Urea cavity monitoring method and system and vehicle

Abstract

The invention provides a monitoring method and system for a urea cavity and a vehicle, and belongs to the technical field of vehicles, and the monitoring method for the urea cavity comprises the steps that in response to a control instruction for heating urea in a containing cavity, a heating device is controlled to heat the urea; at the first moment in the heating process, the first urea liquid level of the area where the heating device is located is obtained, and the first urea amount actually contained in the containing cavity is determined based on the urea consumption amount of the vehicle; based on the first urea amount and the first urea liquid level, whether a cavity exists in the containing cavity or not is determined; and when there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity, sending a cavity risk alarm. According to the method, the estimated value obtained based on the first urea liquid level is compared with the first urea amount, whether the estimated value and the first urea amount are different or not is judged, then whether the cavity exists in the containing cavity or not is determined, and effective detection of the urea cavity is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of vehicle technology, and in particular to a urea cavity monitoring method, system and vehicle. Background Art

[0002] In order to reduce the content of nitrogen oxides in vehicle emissions, a urea system is installed on the vehicle to provide urea to the after-treatment system to reduce nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen. Due to the low melting point of urea, urea often condenses in winter, making it impossible to pump urea out of the urea tank normally.

[0003] In the related art, a heating device is provided in the urea tank to melt the condensed urea in the tank. However, under extremely low temperature conditions, the speed at which the heating device melts urea cannot meet the urea demand of the vehicle. When all the urea near the heating device is melted and consumed, the portion between the heating device and the condensed urea filled with air is the urea cavity. The air in the urea cavity is a poor heat conduction medium, so the heat transfer efficiency between the heating device and the condensed urea will be greatly reduced in the presence of the urea cavity. Summary of the invention

[0004] Based on this, the present application provides a urea cavity monitoring method, system and vehicle to solve the problem of how to monitor the urea cavity.

[0005] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a method for monitoring a urea cavity is provided. The method is applied to a urea system. The urea system includes a urea tank, the urea tank is provided with a accommodating cavity for accommodating urea, at least one heating device is provided in the accommodating cavity, and the difference between the size of the heating device in the height direction of the urea liquid level and the maximum urea liquid level height is less than a preset value. The method includes:

[0006] In response to a control instruction to heat the urea in the accommodating chamber, controlling the heating device to heat the urea;

[0007] At a first moment in the heating process, obtaining a first urea liquid level in an area where the heating device is located, and determining a first urea amount actually contained in the containing chamber based on a consumption of the urea by the vehicle;

[0008] determining whether there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity based on the first urea amount and the first urea liquid level;

[0009] When there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity, a cavity risk warning is sent.

[0010] Optionally, before controlling the heating device to heat the urea in response to the control instruction to heat the urea in the accommodating chamber, the method further includes:

[0011] At a second moment when the urea contained in the containing cavity is all liquid urea, obtaining a second urea liquid level in the containing cavity;

[0012] The determining, based on the consumption of the urea by the vehicle, the first amount of urea actually contained in the containing chamber comprises:

[0013] The first urea amount is determined based on the second urea liquid level and the urea consumption of the vehicle between the second time instant and the first time instant.

[0014] Optionally, the first urea amount is a volume of urea actually contained in the containing chamber, and the determining whether there is a cavity in the containing chamber based on the first urea amount and the first urea liquid level includes:

[0015] determining a second urea amount based on the first urea liquid level and the bottom area of ​​the accommodating cavity, wherein the second urea amount is an estimated volume of urea in the accommodating cavity;

[0016] Based on the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount, it is determined whether there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity.

[0017] Optionally, when there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity, sending a cavity risk warning includes:

[0018] Determining a cavity risk level in the accommodating cavity based on the difference and a preset difference;

[0019] sending a cavity risk warning corresponding to the cavity risk level;

[0020] Among them, different cavity risk warnings correspond to different warning strategies.

[0021] Optionally, determining the cavity risk level in the accommodating cavity based on the difference and a preset difference includes:

[0022] When the difference is less than a first preset difference, determining that the cavity risk level is a low level;

[0023] When the difference is greater than or equal to the first preset difference and less than the second preset difference, determining that the cavity risk level is a medium level;

[0024] When the difference is greater than or equal to the second preset difference, determining that the cavity risk level is a high level;

[0025] The first preset difference is smaller than the second preset difference.

[0026] Optionally, a plurality of the heating devices are provided in the accommodating chamber, and determining whether there is a cavity in the accommodating chamber based on the first urea amount and the first urea liquid level includes:

[0027] Based on the first urea liquid level and the first urea amount corresponding to each of the heating devices, determining whether there is a cavity in the area where the heating device is located;

[0028] When there is a cavity in the area where any of the heating devices is located, it is determined that there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity. In a second aspect of the embodiment of the present application, a monitoring system is provided, including a urea system and a monitoring module, wherein the urea system includes a urea tank, wherein the urea tank is provided with an accommodating cavity for accommodating urea, wherein at least one heating device is provided in the accommodating cavity, and the difference between the dimension of the heating device in the height direction of the urea liquid level and the maximum urea liquid level height is less than a preset value;

[0029] The monitoring module is used to execute the urea cavity monitoring method described in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application.

