SCR Thawing Control via Pump Pressure Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional SCR thawing control systems fail to detect thawing failures accurately, leading to potential pump malfunctions and shortened pump lifetime due to insufficient thawing detection in the urea water supply system, especially in cold weather conditions.

Innovation Solution

The proposed SCR thawing control method includes a thawing control unit that monitors pressure changes within the supply module and distinguishes between thawing failure and malfunction by detecting ambient temperature and pressure anomalies, preventing SM pump malfunctions by stopping operation when predetermined pressure values are not maintained.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the tank temperature or SM temperature is used to determine thawing completion, then the control system can operate the SM pump, but urea water may remain frozen in portions spaced apart from temperature sensors causing pump malfunction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethawing detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the SM pump's own operation characteristics (current, pressure, speed) to detect thawing completion and frozen conditions, eliminating the need for additional temperature sensors in the urea pipe. The pump serves both its primary function and as a sensor for detecting system state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces temperature-based detection (thermal field) with electrical/current-based detection (electrical field) by monitoring pump current and pressure to determine thawing status, avoiding the need for physical temperature sensors in hard-to-reach locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If the SM pump operates at maximum power during insufficient thawing, then the pump can attempt to move urea water, but ice grain or unthawable urea water flows into the pump causing load and potential malfunction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethawing speedVSAvoidpump malfunction risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors pump current, pressure, and rotation speed, and uses this feedback to detect frozen conditions. When freezing is detected through abnormal current or pressure patterns, the control unit stops the pump to prevent damage, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to real-time conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of frozen conditions by monitoring pump operation parameters before actual damage occurs. By detecting abnormal current or pressure patterns early, the system can stop the pump in advance to prevent ice grains from causing malfunction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Measurement precision

If the pressure is not maintained at predetermined value during pump operation, then the system can detect potential frozen conditions, but the pump may continue operating causing malfunction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure detection accuracyVSAvoidpump operation safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses pressure feedback from the urea water supply line to detect frozen conditions. When pressure deviates from the predetermined range, the control unit interprets this as a frozen condition signal and stops the pump to prevent damage, ensuring both accurate detection and safe operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 differentiates between thawing failure and malfunction, preventing SM pump malfunctions and ensuring secure thawing of urea water, thereby extending pump lifetime and maintaining system reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a supply module 106 for supplying the urea water stored in the urea tank 105 to the dosing valve 104

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPump: Pump

Implementation Method 2

a thawing control unit 128 that detects a pressure inside the supply module 106 when the SM pump 112 is operated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Implementation Method 3

an SCR thawing control system that supplies engine cooling water to a urea water supply system in cold weather and performs a thawing control for thawing frozen urea water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP2573341B1SCR thawing control system
Publication Date: 2017.07.05 ISUZU MOTORS LTD
  • EP2573341B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2573341B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2573341B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is an SCR thawing control system that can distinguish between a thawing failure and a malfunction and can prevent a malfunction of an SM pump. When urea water is frozen in any one of a urea tank 105 for storing urea water, liquid feed, pump and recovery lines 116, 117, 118 between the urea tank 105 and a dosing valve 104 for injecting urea water on an upstream side of an SCR device 103, and a supply module 106 connected to the liquid feed, pump and recovery lines 116, 117, 118, an SCR thawing control system 127 thaws the frozen urea water by engine cooling water and operates an SM pump 112 of the supply module 106 after the thawing to inject the thawed urea water from the dosing valve 104. The thawing control system 127 includes a thawing control unit 128 that detects a pressure inside the supply module 106 when the SM pump 112 is operated, and stops the operation of the SM pump 112 and continues thawing of the urea water when the pressure is less than a predetermined value.