JP4888426B2 - Exhaust gas sensor control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an exhaust gas sensor control device provided in an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine.

  Conventionally, an exhaust gas sensor is provided in an exhaust pipe of an engine as an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle. Such an exhaust gas sensor detects a certain component of the exhaust gas passing through the exhaust pipe, and outputs a current corresponding to the concentration of the detected component. An ECU (Electronic [or Engine] Control Unit) The air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is calculated based on the current output from the exhaust gas sensor, and the gas flow rate and fuel injection weight given to the engine are adjusted so that the calculated air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas becomes the target air-fuel ratio. .

  The exhaust gas sensor is made of a material such as ceramic, and since an exhaust gas component cannot be detected unless it is activated at a certain temperature or higher, a heater is built in and heated to be activated by this heater. Also, when the engine is started, if the exhaust gas sensor is heated suddenly with water droplets attached to the exhaust gas sensor, the exhaust gas sensor may be cracked. Therefore, preheating treatment is performed on the exhaust gas sensor so that the water droplets evaporate with this heater. The

  Furthermore, when the cooled engine is started, condensed water may be generated in the exhaust pipe due to the condensation of water vapor in the exhaust gas. If the condensed water is covered by the heated exhaust gas sensor, the exhaust gas sensor will break. End up.

Therefore, as a conventional exhaust gas sensor control device, in order to prevent the formation of condensed water near the exhaust gas sensor installation site in the exhaust pipe, the heater provided in the exhaust gas sensor and the operating state of the engine in the previous operation are set. An operating state storage means for storing, a liquid water presence determining means for determining whether or not condensed water of exhaust gas is present in the exhaust pipe at the time of engine startup this time based on the stored previous operating state, and condensed water There is known one provided with heater control means for conducting preheating control by energizing a heater when it does not exist (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2007-10630 A

  However, in the conventional exhaust gas sensor control apparatus as described above, even when the condensed water of the exhaust gas is not present, if the exhaust pipe is not dry, the exhaust gas flowing from the engine to the exhaust gas sensor will be reduced. Since water droplets may adhere to the exhaust gas sensor due to the contained moisture, there is a possibility that the exhaust gas sensor may crack when heated rapidly. In addition, the exhaust gas reaches the exhaust gas sensor until the exhaust gas reaches the exhaust gas sensor, such as an exhaust pipe having a structure in which the distance from the engine to the exhaust gas sensor is long or a member such as a catalyst between the engine and the exhaust gas sensor. A special structure that lowers the temperature tends to cause water droplets to adhere to the exhaust gas sensor.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and improves the accuracy of determining the presence or absence of condensed water generated in the exhaust pipe, thereby reliably preventing the exhaust gas sensor from being damaged. An object of the present invention is to provide a control device for an exhaust gas sensor.

  In order to achieve the above object, the exhaust gas sensor control apparatus according to the present invention is (1) an exhaust gas sensor control apparatus for controlling an energization state of a heater for heating an exhaust gas sensor provided in an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine. Exhaust temperature detection means for detecting the exhaust temperature of the exhaust gas from the pipe, gas flow rate detection means for detecting the flow rate of the gas sucked into the internal combustion engine, outside air temperature detection means for detecting the outside air temperature, and the internal combustion engine Detected by the exhaust temperature detecting means when the condensed water presence / absence determining means for determining the presence / absence of condensed water accumulated in the exhaust pipe when the engine is started and when the condensed water presence / absence determining means determines that there is no condensed water. The exhaust pipe is dried using the exhaust temperature, the gas flow rate detected by the gas flow rate detection means, and the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detection means. And a heating control unit that controls to allow energization of the heater when the drying determination unit determines that the inside of the exhaust pipe is dry. To do.

  With this configuration, after determining the presence or absence of condensed water that accumulates in the exhaust pipe, it is possible to determine whether or not the exhaust pipe is dry when it is determined that there is no condensed water. Since the heater of the exhaust gas sensor is heated thereon, it is possible to reliably prevent the exhaust gas sensor from being damaged.

  In the exhaust gas sensor control device according to (1) above, (2) the amount of heat supplied to the exhaust pipe, in which the drying determination means combines the integrated amounts sequentially obtained using the exhaust temperature and the gas flow rate, It is configured to determine that the inside of the exhaust pipe is dry when it is larger than the drying determination index obtained from the outside air temperature and a predetermined exhaust pipe heat capacity.

  With this configuration, when the amount of heat supplied to the exhaust pipe, which is obtained by integrating the integrated amount obtained sequentially using the exhaust temperature and the gas flow rate, is larger than the drying determination index obtained from the outside air temperature and the predetermined exhaust pipe heat capacity, By determining that the engine is dry, the output values from the exhaust temperature detection means, gas flow rate detection means, and outside air temperature detection means that are generally provided in internal combustion engines are used. It can be performed.

