Engine And EATS Preconditioning for Cold-Start Emissions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine systems face challenges in efficiently reducing cold-start emissions, particularly at low engine loads and cold-start conditions, which require significant energy and can lead to increased NOx levels and urea crystallization in exhaust aftertreatment systems.
Innovation Solution
A method for preconditioning parts of the engine system using predicted vehicle operational information to optimize the operation of the exhaust aftertreatment system. This involves thermally preconditioning components such as the engine and exhaust aftertreatment system based on predicted cold-start emissions, reducing the need for excessive energy consumption and urea injection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the exhaust aftertreatment system is heated to reduce cold-start emissions, then emission conversion efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the exhaust aftertreatment components before the engine is started. This advance action ensures that when cold-start occurs, the catalysts are already at optimal temperature for emission conversion, thereby reducing cold-start emissions without requiring excessive energy during the actual cold-start event.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses waste heat from the exhaust gases to preheat the exhaust aftertreatment components. This self-service approach utilizes already-present thermal energy in the system to achieve the heating objective, minimizing additional energy consumption while still improving emission conversion efficiency.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If urea is injected to reduce NOx emissions, then nitrogen oxide conversion is improved, but urea crystallization occurs at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the exhaust aftertreatment system before urea injection during cold-start conditions. By ensuring the SCR catalyst and surrounding components are at adequate temperature in advance, the system prevents urea crystallization while maintaining the ability to inject urea for effective NOx reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the exhaust aftertreatment system by preheating it before urea injection. This parameter modification ensures that the temperature remains above the crystallization point of urea while still allowing for effective SCR reactions to reduce NOx emissions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the engine operates at low load to improve fuel economy, then fuel consumption is reduced, but exhaust gas temperature decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the exhaust aftertreatment components before the engine operates at low load. This advance preparation ensures that even when exhaust gas temperature drops due to low-load operation, the catalysts remain at adequate temperature for effective emission conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the thermal mass of the exhaust aftertreatment components as a heat buffer. By preheating these components, they store thermal energy that cushions against temperature drops when the engine operates at low load, maintaining adequate temperature for emission control.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If preconditioning is performed to reduce cold-start emissions, then emission conversion efficiency is improved, but the large thermal buffer requires significant energy
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses waste heat from the exhaust gases to preheat the exhaust aftertreatment components during preconditioning. This self-service approach utilizes thermal energy already present in the system, minimizing additional energy consumption while still achieving the necessary temperature rise to reduce cold-start emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preconditioning only when necessary, using the thermal buffer of the exhaust aftertreatment components to maintain temperature during subsequent low-load or cold-start operations. This selective preconditioning reduces unnecessary energy expenditure while maintaining emission conversion efficiency.
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
The method effectively reduces cold-start emissions by preheating critical components of the engine system, improving the efficiency of the exhaust aftertreatment system, and minimizing energy consumption and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
A reductant, such as urea or an ammonia comprising substance, is typically injected upstream of the SCR catalyst to assist in converting nitrogen oxides, also referred to as NOx, with the aid of a catalyst into diatomic nitrogen, N2, and water
Implementation Method 2
If the temperature is low, e.g. during cold-start of the engine, there is a large risk for creating crystallization and deposits that reduce the effect of the EATS
Implementation Method 3
the urea requires heat to evaporate and hydrolyse into ammonia
Implementation Method 4
The method effectively reduces cold-start emissions by preheating critical components of the engine system
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for preconditioning at least a part of an engine system (10) of a vehicle (1), the engine system comprising an engine (15) and an exhaust aftertreatment system, EATS (20). The method comprises: - providing (S10) predicted vehicle operational information (100) comprising a vehicle operational initialization time (105) and predicted engine operation (210, 220, 230), - determining (S20) whether or not cold-start emissions of the predicted engine operation achieves a threshold criterium, - in response to achieving the threshold criterium, preconditioning (S30) at least a part of the engine system such that at least said part of the engine system is preconditioned at a time of the vehicle operational initialization time. The invention further relates to a controlling apparatus for a vehicle, to a vehicle, and to a computer program.