Power plants – Internal combustion engine with treatment or handling of... – Methods
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-05
2001-10-02
Denion, Thomas (Department: 3748)
Power plants
Internal combustion engine with treatment or handling of...
Methods
C060S276000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295806
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to the monitoring of internal combustion engines and more particularly to a method for predicting the temperature of a catalyst in a catalytic converter in real time based on the operating conditions of the vehicle.
2. Discussion
Catalytic converters are used to reduce major air pollutants, such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen, contained in the exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. Each converter contains catalysts that produce an exothermic chemical reaction that transforms noxious pollutants into carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapor. The catalytic converter is integrated downstream from the vehicle's engine into the vehicle's exhaust system.
The effectiveness of reducing pollutants by a catalytic converter is highly dependent on the temperature and total gas throughput, which in turn depends on the operational states and conditions of the internal combustion engine. The ability to determine the temperature of the catalyst permits the use of various control strategies that may minimize emissions and/or protect the catalyst from exposure to excessive temperatures. Accordingly, it is necessary to determine the temperature of a catalyst in a catalytic converter in a reliable and accurate manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide a method for calculating the temperature of a catalyst in a catalytic converter.
It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a method for calculating the temperature of a catalyst in a catalytic converter which takes into account various factors associated with the operation of a vehicle having a spark-ignited internal combustion engine.
In one form, the present invention provides a method for calculating the temperature of a catalyst in a catalytic converter. The method includes the steps of determining a first catalyst temperature; determining a stabilized catalyst temperature; and using the first catalyst temperature, the stabilized catalyst temperature and an update fraction to calculate an updated catalyst temperature.
Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Bartlett Andrew C
Iyengar Jayanthi
Mazak James G
Mazure Steven R
Oshnock Gary R
Calcaterra Mark P.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Denion Thomas
Nguyen Tu M.
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