EP3004581A1

EP3004581A1 - Method for operating a device for conveying a fluid

Info

Publication number: EP3004581A1
Application number: EP14724394.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jan Hodgson; Christian Vorsmann; Rolf BRÜCK
Original assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
Current assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
Priority date: 2013-06-04
Filing date: 2014-05-09
Publication date: 2016-04-13
Also published as: US9816418B2; CN105408595B; CN105408595A; JP6092474B2; US20160131004A1; JP2016526128A; DE102013105710A1; WO2014195082A1; KR20160007655A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a device (1) for conveying a fluid by means of a conveying pipe (2) which can be divided into a suction pipe section (4) from at least one tank (6) to at least one pump (3) and into a pressure pipe section (5) from the pump (3) to at least one injector (7), and has at least one pressure sensor (8) on the pressure pipe section (5). In a step A) of the method an activation of the device is detected. In a step B) of the method the conveying pipe (2) is filled with the fluid by an operation of the at least one pump (3) having a conveying direction (9) from the at least one tank (6) to the at least one injector (7), and a complete filling of the conveying pipe is detected on the basis of at least one dramatic pressure increase (10) at the at least one pressure sensor (8). In step C) an operation of the pump (3) and a provision of fluid at the injector (7) take place. In step D) a deactivation of the device (1) is detected. In step E) a partial emptying of the conveying pipe (2) takes place by back-suction of the fluid by means of an operation of the at least one pump (3) contrary to the conveying direction, wherein the emptying is stopped when the pressure measured at the least one pressure sensor (8) corresponds to an ambient pressure (12).

Description

Method for operating a device for conveying a liquid

The invention relates to a method for operating a device for conveying a liquid. The device can be used for example in a motor vehicle to promote a liquid additive to an exhaust gas treatment device for cleaning the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle and fed to the exhaust gas treatment device metered.

In exhaust gas treatment devices to which a liquid additive for exhaust gas purification is supplied, the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) process, for example, can be carried out. In this method, nitrogen oxide compounds are reduced in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine with the aid of a reducing agent. The reducing agent used is usually ammonia. Ammonia is not normally stored directly in motor vehicles, but in the form of a reducing agent precursor solution. A commonly used reductant precursor solution is liquid urea-water solution. A 32.5 percent urea-water solution is available under the trade name AdBlue®. This reductant precursor solution can be fed to an exhaust treatment device with a device that can be operated according to the method described below.

When developing, manufacturing and operating equipment to provide a liquid additive for waste gas purification, it is important to keep in mind that the (aqueous) liquid can freeze at low temperatures. For example, the 32.5 percent urea-water solution freezes at -11 ° C. Such low temperatures can occur in the automotive sector, especially during long periods of downtime in winter. When freezing the liquid typically occurs a volume expansion. This volume expansion can damage the device for delivery. For this reason, it is known to empty a device for conveying a liquid during operation stop. When emptying, the liquid is removed from the device and replaced with air from the environment. Typically, air is drawn into the device via an injector on an exhaust pipe, while at the same time the liquid is conveyed back into a tank. Then there is no liquid within the device during the stoppage phase of the motor vehicle. Accordingly, no volume expansion of the liquid can occur within the device. The problem here is, however, that a deflated device must be filled before recommissioning. When refilling the device there is a particular risk that leakage occurs. When the device is connected to an exhaust gas treatment device, during refilling, for example, a passage of the liquid into the exhaust gas treatment device may occur. Moreover, both when emptying the device and when filling the device, it should be avoided to operate the pump of the device for an unnecessarily long time. A shorter operating time of the pump on the one hand reduces the energy consumption during filling or emptying. On the other hand, it can also be avoided that the pump is damaged and / or increased wear of the pump occurs due to unintended conveyance of air and / or due to the work of the pump against an increased delivery resistance.

On this basis, it is an object of the present invention to solve the technical problems described or at least alleviate. In particular, a particularly advantageous method for operating a device for conveying a liquid is to be presented, in which the device is filled during startup and emptied upon deactivation.