  In the exhaust gas sensor control device according to (1) above, (3) the estimated wall temperature in the exhaust pipe, which is sequentially determined by the drying determination means using the exhaust temperature, the gas flow rate, and the outside air temperature, The exhaust pipe is determined to be dry when it is higher than the dew point temperature of the exhaust pipe obtained from the air-fuel ratio between the gas flow rate and the fuel weight.

  With this configuration, it is determined that the exhaust pipe is dry when the estimated wall temperature in the exhaust pipe obtained sequentially using the exhaust temperature, the gas flow rate, and the outside air temperature is higher than the dew point temperature of the exhaust pipe obtained from the air-fuel ratio. Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine the dryness in the exhaust pipe based on the dew point temperature.

  Further, in the exhaust gas sensor control device according to (1) to (3) above, (4) the condensed water presence / absence determining means determines whether condensed water is present upstream and downstream of the exhaust gas sensor accumulated in the exhaust pipe. Configure to determine.

  With this configuration, after determining the presence or absence of condensed water upstream and downstream of the exhaust gas sensor accumulated in the exhaust pipe, it is further determined whether or not the exhaust pipe is dry when it is determined that there is no condensed water. Therefore, the accuracy of determining the presence or absence of condensed water can be further increased compared to measuring the amount of condensed water upstream or downstream, and the exhaust gas sensor is heated to heat the heater of the exhaust gas sensor. It is possible to reliably prevent damage.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the control apparatus of the exhaust gas sensor which raises the determination precision of the presence or absence of the condensed water which generate | occur | produces in an exhaust pipe, and prevents reliably that an exhaust gas sensor is damaged can be provided.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing an internal combustion engine of a vehicle and a control device thereof according to a first embodiment of the present invention. First, the configuration will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a mode in which an internal combustion engine according to the present invention is applied to a vehicle driving diesel engine. In FIG. 1, an engine 1 is an in-line four-cylinder diesel engine, and intake air is introduced into a combustion chamber of each cylinder via an intake manifold 2 and an intake pipe 3. An air cleaner 4 is provided at the starting end of the intake pipe 3, and an air flow meter (AFM) 5, a compressor 6 a of a turbocharger 6, an intercooler 7, and a throttle valve 8 are provided in the intake pipe 3.

  The air flow meter 5 outputs an output signal corresponding to the amount of fresh air flowing into the intake pipe 3 via the air cleaner 4 to an engine control electronic control unit (ECU) 9. The ECU 9 outputs the output signal of the air flow meter 5. Based on this, the intake air amount is calculated.

  Further, fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve 10 into the combustion chamber of each cylinder of the engine 1. Each fuel injection valve 10 is connected to a common rail 11, and fuel is supplied to the common rail 11 from a fuel pump (not shown). The valve opening timing, the valve opening period, and the fuel injection amount of each fuel injection valve 10 are controlled by the ECU 9 according to the operating state of the engine 1.

  Further, the exhaust gas generated in the combustion chamber of each cylinder of the engine 1 is discharged to the exhaust pipe 14 via the exhaust manifold 13 and discharged to the atmosphere via a muffler (not shown). A part of the exhaust gas discharged to the exhaust manifold 13 can be recirculated to the intake manifold 2 via the exhaust recirculation pipe 15, and an EGR cooler 16 and an EGR valve 17 are provided in the middle of the exhaust recirculation pipe 15. It has been. The opening degree of the EGR valve 17 is controlled by the ECU 9 in accordance with the operating state of the engine 1 to control the exhaust gas recirculation amount.

  In the middle of the exhaust pipe 14, a turbine 6b of the turbocharger 6, a casing 19 containing a DPF 18 (Diesel Particulate Filter), and an exhaust gas sensor 20 are provided. The turbine 6b is driven by the exhaust gas, and drives the compressor 6a connected to the turbine 6b to boost the intake air. The DPF 18 is configured such that the NOx storage reduction catalyst is supported on a filter element that collects particulate matter (eg, soot) in the exhaust gas, collects particulate matter in the exhaust gas, and exhausts the exhaust gas. It purifies HC, CO, and NOx in the gas. The exhaust gas sensor 20 is controlled by the ECU 9 according to the operating state of the engine 1.

  Note that when the exhaust pipe 14 having a long distance from the engine 1 to the exhaust gas sensor 20 or the exhaust pipe 14 having a member such as a catalyst between the engine 1 and the exhaust gas sensor 20, the exhaust gas reaches the exhaust gas sensor 20. Because the temperature of the exhaust gas becomes low and condensed water accumulates on the upstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20 or water droplets easily adhere to the exhaust gas sensor 20 that has received the exhaust gas flowing out from the engine 1, the ECU 9 is described later. The processing related to the heating control of the exhaust gas sensor 20 is performed.

