Method for managing the regeneration of a diesel particulate filter (dpf) in a diesel engine system

Abstract

A method is provided for managing the regeneration of a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) in a Diesel engine system. The engine having an intake and an exhaust line and being configured to after-inject or post-inject quantities of fuel into a combustion chamber for raising the temperature of the engine exhaust gas. The engine including in the exhaust line, but not limited to, a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). The method including, but not limited to identifying a faulty condition of the engine system and, in case that such faulty condition is not critical, measuring the intake air charge and, in case such intake air charge is acceptable, and performing a regeneration process for said Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).

1 . A method for regeneration of a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) in a Diesel engine system, said Diesel engine system comprising an engine having an intake and an exhaust line and configured to inject quantities of fuel into a combustion chamber for raising a temperature of an engine exhaust gas, the engine comprising in said exhaust line the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), the method comprising:
 identifying a faulty condition of the Diesel engine system if the faulty condition is not critical;   measuring an intake air charge to determine if the intake air charge is acceptable; and   performing a regeneration process for said Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein measuring the intake air charge comprises measuring an intake air flow rate and an intake air pressure in order to determine if the the intake air flow rate and the intake air pressure are within an acceptable range for initiating said regeneration process. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said acceptable range is determined as a function of engine working point. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said regeneration process is performed using a lower temperature set-point and employing a longer process duration with respect to a temperature set-point and duration of a conventional DPF regeneration process. 
     
     
         5 . An internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a first sensor adapted to sense a faulty condition of an engine system;   a second sensor adapted to sense an intake air charge; and   an electronic control unit that is adapted to receive the faulty condition and the intake air charge, the electronic control unit further adapted to:   identifying the faulty condition of the engine system if the faulty condition is not critical;   measure the intake air charge to determine if the intake air charge is acceptable; and   initiate a regeneration process for a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).   
     
     
         6 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 5 , wherein the internal combustion engine is a Diesel engine. 
     
     
         7 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 5 , wherein the electronic control unit is further adapted to measure the intake air charge by measuring an intake air flow rate and an intake air pressure in order to determine if the the intake air flow rate and the intake air pressure are within an acceptable range for initiating said regeneration process. 
     
     
         8 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 7 , wherein said acceptable range is determined as a function of engine working point. 
     
     
         9 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 5 , wherein said regeneration process is performed using a lower temperature set-point and employing a longer process duration with respect to a temperature set-point and duration of a conventional DPF regeneration process. 
     
     
         10 . A computer readable medium embodying a computer program product, said computer program product comprising:
 a program for regeneration of a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) in a Diesel engine system, said Diesel engine system comprising an engine having an intake and an exhaust line and configured to inject quantities of fuel into a combustion chamber for raising a temperature of an engine exhaust gas, the engine comprising in said exhaust line the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), the program configured to:
 identify a faulty condition of an engine system if the faulty condition is not critical; 
 measure an intake air charge to determine if the intake air charge is acceptable; and 
 initiate a regeneration process for said Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). 
   
     
     
         11 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 10 , wherein the program is further configured to measure the intake air charge by measuring an intake air flow rate and an intake air pressure in order to determine if the the intake air flow rate and the intake air pressure are within an acceptable range for initiating said regeneration process. 
     
     
         12 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 11 , wherein said acceptable range is determined as a function of engine working point. 
     
     
         13 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 10 , wherein said regeneration process is performed using a lower temperature set-point and employing a longer process duration with respect to a temperature set-point and duration of a conventional DPF regeneration process.