These objects are achieved by a method according to the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the method are specified in the dependent claims. The features listed individually in the claims are in any technologically meaningful way can be combined with each other and can be supplemented by explanatory facts from the description and in particular from the description of the figures. The invention relates to a method for operating a device for conveying a liquid with a delivery line, which is subdivided into a Saugleitungsabschnitt of at least one tank to at least one pump and a pressure line section from the pump to at least one injector and at least one pressure sensor on the pressure line section The method comprises at least the following steps:

A) detecting activation of the device;

B) filling the delivery line with the liquid by operation of the at least one pump with a delivery direction from the at least one tank to the at least one injector and determining a complete filling of the delivery line based on at least one sudden pressure increase at the at least one pressure sensor;

C) operating the pump and providing fluid to the injector;

D) detecting deactivation of the device; and

E) Partial emptying of the conveying line by sucking back the liquid with an operation of the at least one pump against the conveying direction, wherein the emptying is stopped when the pressure measured at the at least one pressure sensor corresponds to an ambient pressure.

The delivery line of the device is preferably not branched. This means in particular that the device has no return line, which branches off starting from the pressure line section of the delivery line and leads back into the tank. However, it should nevertheless be possible for the delivery line to have several parallel strands (towards one or more injectors). It is possible, for example, for two parallel-connected pumps to be present in the delivery line, which pumps can convey parallel to one another in order to convey the liquid in a conveying direction along the delivery line. moreover it is possible that a plurality of injectors are provided, via which a parallel supply of liquid to an exhaust gas treatment device is possible. Preferably, however, it is not possible to use the pump to carry out a circulation from the tank through the at least one pump and back into the tank. For emptying the delivery line is preferably a promotion against the conveying direction necessary.

The at least one pump is a pump with a reversible conveying direction. A pump with reversible conveying direction may be, for example, an orbital pump or a peristaltic pump. These pumps have a rotary drive which shifts a delivery volume along the delivery path by displacing at least one seal of the delivery line along the delivery line. In the case of a hose pump, for example, this occurs because an eccentric displaces a compressed region of a hose along the conveying direction, wherein the at least one seal is formed by the compressed region of the hose. In an orbital pump, this is done by shifting a formed by a deformable membrane at least one seal a delivery line in the conveying direction. A reversal of the conveying direction is possible in such a pump by reversing the drive direction. The at least one seal is then shifted in each case in the opposite direction.

However, the pump may also be a pump whose conveying direction is reversible by means of a valve arrangement. If a valve arrangement is provided for reversing the conveying direction on the pump, the pump can also be a reciprocating pump or a diaphragm pump which has a pump chamber volume which increases and decreases regularly for delivery. The pump can also be constructed as a system comprising a plurality of pump chamber units, wherein at least one pump chamber unit serves to convey in the conveying direction, while at least one further pump chamber unit serves to convey against the conveying direction. The pressure sensor is preferably designed such that it can measure a pressure of the liquid in the pressure line section. In one embodiment variant of the pressure sensor, a measuring cell of the pressure sensor is connected to the delivery line (direct / indirect), so that the pressure of the liquid is transferred to the measuring cell.

The described device for conveying liquid is particularly suitable for conveying a liquid additive (such as a urea-water solution) for exhaust gas purification into the exhaust gas treatment device of an internal combustion engine.

