Engine Control Device for Catalyst Activation Under Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine control devices can only increase exhaust gas temperature when the engine is in a deceleration state without a load, limiting the ability to raise catalyst temperature for efficient exhaust gas purification across various engine operating states.
Innovation Solution
An engine control device that selects compression release cylinders to open exhaust valves during the compression process without fuel injection, and adjusts fuel injection amounts in operating cylinders based on load and required torque to increase exhaust gas temperature, ensuring catalyst activation regardless of engine load conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the compression release brake is operated to increase exhaust gas temperature, then the catalyst temperature increases, but the vehicle may slow down due to generated load against the engine
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the operational parameters by selectively applying compression release brake to specific cylinders based on their position in the combustion cycle and adjusting fuel injection amounts in other cylinders to compensate for the load, thereby increasing exhaust gas temperature without significantly affecting vehicle speed
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different treatment to different cylinders: one cylinder undergoes compression release brake operation while other cylinders receive adjusted fuel injection, creating local differences in operation that collectively achieve the desired exhaust gas temperature increase without overall performance penalty
2Temperature
If the compression release brake is operated when the engine is not in deceleration state without load, then load is generated against the engine, but the exhaust gas temperature can still be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful load effect into a beneficial outcome by using the compression release brake operation to increase exhaust gas temperature for catalyst activation, while compensating for the energy loss through coordinated fuel injection control in other cylinders to maintain overall engine performance
3Force
If fuel injection amount is increased to compensate for load torque, then required torque is maintained, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies partial fuel injection compensation only in the cylinders not undergoing compression release brake, rather than increasing fuel injection in all cylinders, thereby achieving the required torque output with minimized additional fuel consumption
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 raises exhaust gas temperature and catalyst purification efficiency, allowing for consistent purification of exhaust gases even when the engine is under load, thereby enhancing nitrogen oxide removal and preventing battery overcharging.
Implementation Method 1
a compression release cylinder selecting part that selects, from the plurality of cylinders, one or more compression release cylinders for opening an exhaust valve without causing fuel to be injected during a compression process
Implementation Method 2
a catalyst for purifying exhaust gas when a temperature of the catalyst reaches an activation temperature
Implementation Method 3
a fuel injection amount determining part that determines an amount of fuel to be injected into an operating cylinder, which is a cylinder other than the compression release cylinder among the plurality of cylinders, where fuel is caused to be injected
Data Source
AI summary
An engine control device includes: a compression release cylinder selecting part that selects, from a plurality of cylinders, one or more compression release cylinders to which fuel is not to be injected, depending on the magnitude of a required torque of an engine having the plurality of cylinders connected to an exhaust pipe provided with a catalyst for purifying exhaust gas; an exhaust valve control part that opens the exhaust valve of the compression release cylinder; a fuel injection amount determining part that determines the amount of fuel to be injected into an operating cylinder that differs from the compression release cylinder among the plurality of cylinders, according to a load torque generated by opening the exhaust valve and the required torque; and an injection control part that causes fuel, according to the determined amount of fuel injection, to be injected into the operating cylinder.