  The exhaust gas sensor 20 is activated by heating the sensor element with a heater 35 (see FIG. 2), and detects the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust pipe 14 by the activated sensor element. The exhaust gas sensor 20 is composed of a ceramic sensor element such as zirconia, and can detect oxygen when the sensor element is in an active state (active temperature). Therefore, in the exhaust gas sensor 20, the sensor element is heated by the heater 35 in order to raise the element temperature to an activation temperature of several hundred degrees Celsius and maintain the activation temperature. Further, in the exhaust gas sensor 20, the sensing portion of the sensor element is covered with a protective cover, and exhaust gas is introduced from a small hole provided in the protective cover.

  The exhaust gas sensor 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust gas sensor 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The exhaust gas sensor 20 has a sensor main body 30, an inner protective cover 21 is provided outside the sensor main body 30, and an outer protective cover 22 is provided outside the inner protective cover 21. The side surface of the inner protective cover 21 is provided with a plurality of small gas holes 21a for introducing exhaust gas, and the side surface of the outer protective cover 22 is opposite to the gas hole 21a with the sensor body 30 in between. Are provided with a plurality of small gas holes 22a for introducing exhaust gas.

  The inner protective cover 21 and the outer protective cover 22 prevent the sensor main body 30 from coming into direct contact with the exhaust gas, and ensure heat retention for the sensor main body 30.

  The sensor body 30 includes a resistance diffusion layer 31, a solid electrolyte layer 32 (sensor element), an outer electrode layer 33, an inner electrode layer 34, and a heater 35.

  The resistance diffusion layer 31 is fixed in a state where the opening end portion of the resistance diffusion layer 31 is fitted in the hole of the tube wall of the exhaust pipe 14, and the solid electrolyte layer 32 is disposed inside the resistance diffusion layer 31. Has been fixed. The solid electrolyte layer 32 is disposed and fixed in a state sandwiched between the outer electrode layer 33 and the inner electrode layer 34. An electric wire 33 a is connected to one end portion of the outer electrode layer 33, and an electric wire 34 a is connected to one end portion of the inner electrode layer 34. A sensor circuit (not shown) is connected between the electric wires 33a and 34a, and a voltage is applied between the outer electrode layer 33 and the inner electrode layer 34 from the sensor circuit.

  When the solid electrolyte layer 32 is in an active state, the current flowing between the outer electrode layer 33 and the inner electrode layer 34 changes in proportion to the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas. A current flowing between the outer electrode layer 33 and the inner electrode layer 34 is detected, and a current value and an applied voltage value are transmitted to the ECU 9.

  The heater 35 is for raising the element temperature of the solid electrolyte layer 32 to the activation temperature and maintaining the activated state of the activated solid electrolyte layer 32, and is formed inside the solid electrolyte layer 32. Arranged in a space. When electric power corresponding to a control signal from the ECU 9 is supplied to the heater 35 via the electric wire 35a, the heater 35 heats the solid electrolyte layer 32.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an exhaust temperature sensor 24 that outputs an output signal corresponding to the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing out from the casing 19 to the ECU 9 is provided immediately downstream of the casing 19 in the exhaust pipe 14. In addition, an outside air temperature sensor 25 that outputs an output signal corresponding to the outside air temperature of the internal combustion engine to the ECU 9 is provided.

  The ECU 9 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a CPU (Central Processor Unit), an input port, and an output port that are connected to each other via a bidirectional bus. For example, a signal detected by the air flow meter 5, a signal detected by the exhaust gas sensor 20, and a signal detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 24 are input to the input port, and each fuel injection valve 10 or A signal for controlling the EGR valve 17 and a signal for controlling the heater 35 of the exhaust gas sensor 20 are output.

  The ECU 9 performs basic control such as fuel injection amount control of the engine 1 and controls the energization state of the heater 35 of the exhaust gas sensor 20 in order to activate the sensor element.

  As will be described later, the ECU 9 constitutes condensed water presence / absence determining means, drying determining means, and heating control means according to the present invention. Hereinafter, a characteristic configuration of the ECU 9 constituting the control device for an internal combustion engine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The ECU 9 measures the amount of condensed water in the exhaust pipe 14 and determines the presence or absence of the measured amount of condensed water. Therefore, the ECU 9 constitutes condensed water presence / absence determining means. The ECU 9 determines whether or not the inside of the exhaust pipe 14 is dry. Therefore, the ECU 9 constitutes a dry determination unit. In addition, the ECU 9 heats the exhaust gas sensor 20 by energizing the heater 35. Therefore, the ECU 9 constitutes a heating control means.

  The exhaust temperature sensor 24 constitutes an exhaust temperature detection means according to the present invention, the air flow meter 5 constitutes a gas flow rate detection means according to the present invention, and the outside air temperature sensor 25 constitutes an outside air temperature detection according to the present invention. Configure the means.