The metering of the liquid with the aid of the device preferably takes place via the at least one injector, which is connected to the pressure line section. The pressure line section is preferably connected to a pressure accumulator and / or forms itself from the pressure accumulator. The pump delivers the liquid into the pressure line section. The pressure in the pressure line section is monitored by means of the pressure sensor. The pump is operated by means of the information provided by the pressure sensor on the pressure in the pressure line sab cut, that the pressure in the pressure line section is constant. Then, the amount of liquid discharged from the injector is proportional to the opening time of the injector. The dosage can thus be done by adjusting the opening time of the injector. In the method, an activation of the device is first detected in step A). This can for example be done by a start of a motor vehicle with the device or a start of an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle is detected. If the activation of the device is detected in step A), the delivery line of the device is typically emptied because at the last stop of operation or the last deactivation of the device, an emptying of the delivery line was performed. Accordingly takes place after step A) in a step B), a filling of the delivery line with the liquid. This happens in particular in that the at least one pump conveys the liquid out of the tank and thereby sucks or pushes the liquid into the delivery line and in particular into the suction line section of the delivery line. In this case, air is pushed out of the delivery line in the delivery line. The air preferably leaves the delivery line via the injector. When the pressure line sab section of the delivery line is completely filled and the liquid reaches the at least one injector, a sudden pressure increase occurs in the pressure line section. In this case, a sudden increase in pressure means in particular that the pressure rises abruptly, or that a very high pressure gradient is present. This sudden pressure increase can be detected with the at least one pressure sensor. The sudden pressure increase occurs because the flow resistance is significantly increased when the liquid reaches the injector. This is due, for example, to the fact that the cross-section of the injector, which can flow freely through the liquid, is substantially smaller than the freely flow-through cross-section of the delivery line. For air, the flow through resistance of the injector is much lower than for the liquid.

In step C), a regular operation of the apparatus is performed in which the pump is operated to deliver, meter and / or deliver (in the pressure line section) the liquid.

In step D) deactivation of the device is detected. Deactivation of the device can be detected, for example, if a motor vehicle with the device or deactivation of an internal combustion engine is detected.

Then, step E) is initiated, in which a partial emptying of the delivery line takes place by sucking back the liquid. The sucking back is carried out until a pressure which corresponds to the ambient pressure is measured at the at least one pressure sensor. The ambient pressure is in particular the atmospheric pressure which the air in the environment of the device has. This pressure is usually also present in an exhaust gas treatment device when the motor vehicle is deactivated. When an injector of the device is connected to an exhaust treatment device, the ambient pressure can also be transmitted through the injector into the delivery line of the device. When the measured pressure at the injector matches the ambient pressure, there is an air-filled connection between the environment and the pressure sensor. Thus it can be seen that a partial emptying of the delivery line (up to the pressure sensor) has taken place.

Furthermore, the method is advantageous if a constant pressure is maintained during step C) with the aid of the at least one pump in the pressure line section of the delivery line, and a metered supply of liquid is achieved by an adapted opening time of the at least one injector.

Preferably, a metered delivery of the liquid occurs when an external Dosieranforderung is made to the device. An external metering request is made to the device, for example, when an exhaust gas treatment device requires liquid for exhaust gas purification. An external dosing request may be generated by a controller. During step C), the liquid in the pressure line section is under an operating pressure, which is preferably between 5 and 10 bar. This described method is a particularly advantageous method with which a precise dosage of liquid can be achieved with the aid of the device described for the method described.

The described method opens up a particularly simple and efficient way of operating a device for conveying a liquid in such a way that it is filled upon activation and (partially) when it is deactivated. is emptied without additional components to carry out the emptying process and the filling process are necessary.

Furthermore, the method is advantageous if step B) comprises at least the following substeps:

B. l) opening the at least one injector;

B.2) conveying liquid with the at least one pump;

B.3) monitoring the pressure in the delivery line by means of the at least one pressure sensor;

B.4) detecting a sudden pressure increase at the at least one pressure sensor; and

B.5) closing the at least one injector and stopping the delivery of liquid with the at least one pump. Sub-steps B. 1 to B. 5) explain in detail a preferred procedure, which is carried out in the context of step B), this procedure being referred to below as the first embodiment of step B). In step B. 1), the at least one injector is opened. This is done so that the flow resistance for air flowing out of the delivery line is minimized. The injector opens only when the injector is closed before step B. l). If the injector is already open (upon activation of the device), the injector may remain in the open state. According to a preferred embodiment variant is first checked in step Bl), whether the injector is open. When the injector is open, it remains in the open state. When the injector is closed, it will open (active). Subsequently, the liquid is conveyed in step B.2). The pressure in the delivery line is monitored by means of the at least one pressure sensor (see step B.3). As soon as the liquid reaches the injector, a sudden pressure increase occurs because the pump continues to deliver and the flow resistance of the liquid additive to the injector is considerably increased. This pressure increase can be detected at the pressure sensor. this happens in step B.4). The injector is then closed so that no more liquid additive escapes from the injector and the delivery of the liquid with the at least one pump is stopped (step B.5)).

