EP2946098A1

EP2946098A1 - System for treating the exhaust gases of a motor vehicle engine and method for controlling same

Info

Publication number: EP2946098A1
Application number: EP13814906.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mickael Remingol
Original assignee: Renault SAS
Current assignee: Renault SAS
Priority date: 2013-01-15
Filing date: 2013-12-19
Publication date: 2015-11-25
Also published as: RU2651896C2; WO2014111226A1; KR102112310B1; US9683469B2; RU2015134153A; US20150354423A1; FR3000991A1; FR3000991B1; KR20150104115A

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for treating the exhaust gases (G) of an engine (12) on a motor vehicle comprising a particle filter (16), in which the regeneration of the particle filter (16) is controlled by bringing the temperature of the gases that are upstream from the particle filter (16) to a first set temperature (T1) in order to initiate the combustion of the soot accumulated in the particle filter (16), a critical area (32) and a normal area (31) are defined on the basis of the point of operation of the engine (12), which is characterized by a load of the engine (12) and a speed, and the temperature of the exhaust gases (G) is brought to the first set temperature (T1) in the normal area (31) and to a second set temperature (T2), which is lower than the first set temperature (T1), in the critical area (32).

Description

Exhaust gas treatment system of an engine on a motor vehicle and its control method

Technical area

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a system for treating the exhaust gases of an engine on a motor vehicle, in particular the regeneration phases of a particulate filter. It also relates to the exhaust gas treatment system implementing this method. State of the art

In order to regenerate an internal combustion engine particle filter, ie to purge soot from engine exhaust and accumulated in the filter during normal engine operation, oxidation reactions of soot in the presence of oxygen and under thermal energy supply conditions. On a diesel engine of a motor vehicle, today, the temperature upstream of the particulate filter to initiate its regeneration is of the order of 650 ° C.

The soot is burned by fuel, which can be injected either directly to the exhaust of the engine upstream of the particulate filter, or into the engine cylinders late in the expansion phase of the combustion cycle so as not to be burned in the cylinders and to be rejected to the exhaust.

The high temperature, higher than 650 ° C., upstream of the particulate filter can also be obtained by degrading the efficiency of the combustion reaction in the cylinders so as to increase the heat losses, for example by injecting later into the cylinders the fuel involved in the combustion, that is to say the fuel that actually burns for the production of the engine torque. The document FR 2 862 10Ό-Α1 shows an example of fuel injection in the combustion chambers at the end of the cycle. These techniques make it possible to complete the temperature increase of the exhaust gases at the engine outlet, whatever the driving and / or operating conditions of the engine, so as to guarantee a good regeneration efficiency.

Since a diesel engine generally operates in excess of oxygen, the presence of oxygen is ensured. It should be noted that the more oxygen in the exhaust gas, the faster the soot combustion. The oxidation reactions of the soot are exothermic, which makes it possible to maintain the oxidation reactions during the regeneration. In an environment where the amount of oxygen is high, this can lead to a form of so-called runaway chain reaction. The combustion of the soot self-maintains, the temperature in the particulate filter increases very rapidly to temperatures that can lead to degradation thereof, for example temperatures exceeding 1000 ° C.

There are particular engine operating-speed operating points where one is close to the runaway conditions. When the engine is at low load, the amount of oxygen consumed by combustion in the cylinder is low, leaving a large amount of oxygen available for the combustion of soot. Typically, when the engine does not drive the vehicle, it is close to the conditions of runaway. Another critical case is when the accelerator pedal is released while the vehicle is running and driving the engine.

A first known method to prevent runaway is to limit the amount of oxygen available in the exhaust. For this, we restrict the amount of air that the motor sucks in the intake phase using a valve or a shutter. Alternatively or additionally, the fresh air admitted is replaced by exhaust gas from the engine by acting on a gas recirculation valve. However, this method has the defect of restricting the amount of oxygen necessary for combustion in the cylinder of the diesel engine, which increases the risk of instabilities or misfires.

A second method is to increase the engine load on these operating points so that the internal combustion consumes more oxygen. It is thus possible to control the charge of a battery, the drive of an air conditioning system or a brake. Document FR 2 919 665 A1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a system that uses an electric accumulator charging system to control the temperature of the exhaust gas during a regeneration phase. This method is limited in that the absorption power is generally limited, either in its intensity or in its duration.