[0030] Optionally, the heating device comprises a heating tube, the length direction of the heating tube extends along the height direction of the accommodating cavity, and the difference between the length value of the heating tube and the maximum urea liquid level height value is less than the preset value;

[0031] Wherein, the tube wall of the heating tube is provided with at least one through hole, and the at least one through hole is located at one end of the heating tube close to the bottom of the urea tank.

[0032] Optionally, a liquid level sensor is arranged inside the heating tube, and the liquid level sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor and / or a float-type liquid level sensor.

[0033] A third aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a vehicle, comprising the monitoring system described in the second aspect of the embodiments of the present application, or comprising a controller, wherein the controller is used to implement the steps of the urea cavity monitoring method described in the first aspect of the embodiments of the present application.

[0034] The present application provides a urea cavity monitoring method, system and vehicle, the method comprising: in response to a control instruction to heat the urea in the accommodating cavity, controlling the heating device to heat the urea; at a first moment in the heating process, acquiring a first urea liquid level in an area where the heating device is located, and determining a first urea amount actually contained in the accommodating cavity based on the urea consumption of the vehicle; determining whether there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity based on the first urea amount and the first urea liquid level; and sending a cavity risk warning when there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity.

[0035] The present application sets a heating device in the urea box, wherein the size difference between the size in the urea liquid level height direction and the maximum urea liquid level height is less than the preset size difference. In the process of heating the urea by the heating device, the urea liquid level of the liquid urea heated and melted in the heating area and the first urea amount actually contained in the urea box accommodating chamber are obtained, and then the urea cavity is monitored based on the first urea liquid level and the first urea amount. The present application can calculate the estimated value of urea in the accommodating chamber based on the first urea liquid level of the liquid urea in the area where the heating device is located. At the same time, the actual value of urea in the accommodating chamber can be obtained based on the first urea amount, and the estimated value obtained based on the first urea liquid level is compared with the first urea amount to determine whether there is a difference between the two, and then determine whether there is a cavity in the accommodating chamber, thereby achieving effective detection of the urea cavity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments of the present application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative labor.

[0037] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a urea cavity provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a urea system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 3 It is a step diagram of a urea cavity monitoring method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 4 is a step diagram of another urea cavity monitoring method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 5 is a urea distribution diagram in the accommodating chamber at the second moment provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 6 This is a step diagram of a method for determining a urea cavity provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 7 This is a step diagram of a method for sending a cavity risk warning provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 8 It is a step diagram of a method for monitoring urea cavities of multiple heating devices provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Fig. 9is a flow chart of a urea cavity monitoring method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Fig.10 It is a flow chart of a method for monitoring urea cavities of multiple heating devices provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Fig.11 It is a structural schematic diagram of a monitoring system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Fig.12 This is a structural schematic diagram of a heating pipe connected to a urea pump provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Fig.13 It is a structural diagram of a urea system of a float type liquid level sensor provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0051] In order to reduce the content of nitrogen oxides in vehicle emissions, a urea system is installed on the vehicle to provide urea to the after-treatment system to reduce nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen. Due to the low melting point of urea, urea often condenses in winter, making it impossible to pump urea out of the urea tank normally.

[0052] In the related art, a heating device is provided in the urea tank to melt the condensed urea in the tank. However, under extremely low temperature conditions, the speed at which the heating device melts the urea cannot meet the urea demand of the vehicle. Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a urea cavity is shown. When the urea near the heating device is completely melted and consumed, the portion between the heating device and the condensed urea filled with air is the urea cavity. The air in the urea cavity is a poor heat conduction medium, so the heat transfer efficiency between the heating device and the condensed urea will be greatly reduced in the presence of the urea cavity.

[0053] Based on this, in order to solve the problem of how to monitor the urea cavity, the present application proposes a method, system and vehicle for monitoring the urea cavity, and a heating device is provided in the urea tank, the size difference between the size in the urea liquid level height direction and the maximum urea liquid level height is less than the preset size difference. In the process of heating the urea by the heating device, the urea liquid level of the liquid urea heated and melted in the heating area and the first urea amount actually contained in the urea tank accommodating cavity are obtained, and then the urea cavity is monitored based on the first urea liquid level and the first urea amount. Based on the first urea liquid level of the liquid urea in the area where the heating device is located, the present application can calculate the estimated value of the urea in the accommodating cavity. At the same time, based on the first urea amount, the actual value of the urea in the accommodating cavity can be obtained, and the estimated value obtained based on the first urea liquid level is compared with the first urea amount to determine whether there is a difference between the two, and then determine whether there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity, so as to achieve effective detection of the urea cavity. Specifically including:

[0054] The first aspect of the present application proposes an embodiment, referring to Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a urea system is shown, and Figure 3 A step diagram of a urea cavity monitoring method is shown. The monitoring method described in the present application is applied to a urea system, and is specifically applied to a controller in a urea system. The urea system includes a urea tank, the urea tank is provided with a accommodating cavity for accommodating urea, at least one heating device is arranged in the accommodating cavity, and the difference between the dimension of the heating device in the height direction of the urea liquid level and the maximum urea liquid level height is less than a preset value. The main steps of the urea cavity monitoring method include:

[0055] Step S101, in response to a control instruction to heat the urea in the accommodating chamber, controlling the heating device to heat the urea.