In a further embodiment variant of the method described comprises

Step B) the following sub-steps:

B.i) closing the at least one injector;

B.ii) conveying liquid with the at least one pump;

B.iii) monitoring the pressure in the delivery line by means of the at least one pressure sensor; and

B.iv) detecting a sudden pressure increase at the at least one

Pressure sensor.

The embodiment variant of step B) explained with steps B.i) to B.iv) is referred to below as the second embodiment variant of step B). Thus, two different variants of step B) are proposed. The process steps B.2) to B.4) or B.ii) to B.iv) in this case coincide with one another in both process variants. A deviation between the two variants is provided with regard to step B. I) or B.i).

In step B.ii), the at least one injector is closed. This is done so that the flow resistance for air exiting the delivery line is within a predetermined range. The closing of the injector occurs only when the injector has been opened before step Bi). If the injector (when activating the device) is already closed, the injector may remain in the closed state. According to a preferred embodiment variant, it is first checked in step Bi) whether the injector is closed. When the injector is closed, it remains in the closed state. When the injector is open, it will be closed (active). For the second embodiment of step B) an injector is preferably used, which is impermeable in the closed state for the liquid to be delivered and permeable to air. When opened, this injector is permeable to both liquid and air. In the closed state, however, the injector also has an increased (defined) throughflow for air, so that a (slight) increase in pressure occurs in the pressure line section when the liquid is conveyed into the delivery line and air from the delivery line passes through the injector is pressed out. Such an injector has a continuous flow path in the closed state, which is designed so that air can pass through, while the fluid (for example due to capillary forces) can not pass this flow path.

This method is particularly advantageous if, during substep B.3) or B.iii), a continuous increase in pressure (increasing over a predefined period of time) is monitored, which occurs due to the filling of the delivery line. The cause of the continuing increase in pressure during substep B.3) or B.iii) is the fact that the friction of the liquid as it flows through the delivery line is in each case proportional to the charge in the delivery line. The air can be pushed through the line with very little resistance, while the flowing liquid in the delivery line has a greater flow resistance. Therefore, the pressure increases during step B.3) while the delivery line continues to be filled. It is particularly advantageous to monitor this pressure rise during step B.3) because it can be recognized from this to what extent the delivery line is already filled. This allows a particularly precise control of the process. In particular, the operation of the pump can already be reduced before the liquid actually arrives at the injector. As a result, an amount of liquid that exits the injector in step B.4) before the injector is closed in step B.5) are kept very low. Furthermore, the method is advantageous if the at least one pump is operated during the sub-steps B.2) and B.3) for a period of 5 seconds to 20 seconds. It has been found that a time interval of this magnitude is sufficient to completely fill a delivery line of typical length (for example, between 2 m [meter] and 5 m), without requiring an increased delivery capacity of the pump.

In addition, the method is particularly advantageous when a start time is determined, during which step B.3) or B.iii) on the pressure sensor, a change in pressure begins and an end time is determined, in the sub-step B.4) or B. .iv), the sudden pressure increase occurs, wherein a calibration of the pump is carried out by comparing the pumped with the pump liquid amount between the start time and the end time and a filled volume of the pressure line section.

As already stated above, during the partial steps B.3) or B.iii) in each case a sustained increase in pressure occurs, which is preferably monitored. However, this continuous increase in pressure preferably begins only when the liquid reaches the pressure sensor. If sections of the delivery line are filled between the pressure sensor and the tank, then no pressure increase will occur. The time at which the liquid reaches the pressure sensor can therefore be identified as the start time of the pressure increase. The starting time can be recognized, for example, from the fact that the pressure measured at the pressure sensor (for the first time) exceeds a threshold value. The start time can also be recognized by the fact that a pressure gradient occurs at the pressure sensor which exceeds a threshold value. The end time can be easily recognized by means of substep B.4) or B.iv). On the basis of operating parameters of the pump can be calculated, which amount of fluid has pumped the pump in the period between the start time and the end time. These operating parameters can, for example, a drive speed of the pump (in particular a speed or a Pump drive frequency) and / or a related to the drive speed delivery volume of the pump (in particular a stroke volume of the pump). This (determined) amount of liquid is compared with a filled volume of the pressure line section. This filled volume is the volume having the delivery line between the pressure sensor and the injector (within the pressure line section).