  Next, the operation will be described. Hereinafter, processing related to heating control of the exhaust gas sensor 20 by the control device for an internal combustion engine according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. 3 and 4 are flowcharts relating to heating control of the exhaust gas sensor 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a flowchart regarding the presence / absence determination of the condensed water in the exhaust pipe 14. FIG. 3B is a flowchart regarding dryness determination in the exhaust pipe 14. FIG. 4 is a flowchart regarding control of the energization state of the heater 35 of the exhaust gas sensor 20. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the case where condensed water has accumulated on the upstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20 will be described.

  The processing shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is implemented by a program that can be processed by the CPU while being executed at predetermined time intervals after the engine 1 is started by the CPU constituting the ECU 9. Here, the predetermined time interval means an interval such as every several seconds or less.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the engine 1 is started, the ECU 9 estimates condensed water in the exhaust pipe 14 and calculates an estimated amount of condensed water (step S1). Here, a condensed water amount estimation process for estimating the amount of condensed water accumulated in the exhaust pipe 14 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a control block diagram showing the condensate amount estimation process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The condensed water amount estimation process includes an exhaust pipe wall temperature estimation unit 91, an exhaust pipe wall dew point temperature calculation unit 92, and an exhaust pipe condensed water amount estimation unit 93, and is executed by a program. In the condensed water amount estimation process, a supply heat amount calculation map 94, a wall temperature addition value map 95, a wall temperature subtraction value map 96, a dew point temperature calculation map 97, and a condensed water integrated amount calculation map 98 are used. These maps are stored in advance in a ROM or the like.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, the wall temperature addition value map 95, the wall temperature subtraction value map 96, and the condensed water integrated amount calculation map 98 can estimate the condensed water accumulated on the upstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20. Is set to These maps can be set so that the condensed water accumulated on the downstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20 can be estimated, and will be described in the second embodiment of the present invention. The supply heat amount calculation map 94 and the dew point temperature calculation map 97 can estimate in common the condensed water accumulated on the upstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20 and the condensed water accumulated on the downstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20. You may prepare corresponding to the side. These maps are set according to the situation such as the shape of the exhaust pipe 14, and are set so that it can be determined whether or not the vicinity of the exhaust gas sensor 20 is dry. As the values set in these maps, values obtained by experiments or the like are used.

  The exhaust pipe wall temperature estimation unit 91 estimates the temperature of the exhaust pipe wall using a supply heat amount calculation map 94, a wall temperature addition value map 95, and a wall temperature subtraction value map 96. The supply heat amount calculation map 94 associates the gas flow rate and exhaust temperature as input values with the exhaust pipe supply heat amount as output values. The wall temperature addition value map 95 associates the exhaust pipe supply heat amount as an input value with the wall temperature addition value as an output value. The wall temperature subtraction value map 96 associates the difference between the estimated wall temperature as the input value and the outside air temperature with the wall temperature subtraction value as the output value.

  For example, the relationship between the gas flow rate and the exhaust temperature and the exhaust pipe supply heat amount in the supply heat amount calculation map 94 is such that the exhaust pipe supply heat amount increases as the gas flow rate increases, and the exhaust pipe supply heat amount increases as the exhaust temperature increases. Has a trend. For example, the relationship between the exhaust pipe supply heat amount and the wall temperature addition value in the wall temperature addition value map 95 tends to increase the wall temperature addition value as the exhaust pipe supply heat amount increases. For example, in the wall temperature subtraction value map 96, the relationship between the difference from the estimated wall temperature to the outside temperature and the wall temperature subtraction value tends to increase the wall temperature subtraction value as the difference increases.

  Next, the processing of the exhaust pipe wall temperature estimation unit 91 will be described. The ECU 9 refers to the supply heat amount calculation map 94 to obtain the exhaust pipe supply heat amount corresponding to the gas flow rate detected from the air flow meter 5 and the exhaust temperature detected from the exhaust temperature sensor 24. The ECU 9 refers to the wall temperature addition value map 95 to obtain the wall temperature addition value corresponding to the obtained exhaust pipe supply heat amount.

  Next, the ECU 9 refers to the wall temperature subtraction value map 96 and obtains a wall temperature subtraction value corresponding to a value obtained by subtracting the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 25 from the previously calculated estimated wall temperature. The ECU 9 adds the estimated wall temperature previously calculated to the wall temperature addition value obtained with reference to the wall temperature addition value map 95 to obtain an addition value, and further obtains the wall obtained by referring to the wall temperature subtraction value map 96. A value obtained by subtracting the temperature subtraction value from the addition value is updated as a new estimated wall temperature. The initial value of the estimated wall temperature when the process of the exhaust pipe wall temperature estimating unit 91 is started is, for example, the outside value detected by the outside air temperature sensor 25 when the process of the exhaust pipe wall temperature estimating unit 91 is started. The temperature is set.

