Catalyst Heating Control via Predicted Parking Duration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle engine systems face challenges in balancing fuel economy and exhaust emissions, particularly during variable engine shutdown periods, as heating methods can lead to high fuel consumption when parked for long durations or inadequate catalyst warming when parked briefly.
Innovation Solution
A method that selectively operates exhaust catalyst heating devices based on vehicle drive history and positional information, using a combination of electric heaters, hydrocarbon burners, and phase change materials, to anticipate and adjust heating operations according to predicted parking durations, thereby optimizing catalyst temperature maintenance and fuel efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If catalyst heating devices are operated during engine shutdown to maintain catalyst temperature, then exhaust emissions are reduced during engine restart, but fuel economy deteriorates when vehicle is parked for long duration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by heating the catalyst before engine restart only when short-term parking is predicted. The controller uses GPS location data and drive history to anticipate parking duration, and selectively activates heating devices (electric heater, hydrocarbon burner, or phase change material system) only when the vehicle is expected to be parked for a short duration, thereby maintaining catalyst temperature and reducing emissions without unnecessary fuel consumption during long-term parking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts catalyst heating strategy based on real-time conditions. The controller continuously monitors GPS location, compares it with historical drive data, and determines parking duration category (short-term vs. long-term). This dynamic decision-making allows the system to switch between heating and non-heating modes, optimizing the balance between emissions control and fuel economy according to actual parking scenarios.
2Use of energy by moving object
If catalyst heating devices are not operated during engine shutdown to conserve fuel, then fuel economy is improved, but exhaust emissions increase during engine restart
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating action only when necessary - specifically when short-term parking is predicted. By using GPS and drive history analysis, the controller identifies situations where the vehicle will be restarted soon, and proactively heats the catalyst in these cases. This selective preliminary action ensures emissions are controlled when needed while avoiding unnecessary heating during long-term parking, thus improving fuel economy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from GPS location data and drive history to continuously assess parking duration predictions. This feedback loop allows the controller to learn from past parking patterns and improve its predictions, enabling more accurate decisions about when to activate heating devices. The feedback mechanism ensures heating is applied in situations that will actually benefit from it, optimizing both emissions control and fuel economy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively balances fuel economy and exhaust emissions by selectively enabling catalyst heating during short-term parking and disabling it during long-term parking, reducing power consumption and maintaining catalyst function for imminent engine restarts.
Implementation Method 1
expensive electric catalyst heaters may be used to generate the heat
Implementation Method 2
the use of a hydrocarbon burner that burns fuels and injects hot gas into an exhaust manifold upstream of the catalyst
Implementation Method 3
a phase change material is flowed through the insulating vessel to maintain the catalyst temperature elevated above the light-off temperature
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for improving catalyst function during an engine cold-start. In one example, at key-off, a duration elapsed till a subsequent key-on is predicted based on drive history and spatial awareness data. Then, based on the duration, an identity and order of operating one or more catalyst heating devices is selected.