From the deviation between this filled volume and the calculated amount of fluid, an error in the calculated amount of fluid can be detected. The pump can be calibrated by subsequently correcting this error by a correspondingly selected compensation factor in a control unit. It is particularly advantageous that this calibration can be carried out during the commissioning of the device, without causing a loss of liquid additive occurs. This calibration can be used in the first embodiment and / or in the second embodiment of step B).

The described embodiments of step B) (the first embodiment with the sub-steps Bl) to B.5) and the second variant with the sub-steps Bi) to B.iv) are each independent of the process steps A), C), D) and E) and may optionally also without the features of the process steps A), C), D) and E) are claimed.

Furthermore, the method is advantageous if step E) comprises at least the following substeps:

E. l) opening the at least one injector;

E.2) sucking back the liquid with an operation of the at least one

Pump against the conveying direction;

E.3) monitoring the pressure in the delivery line by means of the at least one pressure sensor; E.4) detecting a pressure corresponding to the ambient pressure at the at least one pressure sensor;

E.5) closing the at least one injector and stopping the sucking back of the liquid with the at least one pump.

The specified process steps E.l to E.5) indicate a particularly preferred procedure, which can be carried out in the context of step E) to (partially) empty the delivery line. In step E.I), the injector is opened so that air can be sucked through the injector into the delivery line which replaces the liquid. In step E.2), the liquid is sucked back, wherein at the same time air is sucked through the injector into the delivery line. During the re-suction in process step E.3), the pressure in the delivery line is monitored with the at least one pressure sensor. In step E.4) is detected when a pressure applied to the pressure sensor, which corresponds to the ambient pressure. Then, an air-filled connection exists from the injector to the pressure sensor, through which the ambient pressure from the environment (or from the exhaust treatment device to which the injector is connected) continues to the pressure sensor. Therefore, the ambient pressure at the pressure sensor can be measured.

The environment pressure can for example be stored as a specified parameter in a control unit for performing the method described. The ambient pressure is typically 1 bar and corresponds to the atmospheric pressure. In order to be able to detect the ambient pressure particularly precisely and to be able to carry out the method step E) or the method step E.4) with particular precision, it is also possible for the ambient pressure to be actively monitored. In this case, a match with the ambient pressure in step E) or in step E.4) can be determined particularly precisely, since fluctuations in the ambient pressure can also be taken into account. In step E.5), the injector is closed and the suck back of the liquid with the at least one pump is stopped. The injector is closed, so that no more air from the environment of the injector is sucked into the delivery line.

This method is also advantageous if during sub-step E.3) an abrupt pressure drop occurs and subsequently a sustained increase in pressure is monitored. By a sudden pressure drop is meant that the pressure suddenly drops sharply within a very short time. During the sudden pressure drop, the pressure has a very large negative gradient. The pressure drop is typically characterized by a change in pressure from normal operating pressures of the device to a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

This pressure drop occurs because the built-up in the pressure line section of the delivery line pressure is no longer maintained by the pump, but on the contrary, the pump promotes the liquid from the pressure line section of the delivery line addition. Typically, the pressure drops to a vacuum that is below atmospheric pressure. When the pressure drop is completed, a sustained (increasing over a predetermined period of time) pressure increase occurs again, through which the pressure measured at the pressure sensor slowly approaches the ambient pressure until finally the ambient pressure is applied to the pressure sensor.

The method is particularly advantageous if the at least one pump is operated during sub-steps E.2) and E.3) for a period of 5 seconds to 20 seconds. It has been found that a time interval of this magnitude is sufficient to partially empty a delivery line of typical length (for example, between 2 m [meter] and 5 m), without requiring an increased delivery capacity of the pump. The described embodiment of step E) with the sub-steps E. l) to E.5) is also independent of the steps A), B), C) and D) applicable and may optionally also without the features of steps A), B ), C) and D).