A third known method is to reduce the priming temperature of the regeneration. This method is limited in that the decrease of the thermal also decreases the regeneration efficiency on the phases not concerned by the risks of runaway.

A fourth method is to limit the amount of soot in the particulate filter so as to avoid reaching a mass too critical vis-à-vis a runaway. This solution requires more frequent regeneration and generally leads to overconsumption of fuel.

The invention aims to provide a method and an exhaust gas treatment system with a particle filter for a vehicle engine that can prevent the risk of runaway regeneration of the particulate filter. Description of the invention

The invention aims to remedy the various defects of the known control methods. With these objectives in view, the subject of the invention is a method for controlling a system for treating the exhaust gases of an engine on a motor vehicle, the gas treatment system comprising a particulate filter, a method according to which a regeneration of the particulate filter is controlled by controlling the temperature of the gases upstream of the particulate filter according to a first setpoint temperature to initiate a combustion of the soot accumulated in the particulate filter, characterized in that a critical zone is defined and a normal zone according to the operating point of the engine, characterized by an engine load and a speed, and the temperature of the exhaust gas is controlled according to the first setpoint temperature in the normal zone and according to a second set temperature, less than the first set temperature, in the critical zone.

The study of the operating conditions of the engine and the exhaust gas treatment system makes it possible to determine under which conditions the risks of runaway occur. It is found that the paramount parameters are the engine speed, that is to say the speed of rotation of the crankshaft, and the load of the engine, that is to say the torque supplied. Depending on these parameters, it is possible to delimit the critical zone, which is located at low loads and low speeds, and to apply in this zone a temperature reference at the inlet of the lower particulate filter, so as to avoid the risks of runaway. . Outside the critical zone, the efficiency of regeneration is preserved at its maximum level.

According to an improvement, a safety zone is further defined between the critical zone and the normal zone, and a third target temperature is controlled at the intermediate exhaust gas between the first and the second setpoint temperature. This creates an intermediate zone that strictly limits the size of the critical zone and in which the stress on the temperature is less severe.

In a complementary manner, the third setpoint temperature is a function of the loading rate of the particulate filter. The risk of runaway is also a function of the loading rate of the particulate filter. In particular, the risk is low when the loading rate soot from the particulate filter is weak. In this case, the temperature level in the safety zone can be further increased.

Alternatively, the third setpoint temperature is a linear interpolation between the second and the first setpoint temperature, as a function of the difference in speed between the critical zone and the normal zone for the load of the operating point current regime-load of the motor. The variation of the third setpoint is thus progressive as a function of the distance from the current operating point to the critical zone.

According to another improvement, the second setpoint temperature is a function of an oxygen content evaluated in the exhaust gas upstream of the particulate filter. When the oxygen level is higher, the soot burning rate is higher, and therefore the risk of runaway is higher. Taking into account the oxygen level and adjusting the gas inlet temperature accordingly, the risk of runaway in the critical zone is more accurately excluded. The oxygen level may change depending on the conditions outside the vehicle, such as depending on the atmospheric pressure, the altitude at which the vehicle is located or the temperature of the ambient air. The oxygen content in the exhaust gas is a good indication of these parameters.

Similarly, the third setpoint temperature is a function of an estimated oxygen level in the exhaust gas upstream of the particulate filter. As before, the set temperature in the safety zone can be adjusted while ensuring the absence of risk of runaway.

The subject of the invention is also a system for treating the exhaust gases of an engine on a motor vehicle, the system comprising a particulate filter, thermal means for controlling the temperature of the exhaust gases upstream of the filter. particles and a control unit of the thermal means, the control unit being arranged to drive the thermal means so as to control a regeneration of the particulate filter by controlling the temperature of the exhaust gas upstream of the particulate filter to a first target temperature, characterized in that the control unit is arranged to define a critical zone and a normal zone according to the operating point of the engine, characterized by an engine load and a speed, and to control the temperature of the exhaust gases according to the first set temperature in the normal zone and according to a second set temperature, lower than the first set temperature, in the critical zone.

