| Particulate trap regeneration control system -> Monitor Keywords |
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Particulate trap regeneration control systemRelated Patent Categories: Power Plants, Internal Combustion Engine With Treatment Or Handling Of Exhaust Gas, By Means Producing A Chemical Reaction Of A Component Of The Exhaust Gas, Reactor Plus A Washer, Sorber Or Mechanical SeparatorParticulate trap regeneration control system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060191258, Particulate trap regeneration control system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present disclosure is directed to controlling regeneration of exhaust system components and, more particularly, to systems and methods for regenerating exhaust system components based on an amount of particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust element. BACKGROUND [0002] Engines, including diesel engines, gasoline engines, natural gas engines, and other engines in the art, may exhaust air pollutants. The air pollutants may be composed of both gaseous materials and solid particulate matter. Particulate matter may include carbon particles called soot. In addition, particulate matter may contain ash, which is a material that can be used in engine oils to reduce the acidity of the oil. [0003] The particulate matter generated by an engine may be filtered from an exhaust stream. Various technologies may be used to filter particulate matter from an exhaust stream. One of these technologies includes the use of an exhaust element, such as a particulate filter. Particulate filters trap particles contained in the exhaust stream, so the exhaust stream is cleaner when it enters the air. Various types of particulate filters have been developed. Some filters may include porous filter material, and others may include wire mesh filters. The pores or wire meshes of these filters may trap at least a portion of the particulate matter in the exhaust stream as the exhaust stream flows from the input to the output of the filter. [0004] Particulate matter trapped by the filter can accumulate in the filter and reduce the operating efficiency of the engine. As particulate matter in the filter accumulates, the back pressure to the engine can increase. Therefore, the engine may consume more fuel to produce the same amount of power as compared to when the filter is free of particulates. [0005] These and other problems may be avoided by periodic cleaning of the filter. Various methods of cleaning filters exist in the art. One method of cleaning the filter includes heating the particulate matter trapped in the filter to a temperature at which it combusts or vaporizes. This type of filter cleaning may be referred to as regeneration. [0006] Various regeneration systems have been proposed to determine when to regenerate a particulate trap filter. Many of these systems involve using the value of the pressure differential across the exhaust element to determine when to commence regeneration of the exhaust element. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,622,480 to Tashiro et al ("the '480 patent"), which issued on Sep. 23, 2003, describes a method that determines the time to regenerate a particulate trap based solely on a comparison between the estimated differential pressure across the exhaust element and the measured differential pressure across the exhaust element. If the measured differential pressure exceeds the estimated differential pressure, the system initiates regeneration. [0007] While the method of the '480 patent may be used to determine the time to start regeneration of an exhaust element, the method has several shortcomings. The system uses pressure differential measurements across the exhaust element as the sole basis to determine the time to regenerate an exhaust element. Because the need for regeneration is related to the amount of particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust element, and because the pressure differential measurement method of the '480 patent may be inadequate for accurately determining the amount of particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust element, the method of the '480 patent may be unsuited for accurately determining when to regenerate. [0008] The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems associated with the prior art regeneration method. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] One aspect of the present disclosure includes a regeneration control system for an exhaust element. The regeneration control system may include one or more filter sections within the exhaust element. The regeneration control system may also include a controller configured to determine an amount of soot accumulated in the exhaust. The controller may also be configured to determine an amount of ash accumulated in the exhaust element. The controller may also be configured to determine the accumulated particulate matter in the exhaust element based on the accumulated soot and the accumulated ash in the exhaust element. [0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a method of controlling regeneration in an engine exhaust element. The method may include flowing exhaust through one or more filter sections of the exhaust element. The method may also include estimating an amount of soot accumulated in the exhaust. The method may include estimating an amount of ash accumulated in the exhaust element. The method may also include estimating the accumulated particulate matter in the exhaust element based on the accumulated soot and the accumulated ash in the exhaust element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a work machine according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment. [0012] FIG. 2 is block diagram of a regeneration system according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment. [0013] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an exhaust element according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0014] FIG. 1 provides a pictorial illustration of a work machine 10. Work machine 10 may include engine 12. Work machine 10 may also include a frame 14 and a work implement 16. Engine 12 may be operably connected to an exhaust system 18. Engine 12 may include a diesel engine, a gasoline engine, or any other power-producing device. Work machine 10 may also include a traction device 20. [0015] While work machine 10 is shown as a track type tractor, work machine 10 may include various types of machines. For example, work machine 10 may be a truck, wheeled tractor, dump truck, automobile, on-highway vehicle, off-highway vehicle, skid-steer, stationary generator, or any other device that includes an engine that generates an exhaust stream. [0016] Exhaust system 18 may include components used to transfer exhaust produced by engine 12 or other exhaust producing devices to the atmosphere. For example, exhaust system 18 may include an exhaust manifold (not shown), a particulate filter or any other filtration device, a catalytic converter or any other catalytic device, a muffler, a tailpipe (not shown), and one or more exhaust conduits (e.g., exhaust pipes). [0017] FIG. 2 provides a block diagram representation of a particulate regeneration control system 100 according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment. Regeneration system 100 may include engine 12, exhaust system 18, and a controller 104. Regeneration system 100 may also include a regeneration device 106, an exhaust conduit 108, a forward pressure sensor 110, and an aft pressure sensor 112. In addition, regeneration system 100 may also include an exhaust element 114. Exhaust conduit 108 may carry an exhaust stream 122. [0018] Exhaust conduit 108 may be used to transfer exhaust stream 122 from engine 12 to exhaust element 114. Exhaust conduit 108 may include pipes or other components that facilitate the movement of exhaust stream 122 from engine 12 to exhaust element 114. [0019] Various types of pressure sensors known in the art may be used in regeneration system 100. For example, pressure sensors 110 and 112 may include differential pressure sensors or gage pressure sensors. Pressure sensors 110 and 112 may be placed in any desired location on work machine 10. In the exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, pressure sensor 110 may be placed upstream, and pressure sensor 112 may be placed downstream of exhaust element 114. Continue reading about Particulate trap regeneration control system... Full patent description for Particulate trap regeneration control system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Particulate trap regeneration control system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Particulate trap regeneration control system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Support system for the maintenance of a particle filter fitted in an exhaust system on a motor vehicle engine Next Patent Application: Exhaust pipe of vehicle Industry Class: Power plants ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Particulate trap regeneration control system patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.14834 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
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