the temperature threshold; and

the oxygen-level module ceases to limit the oxygen level in the PF in response to the timer expiring.

13. A method of reducing temperature in a particulate filter (PF) comprising:

generating a mass air flow (MAF) signal;

determining whether an oxygen limiting event is to be performed for the PF during a regeneration event based on the MAF signal;

determining a maximum oxygen content level based on the MAF signal

selectively limiting an oxygen level in the PF during the oxygen limiting event including generating an air flow reduction signal in response to detecting the oxygen level in the PF being greater than the maximum oxygen content level;

starting a timer when limiting the oxygen level in the PF;

generating a disable signal to disable the timer and stop the limiting of the oxygen level in the PF after a predetermined period;

in response to the timer expiring and while the oxygen level in the PF is greater than the maximum oxygen content level, not limiting the oxygen level in the PF; and

while to the oxygen level in the PF is less than or equal to the maximum oxygen content level, limiting the oxygen level in the PF and determining whether the timer has expired.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining whether to limit the oxygen level in the PF during the oxygen limiting event based on at least one of an oxygen level signal and a temperature signal.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising limiting the oxygen level in the PF during the oxygen limiting event in response to the oxygen level signal exceeding the maximum oxygen content level.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising limiting the oxygen level in the PF during the oxygen limiting event in response to the temperature signal exceeding a temperature threshold.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising limiting the oxygen level in the PF during the oxygen limiting event when the MAF signal does not exceed an airflow threshold.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising limiting the oxygen level in the PF with at least one of an exhaust gas recirculation valve, a variable nozzle turbine turbo, and a throttle.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising refraining from limiting the oxygen level in the PF when the disable signal is generated.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

determining a temperature of exhaust gases received by the PF

determining whether the oxygen level in the PF is greater than the maximum oxygen content level in response to the temperature of exhaust gases received by the PF being greater than a temperature threshold;

starting the timer in response to the temperature of exhaust gases received by the PF being greater than the temperature threshold; and

ceasing to limit the oxygen level in the PF in response to the timer expiring.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034184/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025327/0041 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025314/0901 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0656 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0140 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0264 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0663 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0563 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022553/0540 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0363 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2006
From: AMENT, FRANK; BROWN, DAVID B.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC
Reel/Frame 018326/0233 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080060350A1 · Mar 13, 2008