Exhaust Gas Purifying Device Malfunction Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing malfunction-determining methods for exhaust gas purifying devices incorrectly identify pressure sensor issues in cold conditions, leading to unnecessary maintenance and operational disruptions, as they fail to differentiate between sensor failures and pressure introduction issues caused by freezing.
Innovation Solution
A malfunction-determining device that assesses the usability of the pressure measuring device based on measured pressure and exhaust gas flow rate, and includes a frozen-state determiner using temperature and time metrics to distinguish between freezing and actual sensor malfunctions, preventing false reports of pressure sensor malfunctions due to freezing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If malfunction determination is performed based on pressure sensor readings in cold regions, then sensor malfunctions can be detected, but false malfunction reports occur due to freezing of condensation water in the pressure-introducing duct
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuing vehicle operation and monitoring when freezing is detected, rather than immediately stopping for inspection. The control unit determines whether to continue operation based on accumulated freezing determination results, allowing the vehicle to operate through temporary freezing conditions until the frozen water thaws and pressure introduction is restored.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the malfunction determination criteria based on operating conditions. Instead of using fixed pressure thresholds, the control unit accumulates freezing determination results over time and compares them against a threshold value, allowing the system to adapt to transient freezing conditions while still detecting actual malfunctions.
2Reliability
If the vehicle is stopped for inspection upon malfunction detection, then potential sensor failures can be addressed, but unnecessary maintenance is performed when the issue is temporary freezing
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary action by continuing operation and monitoring freezing conditions rather than immediately stopping for inspection. The control unit accumulates freezing determination results and only determines malfunction when the accumulation exceeds a threshold, preventing premature maintenance stops for temporary freezing issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the freezing detection and malfunction determination. It accumulates freezing determination results over time and uses this accumulated data to make the final malfunction determination, serving as a buffer that prevents false malfunction reports due to temporary freezing.
3Measurement precision
If malfunction determination criteria are made sensitive to detect all potential failures, then more malfunctions are caught, but false positives increase due to temporary freezing conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts detection sensitivity by accumulating freezing determination results over time rather than using fixed thresholds. The malfunction determination depends on the accumulation value exceeding a threshold, allowing the system to tolerate temporary freezing while detecting sustained malfunction conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The accumulation mechanism serves as an intermediary between individual freezing detections and final malfunction determination. By requiring multiple consecutive freezing determinations before triggering a malfunction report, the system filters out transient freezing events while maintaining sensitivity to actual malfunctions.
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 solution allows for continued operation of vehicles or machines by avoiding unnecessary maintenance and maintaining operational efficiency by accurately identifying the cause of pressure sensor issues, thus reducing downtime and improving operational rates.
Implementation Method 1
a frozen-state determiner configured to determine whether or not the pressure measuring device is frozen... a temperature sensor configured to measure an atmospheric temperature
Implementation Method 2
a pressure measuring device being provided to the filter device to measure a pressure of the exhaust gas
Implementation Method 3
with an increase in the temperature of the exhaust gas purifying device heated by exhaust gas in operation, thereby letting pressure into the pressure sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A malfunction-determining device for an exhaust gas purifying device, which includes a filter device and a pressure measuring device, includes a usability determiner being configured to determine whether or not the pressure measuring device is usable based on a pressure measured by the pressure measuring device and an exhaust gas flow rate, a frozen-state determiner being configured to determine whether or not the pressure measuring device is frozen, and a malfunction determiner being configured to determine that the pressure measuring device has a malfunction when the usability determiner determines that the pressure measuring device is unusable and the frozen-state determiner determines that the pressure measuring device is not frozen.