Diesel Particulate Filter Regeneration Timing Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for active regeneration of diesel particulate filters in vehicles often fail to initiate regeneration under unfavorable conditions, such as short travel times or overrun engine phases, leading to incomplete regeneration and potential oil quality deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses information about the planned travel route, obtained from navigation systems or cloud data, to determine suitable sections for regeneration, preventing unnecessary regeneration attempts and ensuring timely completion by initiating regeneration only when conditions are favorable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If active regeneration is initiated under unfavorable conditions (short travel time or overrun phase), then the particulate filter may be regenerated, but the regeneration will be incomplete or interrupted and fuel will be wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveregeneration completionVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit checks travel time and engine phase information before initiating regeneration, performing preliminary assessment to ensure favorable conditions exist. This prevents wasted fuel consumption by avoiding regeneration initiation when travel time is insufficient or the engine is in overrun phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors travel time, engine phase, and regeneration status to dynamically adjust regeneration initiation decisions. This feedback mechanism ensures regeneration only starts when conditions are favorable, preventing incomplete regeneration and fuel waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of energy

If active regeneration is prevented under unfavorable conditions, then fuel wastage is avoided, but the particulate filter may not be regenerated in time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidregeneration timing

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary checks of travel time and engine phase before preventing regeneration, ensuring that regeneration is only postponed when truly necessary. This minimizes time loss by allowing regeneration to proceed when conditions are favorable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit dynamically adjusts the regeneration initiation decision based on changing parameters such as travel time and engine phase. This allows the system to optimize between fuel consumption and regeneration timing by adapting to real-time conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If active regeneration is initiated without checking engine phase, then regeneration may start quickly, but oil quality deteriorates due to high temperatures during overrun phase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveregeneration speedVSAvoidoil quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit checks the engine phase before initiating regeneration, performing a preliminary safety check to prevent oil quality deterioration. This ensures regeneration only starts when the engine is not in overrun phase, protecting oil quality while maintaining efficient regeneration timing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If the system uses navigation data to determine optimal regeneration sections, then regeneration success is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveregeneration successVSAvoidcontrol system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit leverages existing navigation system data for multiple purposes: route guidance and regeneration timing optimization. This multi-functionality improves regeneration success without requiring separate dedicated hardware, thus limiting the increase in system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 prevents fuel wastage and oil quality deterioration by ensuring successful regeneration of the diesel particulate filter, even when initial conditions are not optimal, by identifying suitable times for regeneration along the travel route.

Implementation Method 1

The temperature necessary for this is 550° C.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS11073060B2Method for optimizing an active regeneration of a diesel particulate filter

Publication Date: 2021.07.27 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

AI summary

A method for optimizing an active regeneration of a diesel particulate filter of a motor vehicle, including the following steps: First, information regarding the planned travel route of the motor vehicle is ascertained; subsequently, a query is made as to whether the remaining travel time is less than the time needed for an upcoming regeneration of the diesel particulate filter, and/or a query is made as to whether the following engine phase of the motor vehicle is an overrun phase; and the active regeneration of the diesel particulate filter is prevented, if the remaining travel time is less than the time needed for an upcoming regeneration of the diesel particulate filter, or if the following engine phase is an overrun phase.