  The exhaust pipe wall dew point temperature calculation unit 92 uses the dew point temperature calculation map 97 to calculate the dew point temperature of the wall of the exhaust pipe 14. The dew point temperature calculation map 97 associates an air-fuel ratio as an input value with a dew point temperature as an output value. For example, the relationship between the air-fuel ratio and the dew point temperature in the dew point temperature calculation map 97 has a tendency that the dew point temperature decreases as the air fuel ratio increases.

  Next, the processing of the exhaust pipe wall dew point temperature calculation unit 92 will be described. First, the ECU 9 calculates the air-fuel ratio from the ratio between the gas flow rate detected from the air flow meter 5 and the weight of the fuel injection currently injected through the fuel injection valve 10. Note that the air-fuel ratio is also obtained from the output result from the exhaust gas sensor 20, but since the exhaust gas sensor 20 may not be activated, the air-fuel ratio is calculated using the gas flow rate and the fuel injection weight. The ECU 9 refers to the dew point temperature calculation map 97 and obtains the dew point temperature corresponding to the calculated air-fuel ratio.

  The exhaust pipe condensed water amount estimation unit 93 estimates the amount of condensed water in the exhaust pipe 14 using the condensed water integrated amount calculation map 98. The condensed water integrated amount calculation map 98 is a map in which the gas flow rate and relative wall temperature as input values correspond to the condensed water integrated amount as output values. For example, the relationship between the gas flow rate and relative wall temperature and the condensed water integrated amount in the condensed water integrated amount calculation map 98 is such that the condensed water integrated amount decreases as the gas flow rate increases, and the condensed water integrated amount increases as the relative wall temperature increases. It tends to be smaller. Basically, if the gas flow rate is above the reference amount, the condensed water integrated amount takes a negative value, and if the gas flow rate is below the reference amount, the condensed water integrated amount takes a positive value. The reference amount changes accordingly.

  The processing of the exhaust pipe condensed water amount estimation unit 93 will be described next. First, the ECU 9 calculates a relative wall temperature that is a difference between the estimated wall temperature estimated by the exhaust pipe wall temperature estimation unit 91 and the dew point temperature calculated by the exhaust pipe wall dew point temperature calculation unit 92. The ECU 9 obtains the condensed water integrated amount corresponding to the calculated relative wall temperature and the gas flow rate detected from the air flow meter 5 with reference to the condensed water integrated amount calculation map 98, and is previously calculated as the determined condensed water integrated amount. The estimated condensed water amount is added, and the added value is updated as a new condensed water estimated amount. The condensed water integrated amount takes a positive or negative value as described above, and is set to 0 when the condensed water estimated amount becomes a negative value. Note that the initial value of the estimated amount of condensed water when the processing of the exhaust pipe wall dew point temperature calculation unit 92 is started will be described later.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3A, the ECU 9 determines whether or not the estimated amount of condensed water calculated in step S1 is 0, that is, whether or not there is an estimated amount of condensed water on the upstream side in the exhaust pipe 14. Is determined (step S2). When there is no estimated condensed water amount, the ECU 9 sets the upstream drainage completion flag to ON (step S3), and when there is an estimated condensed water amount, the ECU 9 sets the upstream drainage completion flag to OFF (step S4). Information set in the upstream drainage completion flag is stored in a RAM or the like.

  In addition, although ECU9 demonstrated the process which determines the presence or absence of condensed water using a condensed water amount estimation process as a condensed water presence determination means, the sensor which detects the quantity of actual condensed water, without estimating condensed water. It is also possible to detect the amount of water with this sensor and determine the presence or absence of condensed water.

  Further, the ECU 9 performs a dry determination process in the exhaust pipe 14, but as shown in FIG. 3B, determines whether or not the upstream side drain completion flag is set to ON (step S11). When the upstream drainage completion flag is ON, a drying determination index is calculated (step S12). Below, the calculation process of a dry determination index | exponent is demonstrated.

  The dryness determination index is obtained by “exhaust pipe heat capacity × outside air temperature correction coefficient”. The exhaust pipe heat capacity is a heat capacity necessary for drying in the exhaust pipe 14, and a heat capacity corresponding to the structure of the exhaust pipe 14 is determined in advance. Further, an outside air temperature correction coefficient map in which an outside air temperature as an input value and an outside air temperature correction coefficient as an output value are associated with each other is stored in advance in a ROM or the like, and the ECU 9 refers to the outside air temperature correction coefficient map, An outside air temperature correction coefficient corresponding to the outside air temperature detected from the outside air temperature sensor 25 is obtained. For example, the relationship between the outside air temperature and the outside air temperature correction coefficient in the outside air temperature correction coefficient map has a tendency that the outside air temperature correction coefficient decreases as the outside air temperature increases.

