Methods and systems for aftertreatment preheating

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018340480-A1
Application number	US-201815874286-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 18, 2018
Priority date	May 26, 2017
Publication date	Nov 29, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for preheating emissions control devices prior to engine startup using a heating element and a flow control device operable to provide a fluid flow, such as a compressor or a turbine. One exemplary method of heating an emissions control component prior to engine startup involves opening or otherwise operating a valve to provide a path for fluid flow to the emissions control component, operating a flow control device to provide the fluid flow through the path, and activating a heating element upstream of the emissions control component to heat the fluid flow to the emissions control component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of heating an emissions control component prior to engine startup, the method comprising:
operating a valve to provide a path for fluid flow to the emissions control component that bypasses engine cylinders of the engine; operating a flow control device to provide the fluid flow bypassing the engine cylinders through the path; and activating a heating element upstream of the emissions control component to heat the fluid flow bypassing the engine cylinders prior to an inlet to the emissions control component.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the valve comprises opening an exhaust gas recovery (EGR) valve between an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold of the engine to provide the path for the fluid flow bypassing the engine cylinders from the intake manifold to the exhaust manifold via the EGR valve.

3 . The method of claim 2 , operating the flow control device comprises operating a turbine downstream of the exhaust manifold to draw the fluid flow bypassing the engine cylinders from the intake manifold to the exhaust manifold, wherein the heating element is downstream of the turbine.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein activating the heating element comprises enabling current flow through the heating element.

5 . The method of claim 2 , operating the flow control device comprises operating a compressor upstream of the intake manifold to drive the fluid flow bypassing the engine cylinders from the intake manifold to the exhaust manifold, wherein the heating element is downstream of the exhaust manifold.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein activating the heating element comprises enabling current flow through the heating element.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the valve to disable the path for the fluid flow prior to engine startup.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising deactivating the heating element after engine startup.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising deactivating the heating element when a temperature associated with the fluid flow to the emissions control component is greater than a threshold temperature.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the threshold temperature is a light-off temperature.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein activating the heating element comprises activating an electrical component exposed to the fluid flow bypassing the engine cylinders to convectively heat the fluid flow prior to the emissions control component.

12 . A vehicle system comprising:
a flow control device; a valve; a heating element upstream of an exhaust aftertreatment system; an actuation arrangement coupled to the flow control device; and a control module coupled to the valve, the heating element, and the actuation arrangement to open the valve to provide a path for a fluid flow bypassing an engine, command the actuation arrangement to operate the flow control device after opening the valve to provide the fluid flow bypassing the engine via the valve, and activate the heating element to convectively heat the fluid flow after bypassing the engine via the valve.

13 . The vehicle system of claim 12 , wherein the valve comprises an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve between an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold of the engine.

14 . The vehicle system of claim 13 , wherein the flow control device comprises a compressor upstream of the engine.

15 . The vehicle system of claim 13 , wherein the flow control device comprises a turbine downstream of the engine.

16 . The vehicle system of claim 12 , wherein the flow control device comprises a compressor upstream of the valve.

17 . The vehicle system of claim 12 , wherein the flow control device comprises a turbine downstream of the valve.

18 . The vehicle system of claim 12 , wherein:
the heating element comprises one or more electrical components exposed to the fluid flow; and the control module activates the heating element by enabling current flow through the one or more electrical components.

19 . A method of operating an engine, the method comprising:
opening an exhaust gas recovery (EGR) valve to provide an auxiliary path for fluid flow bypassing the engine to an exhaust aftertreatment system downstream of the engine; operating a flow control device after opening the EGR valve to provide the fluid flow through the auxiliary path to the exhaust aftertreatment system that bypasses the engine; activating a heating element disposed between the engine and the exhaust aftertreatment system to convectively heat the fluid flow to the exhaust aftertreatment system; and closing the EGR valve to disable the auxiliary path prior to starting the engine.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein:
the flow control device comprises a turbine downstream of the engine and an electric motor coupled to the turbine; the heating element is disposed between an outlet of the turbine and an inlet to the exhaust aftertreatment system and operating the flow control device comprises operating the electric motor to rotate a wheel of the turbine.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Mehta Darius

Classifications

• F01N2240/16

  an electric heater, i.e. a resistance heater · CPC title

• F02M26/06

  Low pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust downstream of the turbocharger turbine and reintroduced into the intake system upstream of the compressor · CPC title

• F01N3/2006 Primary

  Periodically heating or cooling catalytic reactors, e.g. at cold starting or overheating (by electrically controlling the supply of combustible mixture or its constituents only F02D41/0235) · CPC title

• F02D41/024 Primary

  to increase temperature of the exhaust gas treating apparatus · CPC title

• F01N3/2013

  using electric or magnetic heating means · CPC title