[0056] The urea system of the vehicle includes a urea box for storing urea and at least one heating device arranged in a receiving cavity inside the urea box. When the urea temperature acquired by the temperature sensor on the vehicle or the ambient temperature around the urea box is lower than a preset temperature or lower than the melting point of urea, the controller controls the heating device to heat the urea in response to a control instruction for heating the urea in the receiving cavity.

[0057] Step S102, at a first moment in the heating process, obtaining a first urea liquid level in the area where the heating device is located, and determining a first urea amount actually contained in the containing chamber based on the urea consumption of the vehicle.

[0058] The preset value of the difference between the size of the heating device in the height direction of the urea liquid level and the maximum urea liquid level height can be determined according to the maximum heating power of the heating device. The preset value should ensure that after the heating device is turned on with the maximum heating power, its effective heating range covers the condensed urea of ​​each height. In an optional embodiment, the preset value can be zero, that is, the size of the heating device in the height direction of the urea liquid level is equal to the maximum urea liquid level height, which means that the height of the heating device is equal to the height of the accommodating chamber.

[0059] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 The figure shows the distribution relationship of solid urea and liquid urea in the accommodating chamber when the urea system continues to spray urea outwards and the heating device heats the solid urea. The difference between the dimension of the heating device in the height direction of the urea liquid level and the maximum urea liquid level height is less than the preset value, so that after the heating device heats the condensed urea in the accommodating chamber, a through cavity containing liquid urea with the heating device as the center will be formed in the condensed solid urea. As the urea in the through cavity is consumed, the urea liquid level in the area where the heating device is located will gradually decrease. The part of the through cavity filled with air due to the consumption of liquid urea is the cavity in the accommodating chamber.

[0060] At the first moment in the process of heating urea by the heating device, the first urea liquid level of the liquid urea in the area where the heating device is located is obtained, that is, the urea liquid level of the liquid urea in the above-mentioned through cavity is obtained. The first moment may be any moment in the process of heating urea by the heating device. In an optional embodiment, the first urea liquid level may be obtained by a liquid level sensor disposed in the area where the heating device is located. When the first urea liquid level is obtained by the liquid level sensor, the detection range of the liquid level sensor should be limited to the range of the through cavity to avoid the liquid level sensor misdetecting the height of the solidified urea around the liquid urea as the first urea liquid level.

[0061] The urea consumption can be determined by the urea injection amount collected by the urea flowmeter. The urea injection amount sprayed by the urea nozzle is the urea consumption in the accommodating chamber. The initial urea amount in the accommodating chamber minus the urea consumption, where the initial urea amount is obtained before the first moment, can be used to obtain the first urea amount actually contained in the current accommodating chamber.

[0062] Step S103: determining whether there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity based on the first urea amount and the first urea liquid level.

[0063] The first urea amount represents the amount of urea actually contained in the containing chamber at the first moment, which includes solidified solid urea and liquid urea. The first urea liquid level represents the height of the liquid urea in the containing chamber at the first moment.

[0064] In an optional embodiment, the average height of the solid urea and the liquid urea in the accommodating chamber can be calculated by the first urea amount and the bottom area of ​​the accommodating chamber. Then, whether there is a cavity in the accommodating chamber is determined according to the difference between the average height and the first urea liquid level of the liquid urea.

[0065] If the average height is equal to the first urea liquid level, it indicates that the heights of the liquid urea and the solid urea are equal, and there is no cavity in the accommodating chamber. If the average height is higher than the first urea liquid level, it indicates that the liquid urea is lower than the height of the solid urea, and there is a cavity in the accommodating chamber.

[0066] Step S104: When there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity, a cavity risk warning is sent.

[0067] When there is a cavity in the accommodating chamber, the controller of the urea system can send a corresponding alarm instruction to the vehicle central controller, which then controls the vehicle's central control screen or speaker to issue a corresponding cavity risk warning to remind the driver that there is a urea cavity in the urea tank and to take corresponding measures in time.

[0068] The present application sets a heating device in the urea box, wherein the size difference between the size in the urea liquid level height direction and the maximum urea liquid level height is less than the preset size difference. In the process of the heating device heating the urea, the first urea liquid level of the heated and melted heating area and the first urea amount actually contained in the urea box accommodating chamber are obtained, and then the urea cavity is monitored based on the first urea liquid level and the first urea amount. The present application can calculate the estimated value of urea in the accommodating chamber based on the first urea liquid level in the area where the heating device is located. At the same time, the actual value of urea in the accommodating chamber can be obtained based on the first urea amount, and the estimated value obtained based on the first urea liquid level is compared with the first urea amount to determine whether there is a difference between the two, and then determine whether there is a cavity in the accommodating chamber, thereby achieving effective detection of the urea cavity.

