Method and apparatus for operating an airless fuel-fired burner of an emission abatement assembly

Abstract

A method of operating an emission abatement assembly to remove soot from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine includes determining if the engine is operating with predetermined operating conditions and regenerating a particulate filter if the engine is within such conditions. An emission abatement assembly is also disclosed.

1 . A method of operating an emission abatement assembly to remove soot from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of: 
 determining if the engine is operating within predetermined operating conditions, and    operating a fuel-fired burner to regenerate a particulate filter if the engine is operating within the predetermined operating conditions.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the determining step comprises determining if engine speed of the engine is within a predetermined range, and    the operating step comprises operating the fuel-fired burner to regenerate the particulate filter if the engine speed of the engine is within the predetermined range.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining if the engine speed of the engine is within a predetermined range comprises monitoring output from an engine speed sensor.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the determining step comprises determining if engine load of the engine is within a predetermined range, and    the operating step comprises operating the fuel-fired burner to regenerate the particulate filter if the engine load of the engine is within the predetermined range.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining if engine load of the engine is within the predetermined range comprises querying an engine load map.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the determining step comprises determining if an exhaust mass flow from the engine is within a predetermined range, and    the operating step comprises operating the fuel-fired burner to regenerate the particulate filter if the exhaust mass flow from the engine is within the predetermined range.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein determining if an exhaust mass flow from the engine is within the predetermined range comprises monitoring output from a mass flow sensor.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein determining if an exhaust mass flow from the engine is within the predetermined range comprises estimating the exhaust mass flow from sensed engine operation parameters.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operating step comprises operating the fuel-fired burner without assistance from a supplemental air supply.  
     
     
         10 . An emission abatement assembly for removing soot from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, the assembly comprising: 
 a particulate filter,    a fuel-fired burner positioned upstream of the particulate filter, and    a controller configured to control the fuel-fired burner, the controller comprising (i) a processor, and (ii) a memory device electrically coupled to the processor, the memory device having stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:    determine if the engine is operating within predetermined operating conditions, and    operate the fuel-fired burner to regenerate the particulate filter if the engine is operating within the predetermined operating conditions.    
     
     
         11 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to: 
 determine if engine speed of the engine is within a predetermined range, and    operating the fuel-fired burner to regenerate the particulate filter if the engine speed of the engine is within the predetermined range.    
     
     
         12 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising an engine speed sensor, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to monitor output from the engine speed sensor to determine if the engine speed of the engine is within the predetermined range.  
     
     
         13 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to: 
 determine if engine load of the engine is within a predetermined range, and    operate the fuel-fired burner to regenerate the particulate filter if the engine load of the engine is within the predetermined range.    
     
     
         14 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to query an engine load map to determine if engine load of the engine is within the predetermined range.  
     
     
         15 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to: 
 determine if an exhaust mass flow from the engine is within a predetermined range, and    operate the fuel-fired burner to regenerate the particulate filter if the exhaust mass flow from the engine is within the predetermined range.    
     
     
         16 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a mass flow sensor, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to monitor output from the mass flow sensor to determine if the exhaust mass flow from the engine is within the predetermined range.  
     
     
         17 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to estimate the exhaust mass flow from sensed engine operation parameters.