Brief description of the figures

The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will appear on reading the description which follows, the description referring to the appended drawings among which:

FIG. 1 represents an exhaust gas treatment system according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a diagram showing the different operating areas of the motor defined in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows a motorization system 1 comprising an internal combustion engine 12 and a system 10 for processing the exhaust gases of the engine 12. The engine is for example a diesel engine. An exhaust line 14 permits the evacuation of the gases G from the engine 12 to the atmosphere. The treatment system 10 is implanted in the exhaust line 14 and comprises an oxidation catalyst 20 upstream of a particulate filter 16. The motorization system further comprises an intake manifold 22 to distribute the intake air A to the different cylinders of the engine 12.

The exhaust gases G produced by the engine 12 are discharged into the exhaust line 14. As they pass through the catalyst 20, the unburnt gases contained in the exhaust gas G, such as hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, are oxidized in an exothermic reaction. Then, during their passage in the particulate filter 16, the soot particles contained in the exhaust gas are retained by the filter, in the normal operating mode of the engine (that is to say: out of phase of the engine). regeneration of the filter 16).

The processing system 10 further comprises a control unit 18 which receives a temperature information measured in the exhaust line 14 by the sensor 19 upstream of the particulate filter 16. The control unit 18 also makes it possible to control the motor 12 for controlling the temperature of the exhaust gas G upstream of the particulate filter 16 under certain circumstances.

Periodically, the particles thus trapped in the particulate filter 16 are burned during a regeneration phase. This regeneration requires to occur that the filter reaches a temperature greater than or equal to the combustion temperature of the particles. The particulate filter 16 is heated by the exhaust G.

When it is desired to obtain the regeneration of the particulate filter 16, the control unit 18 modifies, for example, the injection conditions to degrade the efficiency of combustion in the cylinders, and thus increase the temperature of the exhaust gases G It is then sought to obtain a target temperature of the exhaust gases G upstream of the particulate filter 16.

For example, degradation of the combustion efficiency can be achieved by delaying fuel injection into the engine cylinders during the cycle.

The diagram of FIG. 2 shows operating zones of the engine 12 on a plane having on the abscissa the speed of the engine 12 and on the ordinate the torque delivered by the engine 12 on the crankshaft. A limit curve 30 represents the maximum torque delivered by the motor 12 as a function of the speed. Below the limit curve 30 are represented three zones: a normal zone 31, on the maximum regime side, a critical zone 32, on the lower speed side and a safety zone 33 intermediate between the normal zone 31 and the zone. criticism 32.

According to the invention, the temperature of the gases is controlled upstream of the particulate filter 16 according to a first setpoint temperature T1 in the normal zone 31, according to a second setpoint temperature T2, lower than the first temperature, in the critical zone. 32, and according to a third setpoint temperature T3, intermediate between the first and the second setpoint temperature T2 in the safety zone 33. The first setpoint temperature T1 is for example 650 ° C. The second setpoint temperature T2 can be predetermined in a fixed manner, after the performance of tests to verify that the risk of runaway is not incurred. The third setpoint temperature T3 can also be predetermined at a fixed value, intermediate between the first and the second setpoint temperature T2. During the regeneration phase, the control unit 18 determines in which zone the motor 12 operates and applies the corresponding target temperature by regulating this temperature with the aid of the temperature probe 19 upstream of the particulate filter. 16, for example by realizing a regulator of the PID type.

In a particular embodiment, the control unit 18 also receives a loading information from the particulate filter 16, that is to say soot mass stored in the filter 16. This information comes for example from a pressure difference measurement between the upstream and the downstream of the particulate filter 16, in a manner known per se. The control unit 18 adapts the third setpoint temperature T3 according to the loading rate of the particulate filter 16, that is to say as a function of the loading of the filter 16 divided by its maximum storage capacity. Thus, the third set temperature T3 is equal to the first set temperature T1 when the loading rate of the filter at particle 16 is almost zero, and equal to the second setpoint temperature T2 when the loading rate of the particle filter 16 is at the limit allowed. The third setpoint temperature T3 is interpolated between these two values T1, T2 as a function of the loading rate of the particulate filter 16.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the system comprises means for evaluating the oxygen content in the exhaust gas G. These means may be an oxygen sensor directly measuring the oxygen level, or control unit 18 arranged to calculate this oxygen content as a function of the environmental and operating parameters of the engine 12 measured or controlled. In this embodiment, the control unit 18 determines the second setpoint temperature T2 as a function of the oxygen content evaluated in the exhaust gas G upstream of the particulate filter 16.

