Method for controlling the regeneration process in lnt devices

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling the regeneration process of a LNT device for the treatment of exhaust produced by an internal combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to storing a plurality of parameters in the form of preset values which relate to admissible regenerating conditions, receiving a regeneration request, measuring the current values of the parameters to define the current operating conditions of the engine and the LNT device, comparing the current values with the preset values of a corresponding parameter to evaluate if the current operating conditions of the engine and of the LNT device satisfy the admissible regenerating conditions for carrying out the regeneration process, and inhibiting the regeneration process if at least one current value of a corresponding parameter does not satisfy the admissible regenerating conditions for carrying out the regeneration process.

1 . A method for controlling a regeneration process of a LNT device for a treatment of exhaust produced by an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:
 storing a plurality of parameters in a preset form of values that relate to admissible regenerating conditions;   receiving a regeneration request;   measuring current values of said plurality of parameters to define current operating conditions of said internal combustion engine and said LNT device;   comparing said current values with the preset form of values to evaluate if a current operating condition of said internal combustion engine and said LNT device satisfy said admissible regenerating conditions for carrying out said regeneration process; and   inhibiting said regeneration process if at least one of said current values does not satisfy said admissible regenerating conditions.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising repeating the receiving, the measuring, and the comparing during said regeneration process. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said plurality of parameters are temperature parameters, and   wherein the inhibiting the regeneration process occurs if the current values of at least one of said temperature parameters is outside a preset range.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said plurality of parameters are ambient condition parameters including an ambient temperature and an ambient pressure, and   wherein the inhibiting the regeneration process occurs if the current values of the ambient temperature is outside a preset range.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said plurality of parameters are lambda sensor condition parameters, and   wherein the inhibiting the regeneration process occurs if the current values provided by said lambda sensor is outside a preset range.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said plurality of parameters are transition state parameters, and   wherein the inhibiting the regeneration process occurs if a current transition time is greater than a preset value.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said plurality of parameters are engine condition parameters, and   wherein the inhibiting said regeneration process occurs if the current values of at least one of said engine condition parameters is outside a preset range.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of parameters are defined and stored for each gear. 
     
     
         9 . A computer readable medium embodying a computer program product, said computer program product comprising:
 a control program for controlling a regeneration process of a LNT device for a treatment of exhaust produced by an internal combustion engine, the control program configured to:   store a plurality of parameters in a preset form of values that relate to admissible regenerating conditions;   receive a regeneration request;   measure current values of said plurality of parameters to define current operating conditions of said internal combustion engine and said LNT device;   compare said current values with the preset form of values to evaluate if a current operating condition of said internal combustion engine and said LNT device satisfy said admissible regenerating conditions for carrying out said regeneration process, and   inhibit said regeneration process if at least one of said current values does not satisfy said admissible regenerating conditions.   
     
     
         10 . The computer readable medium embodying the computer program product according to  claim 9 , wherein the control program further configured to repeat the receive, the measure, and the compare during said regeneration process. 
     
     
         11 . The computer readable medium embodying the computer program product according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein said plurality of parameters are temperature parameters, and   wherein the inhibit of the regeneration process occurs if the current values of at least one of said temperature parameters is outside a preset range.   
     
     
         12 . The computer readable medium embodying the computer program product according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein said plurality of parameters are ambient condition parameters including an ambient temperature and an ambient pressure, and   wherein the inhibit of the regeneration process occurs if the current values of the ambient temperature is outside a preset range.   
     
     
         13 . The computer readable medium embodying the computer program product according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein said plurality of parameters are lambda sensor condition parameters, and   wherein the inhibit of the regeneration process occurs if the current values provided by said lambda sensor is outside a preset range.   
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium embodying the computer program product according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein said plurality of parameters are transition state parameters, and   wherein the inhibit of the regeneration process occurs if a current transition time is greater than a preset value.   
     
     
         15 . An electronic control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a LNT device configured to treat exhaust produced by said internal combustion engine; and   a processor configured to control a regeneration process of the LNT device, said processor configured to:
 store a plurality of parameters in a preset form of values that relate to admissible regenerating conditions; 
 receive a regeneration request; 
 measure current values of said plurality of parameters to define current operating conditions of said internal combustion engine and said LNT device; 
 compare said current values with the preset form of values to evaluate if a current operating condition of said internal combustion engine and said LNT device satisfy said admissible regenerating conditions for carrying out said regeneration process; and 
 inhibit said regeneration process if at least one of said current values does not satisfy said admissible regenerating conditions. 
   
     
     
         16 . The electronic control apparatus according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein said plurality of parameters are ambient condition parameters including an ambient temperature and an ambient pressure, and   wherein the inhibit of the regeneration process occurs if the current values of the ambient temperature is outside a preset range.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic control apparatus according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein said plurality of parameters are lambda sensor condition parameters, and   wherein the inhibit of the regeneration process occurs if the current values provided by said lambda sensor is outside a preset range.   
     
     
         18 . The electronic control apparatus according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein said plurality of parameters are transition state parameters, and   wherein the inhibit of the regeneration process occurs if a current transition time is greater than a preset value.   
     
     
         19 . The electronic control apparatus according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein said plurality of parameters are engine condition parameters, and   wherein the inhibit of said regeneration process occurs if the current values of at least one of said engine condition parameters is outside a preset range.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic control apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of parameters are defined and stored for each gear.