METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSING REDUCTANT DEPOSITS IN AN EXHAUST AFTERTREATMENT SYSTEM

• Main Authors: Osburn, Andrew W, Brault, Joseph M, Mitchell, Douglas A, Drost, Jason, Burke, James F
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 03.06.2020
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES ORENGINES IN GENERAL; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; STEAM ENGINES; WEAPONS

An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine may have a reductant delivery system that delivers reductant to an exhaust stream in an exhaust aftertreatment system. A temperature sensor may be positioned in or near the flow of reductant and exhaust to measure the temperature of the reductant and exhaust. A change in temperature over time, such as an increase, decrease, or change in variation amplitude, may indicate the presence of a reductant deposit in the system. Detection of the deposit may initiate a regeneration cycle in which the operating characteristics of the system change to eliminate the reductant deposit to prevent it from hindering the performance of the exhaust aftertreatment system.