Hybrid Vehicle Particle Filter Regeneration via Electric Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid vehicles face challenges in regenerating particle filters due to insufficient oxygen concentration and temperature during engine disengagement, leading to potential clogging, which is exacerbated by stringent pollution standards and the need to avoid excessive NOx emissions.
Innovation Solution
A method for regenerating particle filters in hybrid vehicles, involving determining particle and temperature thresholds, activating electric heating, and using the electric motor to drive the engine in rotation without fuel injection to achieve combustion, ensuring regeneration occurs efficiently and within NOx compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the heat engine is disengaged during electric mode to reduce emissions, then NOx emissions are reduced, but oxygen concentration in the exhaust becomes insufficient for particle filter regeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary heating device that provides external thermal energy to the particle filter. This mediator enables regeneration without requiring the heat engine to operate, thus maintaining low NOx emissions during electric mode while still achieving particle combustion through the added thermal input from the heating element.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the particle filter by activating an electric heating device when the filter temperature drops below a threshold during electric mode. This parameter change enables particle combustion to proceed even without the high-temperature exhaust gases that would normally be present during heat engine operation.
2Reliability
If the heat engine operates with lean air/fuel mixture to enable particle combustion, then particle filter regeneration is achieved, but NOx emissions increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the functions of particle filter heating and NOx control into distinct systems. The electric heating device handles the thermal requirement for particle combustion independently, while the heat engine maintains stoichiometric operation for optimal NOx conversion, eliminating the need to compromise either function.
3Reliability
If the particle filter is regenerated frequently to prevent clogging, then filter performance is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring particle filter temperature and accumulated particle load. Regeneration is triggered only when the temperature drops below a threshold or particle accumulation reaches a critical level, optimizing the balance between maintaining filter performance and minimizing energy consumption from the heating device.
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for regenerating a particulate filter (7) of a pollution-control device (6) for a hybrid vehicle able to operate in an electric, heat-engine or combined mode of operation, the method comprising the following successive steps: determining (100) a threshold value (Qs) for an acceptable quantity of fine particles; determining (200) a threshold value (Ts) for the temperature of the pollution-control device (6) necessary for regeneration; calculating (300) the quantity (Q) of fine particles in the particulate filter; measuring (400) the temperature (T) of the pollution-control device (6); determining (500) the mode of operation of the vehicle when the temperature of the filter is below the predetermined temperature threshold value (Ts) of the pollution-control device (6); and engaging (600) electrical-heating means (9) when the mode of operation is purely electrical, until the temperature of the pollution-control device (6) reaches or exceeds the threshold value (Ts) so as to allow regeneration.