Heat Engine Catalyzer Warm-Up Control for Saddle-Ride Vehicles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for reducing hydrocarbon emissions during the warm-up phase of a saddle-ride type vehicle's engine are costly and complex, requiring mechanical and electromechanical adjustments, and do not effectively address the need for rapid catalyzer temperature increase without altering the catalyzer's size or layout.
Innovation Solution
A control method for the engine that involves no-load cycles followed by standard cycles, using the engine's air flow to rapidly increase catalyzer temperature through oxidation reactions, without additional air conveyance circuits, controlled by an ECU to manage fuel injection and temperature detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a pre-catalyzer is installed close to the heat engine to reduce warm-up time, then the catalyzer reaches operating temperature faster, but the device complexity and cost increase due to additional components and air conveyance circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust gas treatment assembly is segmented into a pre-catalyzer (first catalyzer) and a main catalyzer (second catalyzer) positioned at different locations in the exhaust system. The pre-catalyzer is installed close to the heat engine to address warm-up emissions, while the main catalyzer is positioned downstream to handle maximum emission loads. This segmentation allows each catalyzer to be optimized for its specific function without requiring complex air conveyance circuits.
2Reliability
If the main catalyzer is made larger to ensure sufficient catalysis temperature at low load, then effective catalysis is maintained at all operating conditions, but the catalyzer cannot be installed close to the heat engine and requires longer warm-up time
Solution Approach 1:
The catalytic treatment function is segmented between two catalyzers with different size requirements and positioning. The pre-catalyzer can be smaller and positioned close to the engine for rapid warm-up, while the main catalyzer can be larger and positioned downstream for sustained catalysis effectiveness at all operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-catalyzer performs preliminary catalytic treatment of exhaust gases close to the heat engine during the warm-up phase, activating the catalytic reaction before the main catalyzer reaches its operating temperature. This preliminary action reduces the burden on the main catalyzer during warm-up and allows it to be positioned downstream.
3Temperature
If dedicated air conveyance circuits are provided to trigger oxidation reaction in the catalyzer, then the catalyzer temperature increases rapidly, but the mechanical and electromechanical adjustment means become more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The heat engine itself serves as the air conveyance system by utilizing its own intake and exhaust valve mechanisms to move air through the pre-catalyzer. The control unit adjusts the operation of the heat engine's existing valves to create air flow patterns that trigger oxidation reactions in the pre-catalyzer, eliminating the need for separate dedicated air conveyance circuits and their associated mechanical and electromechanical adjustment means.
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 method effectively reduces hydrocarbon emissions during engine warm-up by rapidly increasing catalyzer temperature, ensuring compliance with emission standards while maintaining cost-effectiveness and simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
converting the polluting substances contained in said exhaust gases into less harmful substances through oxidation reactions
Implementation Method 2
converting the polluting substances contained in said exhaust gases into less harmful substances through oxidation reactions
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for controlling a heat engine of a saddle-ride type vehicle (1), wherein said method is adapted to be executed by said control unit (ECU) of said method and comprises step A) of interrupting the injection of fuel for at least one cycle of said heat engine; step B) of activating the injection of fuel for a predetermined number (n) of cycles of said engine (10) after said at least one cycle and step C) of repeating steps A) and B) until the value of the temperature of said at least one catalyzer reaches a predetermined value.