By way of example, the second setpoint temperature T2 is determined as follows:

if the oxygen level is greater than a first predetermined threshold, the second setpoint temperature T2 is set at a low limit T2min; if the oxygen content is lower than a second predetermined threshold, lower than the first threshold, the second setpoint temperature T2 is set at a high limit T2max;

if the oxygen level is between the first T2min and the second threshold T2max, the second setpoint temperature T2 is calculated by linear interpolation between the low limit T2min and the high limit T2max as a function of the variation of the oxygen level between the first and the second threshold.

In the same manner, implemented at the same time as for the second setpoint temperature T2, the third setpoint temperature T3 is a function of the oxygen content evaluated in the exhaust gas G upstream of the particulate filter 16. By example, in the calculation of the third setpoint temperature T3 as a function of the loading rate of the particulate filter 16, the second setpoint temperature T2 calculated as previously stated as a function of the oxygen level is taken into consideration.

According to another embodiment, the third setpoint temperature T3 is a linear interpolation between the second T2 and the first setpoint temperature T1, as a function of the difference in speed between the critical zone 32 and the normal zone 31 for the load. of the running point of the motor 12. Referring to Fig. 2, a horizontal line 34 from the current operating point 35 in the safety zone 33 intersects the boundaries of the critical zone 32 and the normal zone 31 at the abscissas. respectively N ₂ and Ni. For this current operating point 35, the third setpoint temperature T3 is calculated by linear interpolation between the second and the third temperature nsign T2, T3 according to the formula:

The invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described by way of example. The temperature upstream of the particulate filter 16 can be evaluated according to other measurements and with mathematical models implemented by the control unit 18 or by other computers on board the vehicle. The control unit 18 is presented as being independent, but its functions can be realized by a computer that also performs other functions, such as the control of the motor 12.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an exhaust gas treatment system (G) of an engine (12) on a motor vehicle, the gas treatment system comprising a particulate filter (16), a method of controlling a regenerating the particulate filter (16) by controlling the temperature of the gases upstream of the particulate filter (16) to a first set temperature (T1) to initiate combustion of soot accumulated in the particulate filter (16), characterized in a critical zone (32) and a normal zone (31) are defined as a function of the operating point of the engine (12), characterized by a load of the engine (12) and a speed, and the temperature of the gases is controlled of exhaust (G) according to the first set temperature (T1) in the normal zone (31) and according to a second set point temperature (T2), lower than the first set temperature (T1), in the critical zone (32). ).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein a safety zone (33) is further defined between the critical zone (32) and the normal zone (31), and a third setpoint temperature (T3) is controlled by intermediate exhaust (G) between the first and the second setpoint temperature (T1, T2).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the third setpoint temperature (T3) is a function of the loading rate of the particulate filter (16).

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the third setpoint temperature (T3) is a linear interpolation between the second and the first setpoint temperature (T2, T1), as a function of the difference in speed between the critical zone ( 32) and the normal area (31) for charging the operating point (35) of the motor (12).

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second setpoint temperature (T2) is a function of an estimated oxygen content in the exhaust gas (G) upstream of the particulate filter (16). ).

6. Method according to claim 2, wherein the third setpoint temperature (T3) is a function of an estimated oxygen content in the exhaust gas (G) upstream of the particulate filter (16).

7. System for treating the exhaust gases (G) of an engine (12) on a motor vehicle, the system comprising a particulate filter (16), thermal means for controlling the temperature of the exhaust gases (G ) upstream of the particulate filter (16) and a control unit (18) of the thermal means, the control unit (18) being arranged to control the thermal means so as to control a regeneration of the particulate filter (16) by controlling the temperature of the exhaust gas (G) upstream of the particulate filter (16) to a first target temperature (T1), characterized in that the control unit (18) is arranged to define a critical zone (32) and a normal zone (31) as a function of the operating point (35) of the engine (12), characterized by a load of the engine (12) and a speed, and for controlling the temperature of the exhaust gases (G ) according to the first set temperature (T1) in the normal zone (31) and a second setpoint temperature (T2), lower than the first setpoint temperature (T1), in the critical zone (32).