[0069] The second aspect of the present application proposes an embodiment, which, in addition to the embodiment proposed in the first aspect of the present application, also includes:

[0070] Alternatively, if Figure 4 Another method for monitoring urea cavities is shown in the following steps: Figure 5 As shown in a urea distribution diagram in the accommodating chamber at the second moment, the method includes:

[0071] Step S201 , obtaining a second urea liquid level in the accommodating cavity at a second moment when the urea in the accommodating cavity is all liquid urea.

[0072] The second moment is the moment when the urea in the accommodating chamber is all liquid urea, and the second moment is before the first moment. Whether the urea in the accommodating chamber is all liquid urea can be determined by an ultrasonic generator and an ultrasonic receiver arranged in the accommodating chamber. The ultrasonic generator is installed on one side of the accommodating chamber, and the ultrasonic receiver is installed on the side opposite to the ultrasonic generator. Since the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves in liquid media and solid media is different, when the urea is all liquid, the time interval for the ultrasonic generator to receive the ultrasonic wave is longer than the time interval when the urea is solid, so that it can be determined whether the urea in the accommodating chamber is all liquid urea according to the time interval between the ultrasonic generator sending the ultrasonic wave and the ultrasonic receiver receiving the ultrasonic wave.

[0073] Alternatively, it is also possible to determine whether the urea in the accommodating chamber is all liquid urea by using the urea temperature or the ambient temperature around the urea box. For example, when the urea temperature or the ambient temperature around the urea box is higher than the melting point of urea, it is determined that the urea in the accommodating chamber is all liquid urea. When either the urea temperature or the ambient temperature around the urea box is lower than or equal to the melting point of urea, it is determined that the urea in the accommodating chamber contains solid urea.

[0074] Step S202, in response to a control instruction to heat the urea in the accommodating chamber, controlling the heating device to heat the urea.

[0075] The specific implementation method of step S202 is the same as that of step S101, and reference may be made to the description of step S101.

[0076] Step S203, at a first moment in the heating process, obtaining a first urea liquid level in the area where the heating device is located, and determining the first urea amount based on the second urea liquid level and the urea consumption of the vehicle between the second moment and the first moment.

[0077] refer to Figure 5 In the case where the urea in the accommodating chamber is all liquid urea, the liquid level height of the urea in the accommodating chamber is equal. In the above case, the amount of urea in the accommodating chamber at the second moment can be determined by the second urea liquid level in the accommodating chamber and the bottom area of ​​the accommodating chamber.

[0078] If the second moment is taken as the initial moment and the urea amount in the accommodating chamber at the second moment is taken as the initial urea amount, then the first urea amount actually contained in the accommodating chamber at the first moment can be obtained by subtracting the urea consumption between the second moment and the first moment.

[0079] In addition, for a specific implementation method of obtaining the first urea liquid level in the area where the heating device is located, reference may be made to the description of step S102.

[0080] Step S204: determining whether there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity based on the first urea amount and the first urea liquid level.

[0081] The specific implementation method of step S204 is the same as that of step S103, and reference may be made to the description of step S103.

[0082] Step S205: When there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity, a cavity risk warning is sent.

[0083] The specific implementation method of step S205 is the same as that of step S104, and reference may be made to the description of step S104.

[0084] Optionally, the first urea amount is the volume of urea actually contained in the containing chamber, referring to Figure 6 A method for determining a urea cavity is shown in the step diagram, wherein step S103 determines whether there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity based on the first urea amount and the first urea liquid level, including:

[0085] Step S1031: determining a second urea amount based on the first urea liquid level and the bottom area of ​​the accommodating cavity, where the second urea amount is an estimated urea volume in the accommodating cavity.

[0086] The product of the first urea liquid level and the bottom area of ​​the accommodating cavity is the urea volume estimated based on the first liquid level height of the liquid urea in the area where the heating device is located.

[0087] Step S1032: determining whether there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity based on the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount.

[0088] The difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount is the difference between the estimated urea volume and the actual urea volume at the first moment. Since there is a difference between the estimated urea volume and the actual urea volume, it is because there is a cavity above the liquid urea, so that the first urea liquid level of the liquid urea cannot represent the average urea height of the solid urea and the liquid urea in the accommodating cavity. Therefore, the greater the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount, the greater the difference between the first urea liquid level and the average urea height, and then the greater the difference between the estimated urea volume and the actual urea volume, the larger the volume of the cavity is.

[0089] In summary, when the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount is equal to zero, it indicates that there is no difference between the estimated urea volume and the actual urea volume contained, and there is no cavity in the containing chamber; when the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount is greater than zero, it indicates that there is a difference between the estimated urea volume and the actual urea volume contained, and there is a cavity in the containing chamber.

