Managing temperature in an exhaust treatment system

Abstract

A method of controlling an exhaust treatment system includes sensing a temperature representative of a catalyst material temperature at start-up of a power source and comparing the sensed temperature to a threshold temperature. The method also includes igniting a regeneration device of the exhaust treatment system in response to the comparing. The regeneration device is disposed upstream of the catalyst material. The method further includes operating the regeneration device at a target temperature.

1 . A method of controlling an exhaust treatment system, comprising:
 sensing a temperature representative of a catalyst material temperature at start-up of a power source;   comparing the sensed temperature to a threshold temperature;   igniting a regeneration device of the exhaust treatment system in response to the comparing, the regeneration device being disposed upstream of the catalyst material; and   operating the regeneration device at a target temperature.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including modifying a control parameter of the exhaust treatment system in response to the comparing. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein modifying the control parameter includes modifying at least one of a position of a mixing valve, a timing of an intake valve associated with the power source, and a boost level of an energy extraction assembly. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further including sensing a first temperature at a location upstream of the catalyst material and a second temperature at a location downstream of the catalyst material. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further including comparing the first temperature to the second temperature and operating the regeneration device at the target temperature for a predetermined period of time in response to the comparison between the first and second temperature. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further including turning off the regeneration device and modifying a control parameter of the exhaust treatment system. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold temperature is a light-off temperature of the catalyst material. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target temperature is between approximately 300 degrees Celsius and approximately 350 degrees Celsius. 
   
   
       9 . An emissions control method for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 igniting a regeneration device fluidly connected to the internal combustion engine;   increasing a temperature of a catalyst material to a target temperature during a low exhaust temperature operation of the internal combustion engine; and   maintaining the temperature of the catalyst material at the target temperature for a predetermined period of time.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further including sensing a temperature representative of a catalyst material temperature at start-up. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further including modifying a control parameter of an exhaust treatment system associated with the internal combustion engine in response to the sensing. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein increasing the temperature of the catalyst material assists in oxidizing particulate matter contained within an exhaust flow of the internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the particulate matter includes at least one of soot, soluble organic fraction, and unburned hydrocarbons. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the target temperature is between approximately 300 degrees Celsius and approximately 350 degrees Celsius. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , further including passively regenerating a particulate filter fluidly connected to the internal combustion engine downstream of the regeneration device. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the catalyst material is disposed on a substrate of a particulate filter. 
   
   
       17 . An exhaust treatment system of a power source, comprising:
 a catalyst material;   a regeneration device disposed upstream of the catalyst material and configured to increase a temperature of the catalyst material to a target temperature at start-up of the power source and in response to a sensed parameter of the exhaust treatment system; and   a particulate filter configured to extract components from an exhaust flow of the power source.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the sensed parameter of the exhaust treatment system is a temperature representative of the catalyst material at start-up of the power source. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the target temperature is between approximately 300 degrees Celsius and approximately 350 degrees Celsius. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , further including a first temperature sensor disposed upstream of the catalyst material and a second temperature sensor disposed downstream of the catalyst material.