METHOD FOR OPERATING CATALYZER FITTED IN EXHAUST SYSTEM OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

• Main Author: SMITH,DARREN ANDREW
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.06.1996
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL; 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; INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; STEAM ENGINES; SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL, WITH COMBUSTIBLEMIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF; WEAPONS

PCT No. PCT/AU91/00066 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 13, 1992 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 13, 1992 PCT Filed Feb. 27, 1991 PCT Pub. No. WO91/13247 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 5, 1991.A method of operating an internal combustion engine (20) in order to improve the control of the level of emissions in the exhaust gases, comprising the steps of, at least when the engine (20) is operating under idle and/or low load conditions at a temperature below a predetermined value, applying a parasitic load to the engine (20) to increase engine fuel demand, and increasing fueling rate to the engine (20) in response to said engine fuel demand to thereby raise the temperature of the exhaust gases. The method may further comprise the steps of raising the temperature of the air being inducted into the engine (20) and/or directly heating a catalyst (25) in the engine exhaust system (24), conveniently by respective heater elements (23,26) coupled to an alternator (27) driven by the engine (20).