The described method also makes it possible, in principle, to only partially empty the described device. As a result, the volume of liquid conveyed overall during the lifetime of the device can be reduced, so that the life of the device is sometimes considerably reduced.

Further, a motor vehicle is proposed here, comprising at least one internal combustion engine, an exhaust gas treatment device for cleaning the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine and a device for conveying a liquid to the exhaust gas treatment device, wherein the device is adapted to be operated according to a described method. The device may include any device features described earlier in connection with the method. The liquid conveyed to the exhaust gas treatment device is preferably a liquid additive with which the SCR process can be carried out in the exhaust gas treatment device. This is especially urea-water solution. To carry out the SCR process, an SCR catalytic converter is provided in the exhaust gas treatment device, on which nitrogen oxide compounds in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine can be reduced with the aid of the liquid additive.

The invention and the technical environment will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that the figures show only schematic Ausführangsbeispiele and in particular the size ratios shown in the figures are only schematically. The figures shown individually in the figures led features can be combined in any technologically meaningful way with the other features of the description and the claims, wherein further embodiments of the invention are shown. Show it:

1 shows a motor vehicle having a device which is operated according to a described method,

Fig. 2: a pressure curve that occurs in a device when the device is emptied, and

Fig. 3: a pressure curve that occurs in a device when the device is being filled.

Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle 14, comprising an internal combustion engine 15 and an exhaust treatment device 16 with a S CR catalyst 17 for cleaning the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine 15. The exhaust gas treatment s device 16 is supplied with the aid of a described device 1, a liquid for exhaust gas purification. The device 1 conveys the liquid from a tank 6 to an injector 7. From the tank 6 to the injector 7, a delivery line 2 extends from a pump 3 into a suction line section 4 from the tank 6 to the pump 3 and a pressure line section 5 is divided from the pump 3 to the injector 7. The pump 3 conveys the liquid with a conveying direction 9 from the tank 6 to the injector 7. At the pressure line section 5, a pressure sensor 8 is arranged, with which the pressure in the pressure line section 5 of the delivery line 2 can be monitored. Also marked in FIG. 1 is a volume 25 of the delivery line 2 between the pressure sensor 8 and the injector 7, which can be used for a calibration of the pump 3.

The motor vehicle 14 has a control unit 22 which is connected to at least the injector 7, the pressure sensor 8 and the pump 3. The described Method is stored in the controller 22 as a routine and it can be performed by the controller 22 controls the respective components (in particular injector 7 and pump 3) accordingly. 2 and 3 each show in a diagram on the time axis 19, a pressure curve 20 and a pump drive curve 21. The pressure is applied in each case on the vertical pressure axis 18. The pump drive curve 21 is shown very schematically in dashed lines in the background of the diagram. In Fig. 2, the pressure curve is shown, which is measured at the pressure sensor when the device is emptied. As soon as the pump drive is started for emptying (see rising edge of the pump drive curve 21 in FIG. 2), the pressure at the pressure sensor drops at a sudden pressure drop, whereby a pressure below the ambient pressure 12 sets. Subsequently, a continuous increase in pressure 11 takes place until the pressure again reaches the ambient pressure 12. Then, the drive of the pump is stopped (see falling edge of the pump drive curve 21 in Fig. 2).

FIG. 3 shows the pressure curve 20 which occurs during a filling operation of a device from FIG. 1 (step B of the method described). 3, a pump drive curve 21 is shown in dashed lines in the background. The pump drive is initially started (see rising edge of the pump drive curve 21 in FIG. 3). From then occurs a continuous increase in pressure in the delivery line. As soon as the liquid reaches the injector, a sudden pressure increase 10 occurs. Then the pump drive is stopped (see the trailing edge of the pump drive curve 21 in FIG. 3). In Fig. 3, a start time point 23 can be seen, at which the continuous increase in pressure 11 begins, because the liquid has reached the pressure sensor. Also, an end time 24 is marked at which the filling is completed and the sudden pressure increase 10 occurs. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 device

