Model based enrichment for exhaust temperature protection

Details Model based enrichment for exhaust temperature protection Model based enrichment for exhaust temperature protection

2000-02-23

2001-09-11

Denion, Thomas (Department: 3748)

Power plants

Internal combustion engine with treatment or handling of...

By means producing a chemical reaction of a component of the...

C060S277000, C060S274000, C073S118040

Reexamination Certificate

active

06286305

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to the control of internal combustion engines and more particularly to a control device and a method for controlling the enrichment of a fuel/air ratio supplied to an internal combustion engine to maintain the temperature of a catalyst in a catalytic converter below a predetermined temperature limit.
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 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. Over time, catalyst efficiency degrades and thus decreases the capacity of the converter to convert noxious pollutants. Increasingly stringent federal and state motor vehicle emission standards include regulations on the longevity of emission controlling devices such as catalytic converters.
One factor which causes the performance of the catalytic converter to severely deteriorate over time due is the operation of the catalytic converter at high temperatures for prolonged periods of time. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a controller and a method for controlling the operation of the vehicle to maintain the temperature of the catalyst in the catalytic converter below a predetermined temperature limit so as to prolong the effective life of the catalytic converter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide a method which controls the temperature of a catalyst in a catalytic converter below a predetermined temperature limit.
It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling the temperature of a catalyst in a catalytic converter through the enrichment of a fuel/air ratio.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle having a controller for controlling the enrichment of an air/fuel ratio to control the temperature of a catalyst in a catalytic converter.
In one form, the present invention provides a method for controlling the temperature of a catalyst in a catalytic converter. The method includes the steps of calculating a stabilized catalyst temperature limit, determining a stabilized catalyst temperature without enrichment, comparing the stabilized catalyst temperature limit with the stabilized catalyst temperature without enrichment and enriching a fuel/air ratio to maintain a stabilized catalyst temperature at the stabilized catalyst temperature limit if the stabilized catalyst temperature without enrichment is greater than the stabilized catalyst temperature limit. A vehicle having a controller for controlling the enrichment of an air/fuel ratio to control the temperature of a catalyst in a catalytic converter is also provided.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5018348 (1991-05-01), Dürschmidt et al.
patent: 5414994 (1995-05-01), Cullen et al.
patent: 5606855 (1997-03-01), Tomisawa
patent: 5645745 (1997-07-01), Hartwick et al.
patent: 5722236 (1998-03-01), Cullen et al.
patent: 5729971 (1998-03-01), Matsuno et al.
patent: 5802843 (1998-09-01), Kurihara et al.
patent: 5802844 (1998-09-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5847271 (1998-12-01), Poublon et al.
patent: 5855113 (1999-01-01), Cullen et al.
patent: 5857163 (1999-01-01), Trombley et al.
patent: 5930993 (1999-08-01), Kammann et al.
patent: 5945597 (1999-08-01), Poublon et al.
patent: 5983628 (1999-11-01), Borroni-Bird et al.
patent: 5987885 (1999-11-01), Kizer et al.
patent: 6006153 (1999-12-01), Stander et al.
patent: 6050087 (2000-04-01), Kurihara et al.
patent: 6092368 (2000-07-01), Ishii et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Model based enrichment for exhaust temperature protection does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Model based enrichment for exhaust temperature protection, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Model based enrichment for exhaust temperature protection will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2546763