  Next, the ECU 9 calculates an integrated amount with respect to the supply heat amount of the exhaust pipe 14 supplied from the engine 1 (step S13). Specifically, a supply heat amount integrated amount map in which a gas flow rate and exhaust temperature serving as an input value are associated with an integrated amount serving as an output value is stored in advance in a ROM or the like, and the ECU 9 stores the supply heat amount integrated amount map. Reference is made to the integrated amount corresponding to the gas flow rate detected from the air flow meter 5 and the exhaust gas temperature detected from the exhaust gas temperature sensor 24. For example, the relationship between the gas flow rate and the exhaust gas temperature and the integrated amount in the supply heat amount integrated amount map has a tendency that the integrated amount increases as the gas flow rate increases and the integrated amount increases as the exhaust temperature increases. The integrated amount takes a positive or negative value.

  Next, the ECU 9 adds the integrated amount calculated in step S12 to the previously calculated supply heat amount, and updates the integrated value as a new supply heat amount (step S14). Here, the ECU 9 determines whether or not the supplied heat amount calculated in step S14 is larger than the drying determination index calculated in step S12 (step S15).

  Subsequently, if the supplied heat amount is larger than the drying determination index, the ECU 9 considers that the drying is completed and sets the drying completion flag to ON (step S16). If the supplied heat amount is equal to or less than the drying determination index, the ECU 9 turns the drying completion flag OFF (Step S18). On the other hand, when the upstream drainage completion flag is OFF in step S11, the ECU 9 initializes the supplied heat amount to 0 or the like (step S17), and sets the drying completion flag to OFF in step S18.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the ECU 9 performs energization processing of the heater 35 of the exhaust gas sensor 20, and determines whether or not the drying completion flag is set to ON (step S21). When the drying completion flag is ON, the ECU 9 starts energizing the heater 35 and performs energization control so as to activate the exhaust gas sensor 20 (step S22). In step S22, if the heater 35 has already been energized, the ECU 9 continues the energization control. On the other hand, when the drying completion flag is OFF, the ECU 9 stops energization of the heater 35 (step S23). In step S23, if the energization has already been stopped, the ECU 9 keeps the energization of the heater 35 stopped.

  As described above, the vehicle control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention determines the presence or absence of condensed water in the exhaust pipe 14 accumulated on the upstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20, and further condensate water is added. In order to determine whether or not the inside of the exhaust pipe 14 is dry when it is determined that there is not, it is possible to increase the determination accuracy of the presence or absence of condensed water, and then to heat the heater 35 of the exhaust gas sensor 20, It is possible to reliably prevent the exhaust gas sensor 20 from being damaged.

  Normally, when the cooled engine 1 is started, there is a risk of cracking if the exhaust gas sensor 20 is suddenly heated while water droplets are attached to the exhaust gas sensor 20, so preheating is performed so that the attached water droplets evaporate. Although applied to the exhaust gas sensor 20, the vehicle control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention heats the heater 35 of the exhaust gas sensor 20 when the inside of the exhaust pipe 14 is dry. Is no longer necessary.

  Further, when the amount of heat supplied to the exhaust pipe, which is obtained by integrating the cumulative amounts obtained sequentially using the exhaust temperature and the gas flow rate, is larger than the drying determination index obtained from the outside air temperature and a predetermined exhaust pipe heat capacity, the inside of the exhaust pipe 14 By determining that the vehicle is dry, the vehicle control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention generally includes an air flow meter 5, an exhaust temperature sensor 20, and an outside air temperature sensor 25 that are provided in an internal combustion engine. Since the output value from is used, the dryness determination in the exhaust pipe 14 can be performed easily.

  By the way, even when the exhaust gas sensor 20 is activated, the temperature of the exhaust gas becomes low, such as when the engine 1 has been idling for a long time, and condensed water accumulates in the exhaust pipe 14, May become dry. Therefore, the presence / absence determination of the condensed water in the exhaust pipe 14 shown in FIG. 3A, the dryness determination in the exhaust pipe 14 shown in FIG. 3B, and the heater 35 of the exhaust gas sensor 20 shown in FIG. The processing in energization is always performed even when the exhaust gas sensor 20 is activated.

  Here, when the ignition switch is turned off to stop the engine 1 and the ignition switch is turned on again after a while, the initial amount of condensed water estimated when the processing of the exhaust pipe wall dew point temperature calculation unit 92 is started. For example, the estimated amount of condensed water when the immediately preceding engine 1 is stopped is set as the value. Further, the initial value of the estimated amount of condensed water can be accumulated in the exhaust pipe 14 when an event such as interruption of power supplied to the ECU 9 occurs or when the engine 1 has been stopped for a long time. The maximum condensate estimate is set.

  Further, the drying determination process in the exhaust pipe 14 shown in FIG. 3B may be replaced with the drying determination process shown in the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 6 is an alternative flowchart regarding the dryness determination in the exhaust pipe 14. Hereinafter, the drying determination process shown in FIG. 6 will be described.