[0090] In addition, if the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount calculated based on the acquired first urea liquid level is less than zero, that is, the estimated urea volume is greater than the actual urea volume, a urea system fault alarm should be output. Because the liquid urea in the through cavity is melted from the solid urea in the through cavity, the first urea liquid level of the liquid urea in the through cavity, ignoring the density difference between the solid urea and the liquid urea, cannot be higher than the height of the solid urea in the through cavity, and it is impossible for the first urea amount to be less than the second urea amount. Based on this, if the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount calculated based on the acquired first urea liquid level is less than zero, it indicates that there is an error in the first urea liquid level collected by the liquid level sensor, and a urea system fault alarm should be issued.

[0091] Optionally, refer to Figure 7 As shown in the step diagram of a method for sending a cavity risk warning, in step S104, when there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity, sending a cavity risk warning includes:

[0092] Step S1041: determining the cavity risk level in the accommodating cavity based on the difference and a preset difference.

[0093] The first urea amount is the volume of urea actually contained in the containing chamber, and the second urea amount is the volume of urea contained in the containing chamber estimated based on the first urea liquid level. Therefore, when there is a difference between the estimated urea volume and the actual urea volume, there is a cavity in the containing chamber. Furthermore, when there is a cavity in the containing chamber, the size of the cavity in the containing chamber can be determined based on the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount, and then the cavity risk level in the containing chamber can be determined.

[0094] Step S1042: Send a cavity risk warning corresponding to the cavity risk level.

[0095] After determining the cavity risk level, different cavity risk warnings may be sent based on different cavity risk levels. In an optional implementation, the cavity risk warning may be sent in the form of a beep. The frequency of the beep increases with the increase of the cavity risk level. The higher the cavity risk level, the higher the frequency of the beep. Alternatively, the volume of the beep increases with the increase of the cavity risk level. The higher the cavity risk level, the higher the volume of the beep.

[0096] In an optional implementation, the cavity risk warning may also correspond to different warning components. The higher the cavity risk level, the more warning components will output warnings. For example, when the cavity risk level is low, the warning light may be used for warning; when the cavity risk level is high, the warning light and the central control screen may be used for warning.

[0097] Optionally, in step S1041, the cavity risk level in the accommodating cavity is determined based on the difference and the preset difference, and the cavity risk level may be divided based on the following method:

[0098] Method 1: When the difference is less than a first preset difference, the cavity risk level is determined to be a low level.

[0099] The first preset difference can be determined according to the first urea amount. In an optional embodiment, the first preset difference is set to one sixth of the first urea amount. For example, if the first urea amount is 30 liters, the first preset difference is set to 5 liters. If the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount is less than 5 liters, it indicates that the cavity volume in the accommodating cavity is small, and the cavity risk level is determined to be low.

[0100] Method 2: When the difference is greater than or equal to the first preset difference and less than the second preset difference, the cavity risk level is determined to be a medium level.

[0101] The second preset difference can also be determined according to the first urea amount. In an optional embodiment, the first preset difference is set to half of the first urea amount. Similarly, taking the first urea amount of 30 liters as an example, the second preset difference is 15 liters and the first preset difference is 5 liters. When the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount is greater than or equal to 5 liters and less than 15 liters, it indicates that the cavity volume in the accommodating cavity is large, and the cavity risk level is determined to be medium.

[0102] Mode three: when the difference is greater than or equal to the second preset difference, determining the cavity risk level as a high level, wherein the first preset difference is less than the second preset difference.

[0103] Similar to the above-mentioned method 1 and method 2, taking the first urea amount as 30 liters as an example, the second preset difference is 15 liters, and the first preset difference is 5 liters. When the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount is greater than or equal to 15 liters, it indicates that the cavity volume in the accommodating cavity is extremely large, and the cavity risk level is determined to be high.

[0104] Optionally, a plurality of heating devices are arranged in the accommodating cavity, referring to Figure 8 The step diagram of a method for monitoring urea cavities of multiple heating devices is shown, and step S103 determines whether there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity based on the first urea amount and the first urea liquid level, including:

[0105] Step S1033: determining whether there is a cavity in the area where the heating device is located based on the first urea liquid level and the first urea amount corresponding to each of the heating devices.

[0106] In order to improve the melting efficiency of solid urea, multiple heating devices can be installed in the accommodating cavity. When multiple heating devices are arranged in the accommodating cavity, a liquid level sensor is installed in each area where the multiple heating devices are located, so as to obtain the first urea liquid level of the area where the multiple heating devices are located through each liquid level sensor, and then monitor the cavity where each heating device is located.

[0107] In an optional embodiment, whether there is a cavity in the area where each heating device is located can be determined by the following method. The first urea liquid levels of the multiple heating devices are multiplied by the bottom area of ​​the accommodating cavity to obtain the urea volume in the accommodating cavity estimated based on the first urea liquid level corresponding to each heating device, that is, the second urea amount corresponding to each of the multiple heating devices. Based on the second urea amount and the first urea amount corresponding to each heating device, it is determined whether there is a cavity in the area where the heating device is located.

