Particulate loading monitoring system

Abstract

A particulate trap regeneration system is provided, which may include a particulate trap having a filter medium configured to remove one or more types of particulate matter from an exhaust flow of an engine and a regeneration device configured to reduce an amount of particulate matter in the particulate trap, as well as a radio frequency-based particulate loading monitoring system configured to determine an amount of particulate matter trapped by the filter medium. The particulate loading monitoring system may be powered by an energy-harvesting device. The particulate loading monitoring system may include at least one radio frequency probe configured to transmit radio frequency signals of predetermined magnitude and predetermined frequency toward the filter medium and at least one radio frequency probe configured to receive and measure the magnitude of received radio frequency signals that pass through the filter medium. Further, the system may be configured to transmit radio frequency signals along a length of the exhaust conduit.

1 . A particulate loading monitoring system for a filter medium located within a particulate trap, the particulate trap located in an exhaust conduit, comprising: 
 a first probe configured to transmit radio frequency signals toward a filter medium;    a second probe configured to receive radio frequency signals that pass through the filter medium; and    an energy-harvesting device configured to provide power to at least one of the first and second probes.    
   
   
       2 . The particulate loading monitoring system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a controller configured to determine, based on the received radio frequency signals, a particulate loading value indicative of the amount of particulate matter trapped in the filter medium    
   
   
       3 . The particulate loading monitoring system of  claim 2 , wherein the energy-harvesting device is configured to provide power to the controller.  
   
   
       4 . The particulate loading monitoring system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one sensor configured to take at least one of pressure and temperature readings, the energy-harvesting device configured to provide power to the at least one sensor.    
   
   
       5 . The particulate loading monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the first probe is configured transmit radio frequency signals along the exhaust conduit external to the particulate trap.  
   
   
       6 . The particulate loading monitoring system of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a third probe located upstream of the particulate trap, the third probe configured to receive radio frequency signals propagated along the exhaust conduit.    
   
   
       7 . The particulate loading monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the first probe is located within the particulate trap and the second probe is located upstream of the particulate trap.  
   
   
       8 . The particulate loading monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the first probe is located downstream of the filter medium and the second probe is located upstream of the particulate trap.  
   
   
       9 . The particulate loading monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy-harvesting device is thermoelectric.  
   
   
       10 . A method of determining particulate loading of a filter medium inside a particulate trap, the particulate trap located in an exhaust conduit, comprising: 
 generating power using a energy-harvesting device;    supplying generated power to a particulate loading monitoring system; and    determining particulate loading by: 
 transmitting radio frequency signals toward a filter medium;  
 receiving the radio frequency signals that pass through the filter medium; and  
 determining, based on the received radio frequency signals, a particulate loading value indicative of an amount of particulate matter trapped in the filter medium.  
   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein power is generated using a thermoelectric energy-harvesting device.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , further including: 
 collecting information from at least one sensor; and    determining the particulate loading value based on the received radio frequency signals and the collected information.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining particulate loading further includes: 
 transmitting radio frequency signals within the exhaust conduit external to the particulate trap; and    receiving radio frequency signals upstream the exhaust conduit from the particulate trap.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , further including: 
 determining if more than a predetermined amount of particulate matter is trapped in the filter medium; and    activating a regenerating device, the regenerating device configured to reduce an amount of particulate matter in the filter medium, if the value exceeds the predetermined amount of particulate matter.