  First, the ECU 9 determines whether or not the upstream side drain completion flag is set to ON (step S11). When the upstream side drain completion flag is ON, the ECU 9 acquires the estimated wall temperature estimated by the exhaust pipe wall temperature estimation unit 91 (step S31) and is calculated by the exhaust pipe wall dew point temperature calculation unit 92. The dew point temperature is acquired (step S32).

  Here, the ECU 9 determines whether or not the estimated wall temperature acquired in step S31 is higher than the dew point temperature acquired in step S32 (step S33). Subsequently, when the ECU 9 determines that the estimated wall temperature is higher than the dew point temperature, it is considered to be dry, and the drying completion flag is set to ON (step S16). When the supplied heat amount is equal to or less than the drying determination index, the drying is completed. The flag is set to OFF (step S18). On the other hand, if the upstream side drain completion flag is OFF in step S11, the drying completion flag is set OFF in step S18.

  When the estimated wall temperature in the exhaust pipe, which is sequentially obtained using the exhaust temperature, the gas flow rate, and the outside air temperature, is greater than the dew point temperature of the exhaust pipe obtained from the air-fuel ratio, Since it determines with having dried, the dry determination in the exhaust pipe 14 based on a dew point temperature can be performed correctly.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment of the present invention, the condensed water accumulated on the upstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20 is estimated. However, depending on the shape of the exhaust pipe 14 on the downstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20, the downstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20 may be used. There is also a possibility that condensed water will accumulate. When the condensed water accumulates on the downstream side, the condensed water on the downstream side gets wet on the exhaust gas sensor 20 when the vehicle moves backward or when the brake is suddenly applied while the vehicle is running. In the second embodiment, in addition to the condensed water accumulated on the upstream side, the condensed water accumulated on the downstream side is estimated.

  The internal combustion engine of the vehicle according to the second embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as the internal combustion engine of the vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle according to the second embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, processing related to heating control of the exhaust gas sensor 20 by the control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment of the present invention, there is a mode in which condensed water accumulated on the upstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20 is estimated and dryness is determined, and in addition, condensed water accumulated on the downstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20 is estimated. Take.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart regarding the presence / absence determination of the condensed water accumulated on the upstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20 and the drying determination in the exhaust pipe 14. FIG. 7 is a flowchart regarding the presence / absence determination of the condensed water accumulated on the downstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20. FIG. 8 is a flowchart regarding control of the energization state of the heater 35 of the exhaust gas sensor 20.

  3, 7, and 8 are implemented by a program that can be processed by the CPU while being executed by the CPU constituting the ECU 9 at predetermined time intervals. Here, the predetermined time interval means an interval such as every several seconds or less.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3, the processing of the flowchart regarding the presence / absence determination of the condensed water accumulated on the upstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20 and the drying determination in the exhaust pipe 14 is already described in the first embodiment of the present invention. Since it demonstrated, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the ECU 9 estimates the condensed water in the exhaust pipe 14 at the time of starting the engine 1 or at any time after starting the engine 1, and calculates the estimated amount of condensed water (step S41). Here, the condensed water amount estimation process for estimating the amount of condensed water accumulated in the exhaust pipe 14 is the same as the condensed water amount estimation process described in FIG.

  However, the wall temperature addition value map 95, the wall temperature subtraction value map 96, and the condensed water integrated amount calculation map 98 described in FIG. 5 are for estimating the condensed water accumulated on the upstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20. However, in step S41, the wall temperature addition value map for downstream side condensed water estimation is replaced with the wall temperature addition value map 95, the wall temperature subtraction value map for downstream side condensed water estimation is replaced with the wall temperature subtraction value map 96, Instead of the condensed water integrated amount calculation map 98, a condensed water integrated amount calculation map for downstream side condensed water estimation is used. These maps are stored in advance in a ROM or the like, and an output value suitable for the shape of the downstream side exhaust pipe 14 is set in the map for estimating the downstream side condensed water.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the ECU 9 determines whether or not the estimated condensed water amount calculated in step S41 is 0, that is, whether or not there is an estimated downstream condensed water amount in the exhaust pipe 14. (Step S42). When there is no estimated condensed water amount, the ECU 9 sets the downstream drainage completion flag to ON (step S43), and when there is an estimated condensed water amount, the ECU 9 sets the downstream drainage completion flag to OFF (step S44). Information set in the downstream drainage completion flag is stored in a RAM or the like.

  Since exhaust gas flows from the upstream side to the downstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20, the drying determination process is performed only on the upstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the ECU 9 performs energization processing of the heater 35 of the exhaust gas sensor 20, but determines whether or not the drying completion flag is set to ON (step S21), and the drying completion flag is ON. If it is, it is determined whether or not the downstream drainage completion flag is set to ON (step S51).

  When the drying completion flag and the downstream drainage completion flag are ON, the ECU 9 starts energization of the heater 35 and performs energization control to activate the exhaust gas sensor 20 (step S22). In step S22, if the heater 35 has already been energized, the ECU 9 continues the energization control.