[0108] Step S1034: when there is a cavity in the area where any of the heating devices is located, determine that there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity.

[0109] In the embodiment described in the description of step S1033, the first urea amount is subtracted from the second urea amount corresponding to each heating device to obtain the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount corresponding to the plurality of heating devices. If the difference corresponding to any heating device among the plurality of heating devices is greater than the preset difference, it indicates that there is a cavity in the area where one of the heating devices is located, and it can be determined that there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity. The preset difference can be zero or a value slightly greater than zero.

[0110] The third aspect of the present application proposes an embodiment, which includes a method for detecting a urea cavity in a urea system. The urea cavity includes a urea tank, the urea tank is provided with a receiving cavity for receiving urea, at least one heating device is provided in the receiving cavity, and the difference between the size of the heating device in the height direction of the urea liquid level and the maximum urea liquid level height is less than a preset value. Fig. 9 As shown in the flowchart of a method for monitoring a urea cavity, the method comprises:

[0111] At a second moment when the urea contained in the accommodating chamber is all liquid urea, a second urea liquid level contained in the accommodating chamber is obtained; in response to a control instruction to heat the urea in the accommodating chamber, a heating device is controlled to heat the urea; at a first moment in the heating process, a first urea liquid level in an area where the heating device is located is obtained, and a first urea amount is determined based on the second urea liquid level and the urea consumption of the vehicle between the second moment and the first moment.

[0112] Based on the first urea liquid level and the bottom area of ​​the accommodating cavity, a second urea amount is determined, wherein the second urea amount is an estimated urea volume in the accommodating cavity. Based on the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount, whether there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity is determined.

[0113] If the presence of a cavity in the accommodating cavity is determined based on the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount, then when the difference is less than the first preset difference, the cavity risk level is determined to be a low level; when the difference is greater than or equal to the first preset difference and less than the second preset difference, the cavity risk level is determined to be a medium level; when the difference is greater than or equal to the second preset difference, the cavity risk level is determined to be a high level; wherein the first preset difference is less than the second preset difference.

[0114] A cavity risk alarm corresponding to the cavity risk level is sent; wherein different cavity risk alarms correspond to different alarm strategies.

[0115] The fourth aspect of the present application provides an embodiment, which includes a urea cavity monitoring method when applied to a urea system including multiple heating devices, referring to Fig.10 A flow chart of a method for monitoring urea cavities of multiple heating devices is shown, the method comprising:

[0116] At a second moment when the urea contained in the accommodating chamber is all liquid urea, a second urea liquid level contained in the accommodating chamber is obtained; in response to a control instruction to heat the urea in the accommodating chamber, a plurality of heating devices are controlled to heat the urea; at a first moment in the heating process, first urea liquid levels of areas where the plurality of heating devices are located are respectively obtained, and a first urea amount is determined based on the second urea liquid level and the urea consumption of the vehicle between the second moment and the first moment.

[0117] Based on the first urea liquid level and the first urea amount corresponding to each heating device, it is determined whether there is a cavity in the area where the heating device is located; when there is a cavity in the area where any heating device is located, it is determined that there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity. In the case that there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity, a cavity risk alarm is sent.

[0118] The fifth aspect of the present application proposes an embodiment, referring to Fig.11 A structural diagram of a monitoring system is shown, wherein the monitoring system includes a urea system and a monitoring module. Figure 2 A structural schematic diagram of a urea system is shown, wherein the urea system comprises a urea tank, wherein the urea tank is provided with a containing cavity for containing urea, wherein at least one heating device is provided in the containing cavity, and the difference between the dimension of the heating device in the height direction of the urea liquid level and the maximum urea liquid level height is less than a preset value;

[0119] The monitoring module is used to execute the urea cavity monitoring method described in the present application.

[0120] Optionally, the heating device comprises a heating tube, the length direction of the heating tube extends along the height direction of the accommodating cavity, and the difference between the length value of the heating tube and the maximum urea liquid level height value is less than a preset value;

[0121] Wherein, the tube wall of the heating tube is provided with at least one through hole extending along the length direction, and at least the through hole is located at one end of the heating tube close to the bottom of the urea tank.

[0122] The heating device in the urea system includes a heating pipe. Fig.12 A structural schematic diagram of a heating pipe connected to a urea pump is shown. In an optional embodiment, the heating pipe can be connected to the urea pump through threaded connectors such as bolts and screws, and installed at the urea pump suction port of the urea system to heat the urea at the urea pump suction port to maximize the urea injection demand of the urea system.

[0123] The length direction of the heating tube extends along the height direction of the accommodating chamber, and the difference between the length value of the heating tube and the maximum urea liquid level height value is less than a preset value. In an optional embodiment, the length of the heating tube can be equal to the maximum urea liquid level height of the accommodating chamber, so that the heating tube runs through the height direction of the accommodating chamber.