2 conveyor line

3 pump

4 suction line section

5 pressure line section

6 tank

7 injector

8 pressure sensor

9 conveying direction

10 erratic pressure increase

11 continuous pressure increase

12 environment pressure

13 sudden pressure drop

14 motor vehicle

15 combustion machine

16 exhaust treatment device

17 SCR catalyst

18 pressure axis

19 timeline

20 pressure curve

21 Pump drive curve

22 control unit

23 start time

24 end time

25 volumes

Claims

claims

A method of operating a device (1) for conveying a liquid with a delivery line (2) into a suction line section (4) of at least one tank (6) to at least one pump (3) and into a pressure line section (5) of the pump (3) can be subdivided into at least one injector (7) and with at least one pressure sensor (8) on the pressure line section (5), the method comprising at least the following steps:

A) detecting activation of the device;

B) filling the delivery line (2) with the liquid by operating the at least one pump (3) with a conveying direction (9) from the at least one tank (6) towards the at least one injector (7) and determining a complete filling of the Delivery line (2) based on at least one sudden pressure increase (10) on the at least one pressure sensor (8);

C) operating the pump (3) and providing fluid to the injector (7);

D) detecting a deactivation of the device (1); and

E) Partial emptying of the delivery line (2) by sucking back the liquid with an operation of the at least one pump (3) against the conveying direction (9), wherein the emptying is stopped when the pressure measured at the at least one pressure sensor (8) an ambient pressure (12).

Method according to claim 1, wherein a constant pressure is maintained during step C) by means of the at least one pump (3) in the pressure line section (5) of the delivery line (2), and a metered supply of liquid by an adapted opening time of the at least one injector (7) is achieved. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein step B) comprises at least the following substeps:

B.l) opening the at least one injector (7);

B.2) conveying liquid with the at least one pump (3);

B.3) monitoring the pressure in the delivery line (2) by means of the at least one pressure sensor (8);

B.4) detecting a sudden pressure increase (10) on the at least one pressure sensor (8); and

B.5) closing the at least one injector (7) and stopping the delivery of liquid with the at least one pump (3).

Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein step B) comprises at least the following substeps:

B.i) closing the at least one injector (7);

B.ii) conveying liquid with the at least one pump (3);

B.iii) monitoring the pressure in the delivery line (2) by means of the at least one pressure sensor (8); and

B.iv) detecting a sudden pressure increase (10) on the at least one pressure sensor (8).

A method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein during sub-step B.3) or B.iii) a continuous increase in pressure (11) is observed, which occurs due to the filling of the delivery line (2).

Method according to one of the claims 3 to 5, wherein the at least one pump (3) during the sub-steps B.2) or B.ii) is operated for a period of 5 seconds to 20 seconds.

A method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein a start time (23) is detected at which a pressure change begins at sub-step B.3) or B.iii) at the pressure sensor (8) and an end-time point (24) is detected, to which in step B.4) the sudden pressure increase occurs, wherein by comparing the pumped with the pump (3) amount of liquid between the start time (23) and the end time (24) and a filled volume ( 25) of the pressure line section (5), a calibration of the pump (3).

Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein step E) comprises at least the following substeps:

E.l) opening the at least one injector (7);

E.2) sucking back the liquid with an operation of the at least one pump (3) against the conveying direction (9);

E.3) monitoring the pressure in the delivery line (2) by means of the at least one pressure sensor (8);

E.4) detecting a pressure corresponding to the ambient pressure (12) at the at least one pressure sensor (8);

E.5) closing the at least one injector (7) and stopping the sucking back of the liquid with the at least one pump (3).

A method according to claim 8, wherein during step E.3) an abrupt drop in pressure (13) occurs and subsequently a sustained increase in pressure (11) is monitored.

Method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the at least one pump (3) is operated during the sub-steps E.2) and E.3) for between 5 seconds and 20 seconds.

A motor vehicle (14) comprising at least one internal combustion engine (15), an exhaust treatment device (16) for cleaning the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine (15) and a device (1) for conveying a liquid to the exhaust gas treatment device (16) the device (1) is adapted to be operated according to a method according to one of the preceding claims.