Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a fuel-fired burner of an emission abatement assembly

Abstract

A method of operating an emission abatement assembly includes determining the temperature of the heat generated by a fuel-fired burner during regeneration of a particulate filter and adjusting the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner based thereon. An emission abatement assembly is also disclosed.

1 . A method of operating an emission abatement assembly, comprising the steps of: 
 generating heat with a fuel-fired burner to combust soot trapped in a particulate filter,    determining the temperature of the heat, and    adjusting the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner based on the temperature of the heat.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the determining step comprises determining temperature of the heat and generating a temperature signal in response thereto, and    the adjusting step comprises adjusting fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner based on the temperature signal.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the determining step comprises determining if the temperature of the heat is above a predetermined temperature limit, and    the adjusting step comprises decreasing the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is above the predetermined temperature limit.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the determining step comprises determining if the temperature of the heat is below a predetermined temperature limit, and    the adjusting step comprises increasing the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is below the predetermined temperature limit.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the determining step comprises determining if the temperature of the heat is within a predetermined temperature range, and    the adjusting step comprises increasing the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is outside the predetermined temperature range.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the determining step comprises determining if the temperature of the heat is within a predetermined temperature range, and    the adjusting step comprises decreasing the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is outside the predetermined temperature range.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining the temperature of the heat subsequent to adjustment of the amount of fuel being supplied to the fuel-fired burner, and    ceasing to supply fuel to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat, as determined subsequent to adjustment of the amount of fuel being supplied to the fuel fired burner, is outside a predetermined range.    
     
     
         8 . A method of operating an emission abatement assembly, comprising the steps of: 
 generating heat with a fuel-fired burner to combust soot trapped in a particulate filter,    determining if the temperature of the heat is within a predetermined temperature range, and    adjusting the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is outside of the predetermined temperature range.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the determining step comprises sensing the temperature of the heat with a temperature sensor.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the adjusting step comprises decreasing the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is above a predetermined upper limit of the temperature range.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the adjusting step comprises increasing the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is below a predetermined lower limit of the temperature range.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining the temperature of the heat subsequent to the adjusting step, and    ceasing to supply fuel to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat, as determined subsequent to the adjusting step, is outside of the predetermined temperature range.    
     
     
         13 . An emission abatement assembly, comprising: 
 a particulate filter,    a fuel-fired burner positioned upstream of the particulate filter,    an electronically-controlled fuel delivery assembly operable to deliver fuel to the fuel fired burner,    a temperature sensor positioned to sense the temperature of heat generated by the fuel-fired burner, and    a controller electrically coupled to the fuel delivery assembly and the temperature sensor, 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:    operate the fuel delivery assembly to generate heat with the fuel-fired burner to combust soot trapped in the particulate filter,    communicate with the temperature sensor to determine if the temperature of the heat is within a predetermined temperature range, and    operate the fuel delivery assembly to adjust the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is outside of the predetermined temperature range.    
     
     
         14 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to operate the fuel delivery assembly to decrease the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is above a predetermined upper limit of the temperature range.  
     
     
         15 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to operate the fuel delivery assembly to increase the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat is below a predetermined lower limit of the temperature range.  
     
     
         16 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to: 
 communicate with the temperature sensor to determine the temperature of the heat subsequent to adjustment of the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner, and    operate the fuel delivery system to cease to supply fuel to the fuel-fired burner if the temperature of the heat, subsequent to adjustment of the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner, is outside of the predetermined temperature range.