[0124] In the case where the urea system heats urea through a heating tube, in order to improve the heating efficiency of urea and increase the volume utilization rate of the accommodating cavity, at least one through hole may be provided on the tube wall of the heating tube. At least one through hole should be located at one end of the heating tube close to the bottom of the urea tank, so that urea can flow inside and outside the heating tube through the through hole. When a plurality of through holes are provided on the closing of the heating tube, at least one through hole should have its lowest position located at one end of the heating tube close to the bottom of the urea tank.

[0125] Optionally, a liquid level sensor is arranged inside the heating tube, and the liquid level sensor includes an ultrasonic liquid level wave sensor and / or a float type liquid level sensor.

[0126] When the urea system heats urea through the heating tube, a liquid level sensor can be arranged inside the heating tube, thereby limiting the measurement range of the liquid level sensor to the heating tube. Since the heating tube is full of urea when the heating tube heats urea, limiting the measurement range of the liquid level sensor to the heating tube can limit the measurement range of the liquid level sensor to the liquid urea, thereby preventing the liquid level sensor from misdetecting the first urea liquid level as the height of solid urea.

[0127] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2The structure of a urea system in which the liquid level sensor is an ultrasonic liquid level sensor is shown. The ultrasonic liquid level sensor is installed at the bottom of the heating pipe. Fig.13 The structure diagram of a urea system of a float type liquid level sensor is shown, and the float type liquid level sensor includes a float rod and a float sleeved on the float rod. The float rod is fixed to the inner bottom of the heating tube, and the length direction of the float rod extends along the length direction of the heating tube.

[0128] Optionally, the monitoring module includes:

[0129] a heating control unit, for controlling the heating device to heat the urea in the accommodating chamber in response to a control instruction for heating the urea in the accommodating chamber;

[0130] a first acquisition unit, configured to acquire, at a first moment in the heating process, a first urea liquid level in an area where the heating device is located, and determine a first urea amount actually contained in the containing chamber based on a consumption of the urea by the vehicle;

[0131] a monitoring unit, configured to determine whether there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity based on the first urea amount and the first urea liquid level;

[0132] The alarm unit is used to send a cavity risk alarm when there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity.

[0133] Optionally, the monitoring module further includes:

[0134] a second acquiring unit, configured to acquire a second urea liquid level in the accommodating cavity at a second moment when all urea contained in the accommodating cavity is liquid urea;

[0135] The first acquisition unit is further configured to determine the first urea amount based on the second urea liquid level and the urea consumption of the vehicle between the second moment and the first moment.

[0136] Optionally, the first urea amount is the volume of urea actually contained in the containing chamber, and the monitoring unit is further used to determine a second urea amount based on the first urea liquid level and the bottom area of ​​the containing chamber, where the second urea amount is the estimated volume of urea in the containing chamber; and determine whether there is a cavity in the containing chamber based on a difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount.

[0137] Optionally, the alarm unit is further used to determine a cavity risk level in the accommodating cavity based on the difference and a preset difference; and send a cavity risk alarm corresponding to the cavity risk level; wherein different cavity risk alarms correspond to different alarm strategies.

[0138] Optionally, the alarm unit is also used to determine that the cavity risk level is a low level when the difference is less than a first preset difference; to determine that the cavity risk level is a medium level when the difference is greater than or equal to the first preset difference and less than a second preset difference; and to determine that the cavity risk level is a high level when the difference is greater than or equal to the second preset difference; wherein the first preset difference is less than the second preset difference.

[0139] Optionally, a plurality of the heating devices are arranged in the accommodating cavity, and the first acquisition unit is further used to determine whether there is a cavity in the area where the heating device is located based on the first urea liquid level and the first urea amount corresponding to each of the heating devices; when there is a cavity in the area where any of the heating devices is located, it is determined that there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity.

[0140] An embodiment of the present application further provides a vehicle, comprising a monitoring system provided in the present application, or comprising a controller, wherein the controller is used to implement the steps of the urea cavity monitoring method described in the embodiment of the present application.

[0141] The present application sets a heating device in the urea box, wherein the size difference between the size in the urea liquid level height direction and the maximum urea liquid level height is less than the preset size difference. In the process of heating the urea by the heating device, the urea liquid level of the liquid urea heated and melted in the heating area and the first urea amount actually contained in the urea box accommodating chamber are obtained, and then the urea cavity is monitored based on the first urea liquid level and the first urea amount. The present application can calculate the estimated value of urea in the accommodating chamber based on the first urea liquid level of the liquid urea in the area where the heating device is located. At the same time, the actual value of urea in the accommodating chamber can be obtained based on the first urea amount, and the estimated value obtained based on the first urea liquid level is compared with the first urea amount to determine whether there is a difference between the two, and then determine whether there is a cavity in the accommodating chamber, thereby achieving effective detection of the urea cavity.

[0142] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referenced to each other.

[0143] The embodiments of the present application are described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, systems, electronic devices, and computer program products according to the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that each process and / or block in the flowchart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the processes and / or blocks in the flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing terminal device to generate a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing terminal device generate instructions for implementing the processes in the flowchart and / or block diagram. Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in a block or multiple blocks.

