Regulating Valve Control for Particle Filter Regeneration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for regenerating particulate filters in internal combustion engines result in significant nitrogen oxide emissions during the regeneration phase, which is unsatisfactory for environmental preservation and compliance with increasingly stringent regulations.
Innovation Solution
A process where the regulating valve for recirculating burnt gases has a fixed and constant opening rate, either zero or a non-zero constant, during the regeneration phase, ensuring sufficient oxygen levels to burn solid particles without varying with fresh air flow rates, and is controlled by an electronic control unit based on engine parameters and predetermined thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the regulating valve opening rate is varied according to fresh air flow rate during regeneration, then the regeneration efficiency is optimized, but nitrogen oxide emissions increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a static fixed opening rate to a dynamic opening rate that varies within a predetermined range based on real-time fresh air flow rate measurements. The ECU adjusts the valve opening rate dynamically during regeneration to maintain optimal combustion conditions while limiting nitrogen oxide formation through the established range, thus resolving the contradiction between regeneration efficiency and emissions control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of valve opening rate from a single fixed value to a variable parameter that operates within a predetermined range. By measuring fresh air flow rate and adjusting the opening rate within this range, the system optimizes oxygen supply for soot combustion while constraining nitrogen oxide emissions, effectively resolving the technical contradiction through parameter optimization.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a fixed opening rate is used during regeneration, then nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced, but oxygen levels may become insufficient for efficient particle burning
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic adjustment of the valve opening rate within a predetermined range based on measured fresh air flow rate. This ensures that oxygen supply adapts to actual combustion demands, maintaining sufficient combustion temperature for efficient particle burning while preventing excessive nitrogen oxide formation, thus resolving the contradiction between emissions control and combustion efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by measuring the fresh air flow rate during regeneration and using this information to adjust the valve opening rate within the predetermined range. This closed-loop control ensures that oxygen levels remain sufficient for efficient soot combustion while maintaining nitrogen oxide emissions within acceptable limits, resolving the contradiction through real-time monitoring and adjustment.
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 significantly reduces nitrogen oxide emissions during the regeneration phase without compromising the efficiency of the particulate filter regeneration, maintaining oxygen levels sufficient for burning solid particles and being cost-effective by only adjusting engine settings.
Implementation Method 1
increase the rate of unburnt hydrocarbons contained in the burnt gases and thus to cause a very exothermic oxidation reaction. Thanks to this reaction, the burnt gases leave the catalytic converter at a very high temperature, around 650°C, and enter the particulate filter by burning the solid particles
Implementation Method 2
the regulating valve is controlled to present an invariable opening rate and predetermined... the rate of opening of the regulation valve is controlled to be either zero or equal to a non-zero constant... effectively makes it possible to maintain a level of oxygen in the burnt gases sufficient to burn the solid particles
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method of regenerating a particle filter (35) of a supercharged internal combustion engine (1) equipped with an EGR line (40, 50) for recirculating the burnt gases, during which method there are: a) a step of acquiring the value of at least one parameter characteristic of the operation of the internal combustion engine (1); b) a step of comparing each value acquired in step a) against at least one corresponding threshold value; and c) a step of controlling a regulating valve (41, 51) that regulates the rate of flow of burnt gases passing through the recirculation line (40, 50) into an open or closed position according to the result of the comparison effected in step b). According to the invention, when the regulating valve (41, 51) is driven into the open position in step c), it is driven in such a way as to have a predetermined and invariable degree of opening.