  On the other hand, when either the drying completion flag or the downstream drainage completion flag is OFF, the ECU 9 stops energization of the heater 35 (step S23). In step S23, if the energization has already been stopped, the ECU 9 keeps the energization of the heater 35 stopped.

  As described above, the vehicle control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention determines the presence / absence of condensed water in the exhaust pipe 14 collected on the upstream side of the exhaust gas sensor 20 and exhausts collected on the downstream side. The presence or absence of condensed water in the pipe 14 is determined, and when it is determined that there is no condensed water, it is determined whether or not the inside of the exhaust pipe 14 is dry. Further, since the heater 35 of the exhaust gas sensor 20 is heated, it is possible to reliably prevent the exhaust gas sensor 20 from being damaged.

  As described above, the vehicle control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention determines whether or not the exhaust pipe 14 is dry when it is determined that there is no condensed water. Since the heater 35 of the exhaust gas sensor 20 is heated on that, the exhaust gas sensor 20 can be reliably prevented from being damaged, and the vehicle that controls the heating of the heater 35 can be prevented. Useful for control devices in general.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing an internal combustion engine of a vehicle and a control device thereof according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an exhaust gas sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart regarding the heating control of the exhaust gas sensor which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a flowchart regarding the presence or absence determination of the condensed water in an exhaust pipe, (b) is related with the dry determination in an exhaust pipe. It is a flowchart. It is a flowchart regarding control of the energization state of the heater of the exhaust gas sensor which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a control block diagram showing the condensed water amount estimation process which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an alternative flowchart regarding dry determination in an exhaust pipe. It is a flowchart regarding presence / absence determination of condensed water accumulated on the downstream side of the exhaust gas sensor. It is a flowchart regarding control of the energization state of the heater of the exhaust gas sensor which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 engine (internal combustion engine)
2 Intake manifold 3 Intake pipe 4 Air cleaner 5 Air flow meter (Gas flow rate detection means)
6 Turbocharger 6a Compressor 6b Turbine 7 Intercooler 8 Throttle valve 9 ECU (Condensed water presence / absence judging means, drying judging means, heating control means)
10 Fuel Injection Valve 11 Common Rail 13 Exhaust Manifold 14 Exhaust Pipe 15 Exhaust Recirculation Pipe 16 EGR Cooler 17 EGR Valve 18 DPF
19 Casing 20 Exhaust gas sensor 21 Inner protective cover 22 Outer protective cover 24 Exhaust temperature sensor (exhaust temperature detecting means)
25 Outside air temperature sensor (outside air temperature detection means)
26 inner protective cover 30 sensor body 31 resistance diffusion layer 32 solid electrolyte layer 33 outer electrode layer 34 inner electrode layer 35 heater

Claims (4)

In an exhaust gas sensor control apparatus for controlling the energization state of a heater for heating an exhaust gas sensor provided in an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine,
Exhaust temperature detecting means for detecting the exhaust temperature of the exhaust gas in the exhaust pipe;
Gas flow rate detecting means for detecting a flow rate of gas sucked into the internal combustion engine;
An outside air temperature detecting means for detecting the outside air temperature;
Condensed water presence / absence determining means for determining the presence / absence of condensed water accumulated in the exhaust pipe when the internal combustion engine is started;
When the condensed water presence / absence determining means determines that there is no condensed water, the exhaust temperature detected by the exhaust temperature detecting means, the gas flow detected by the gas flow detecting means, and the outside air temperature detecting means A drying determination means for determining whether or not the inside of the exhaust pipe is dried using the detected outside air temperature;
Heating control means for controlling to allow energization of the heater when it is determined by the drying determination means that the inside of the exhaust pipe is dry;
An exhaust gas sensor control apparatus comprising:   The drying determination means is configured such that the heat supply amount of the exhaust pipe, which is obtained by adding the integrated amounts sequentially obtained using the exhaust temperature and the gas flow rate, is greater than a drying determination index obtained from the outside air temperature and a predetermined exhaust pipe heat capacity. The exhaust gas sensor control device according to claim 1, wherein when it is larger, it is determined that the inside of the exhaust pipe is dry.   The dew point of the exhaust pipe in which the estimated wall temperature in the exhaust pipe, which is sequentially obtained using the exhaust temperature, the gas flow rate, and the outside air temperature, is obtained from the air-fuel ratio of the gas flow rate and the fuel weight. 2. The exhaust gas sensor control device according to claim 1, wherein when the temperature is higher than the temperature, it is determined that the inside of the exhaust pipe is dry.   The said condensed water presence determination means determines the presence or absence of the condensed water in the upstream and the downstream of the said exhaust gas sensor collected in the said exhaust pipe, The claim of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Exhaust gas sensor control device.

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