[0144] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory capable of directing a computer or other programmable data processing terminal device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce a manufactured product including an instruction device, which implements the process Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A function specified in one or more boxes.

[0145] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing terminal device so that a series of operating steps are executed on the computer or other programmable terminal device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions for implementing the process in the computer or other programmable terminal device. Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps for the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0146] Although the preferred embodiments of the present application have been described, those skilled in the art may make additional changes and modifications to these embodiments once they have learned the basic creative concept. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments and all changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0147] Finally, it should be noted that, in this article, relational terms such as first and second, etc. are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or terminal device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or terminal device. In the absence of further restrictions, the elements defined by the sentence "comprise a ..." do not exclude the existence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or terminal device including the elements.

[0148] The above is a detailed introduction to the urea cavity monitoring method, system and vehicle provided by the present application. Specific examples are used in this article to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present application. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method of the present application and its core idea; at the same time, for general technicians in this field, according to the idea of ​​the present application, there will be changes in the specific implementation method and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring urea cavities, characterized in that: The method is applied to a urea system, the urea system comprises a urea tank, the urea tank is provided with a containing cavity for containing urea, at least one heating device is arranged in the containing cavity, the difference between the dimension of the heating device in the height direction of the urea liquid level and the maximum urea liquid level height is less than a preset value, the method comprises: In response to a control instruction to heat the urea in the accommodating chamber, controlling the heating device to heat the urea; At a first moment in the heating process, obtaining a first urea liquid level in an area where the heating device is located, and determining a first urea amount actually contained in the containing chamber based on a consumption of the urea by the vehicle; determining whether there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity based on the first urea amount and the first urea liquid level; When there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity, a cavity risk warning is sent.

2. The method for monitoring urea cavity according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before controlling the heating device to heat the urea in response to the control instruction to heat the urea in the accommodating chamber, the method further includes: At a second moment when the urea contained in the containing cavity is all liquid urea, obtaining a second urea liquid level in the containing cavity; The determining, based on the consumption of the urea by the vehicle, the first amount of urea actually contained in the containing chamber comprises: The first urea amount is determined based on the second urea liquid level and the urea consumption of the vehicle between the second time instant and the first time instant.

3. The method for monitoring urea cavity according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first urea amount is a volume of urea actually contained in the containing chamber, and determining whether there is a cavity in the containing chamber based on the first urea amount and the first urea liquid level includes: determining a second urea amount based on the first urea liquid level and the bottom area of ​​the accommodating cavity, wherein the second urea amount is an estimated volume of urea in the accommodating cavity; Based on the difference between the first urea amount and the second urea amount, it is determined whether there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity.

4. The method for monitoring urea cavity according to claim 3, characterized in that: When there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity, sending a cavity risk warning includes: Determining a cavity risk level in the accommodating cavity based on the difference and a preset difference; sending a cavity risk warning corresponding to the cavity risk level; Among them, different cavity risk warnings correspond to different warning strategies.

5. The method for monitoring urea cavity according to claim 4, characterized in that: The determining the cavity risk level in the accommodating cavity based on the difference and the preset difference includes: When the difference is less than a first preset difference, determining that the cavity risk level is a low level; When the difference is greater than or equal to the first preset difference and less than the second preset difference, determining that the cavity risk level is a medium level; When the difference is greater than or equal to the second preset difference, determining that the cavity risk level is a high level; The first preset difference is smaller than the second preset difference.

6. The method for monitoring urea cavities according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: A plurality of the heating devices are arranged in the accommodating chamber, and determining whether there is a cavity in the accommodating chamber based on the first urea amount and the first urea liquid level includes: Based on the first urea liquid level and the first urea amount corresponding to each of the heating devices, determining whether there is a cavity in the area where the heating device is located; When there is a cavity in the area where any of the heating devices is located, it is determined that there is a cavity in the accommodating cavity.

7. A monitoring system, characterized in that: The invention comprises a urea system and a monitoring module, wherein the urea system comprises a urea tank, the urea tank is provided with a containing cavity for containing urea, at least one heating device is arranged in the containing cavity, and the difference between the dimension of the heating device in the height direction of the urea liquid level and the maximum urea liquid level height is less than a preset value; The monitoring module is used to execute the urea cavity monitoring method as described in any one of claims 1-6.

8. The monitoring system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The heating device comprises a heating tube, the length direction of the heating tube extends along the height direction of the accommodating cavity, and the difference between the length value of the heating tube and the maximum urea liquid level height value is less than the preset value; Wherein, the tube wall of the heating tube is provided with at least one through hole, and the at least one through hole is located at one end of the heating tube close to the bottom of the urea tank.

9. The monitoring system according to claim 8, characterized in that: A liquid level sensor is arranged inside the heating tube, and the liquid level sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor and / or a float type liquid level sensor.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that: It comprises the monitoring system as described in any one of claims 7-9; or, it comprises a controller, wherein the controller is used to implement the steps of the urea cavity monitoring method as described in any one of claims 1-6.

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