Method and device for determining the load condition of an exhaust gas particulate filter

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method and a device for determining the load condition of an exhaust gas particulate filter that is arranged in an exhaust gas path of an internal combustion engine that is charged by an exhaust gas turbocharger. The behavior of a charging pressure controller or the charging pressure of the exhaust gas turbocharger is analyzed to determine the load condition of the exhaust gas particulate filter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining a load condition of an exhaust gas particulate filter arranged in an exhaust gas path of an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine is charged by an exhaust gas turbocharger, the method comprising:
 analyzing a behavior of a charging pressure controller or the charging pressure of the exhaust gas turbocharger; and   determining the load condition of the exhaust gas particulate filter based on the analyzed behavior of the charging pressure controller or the charging pressure of the exhaust gas turbocharger.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing a long-term observation of the behavior of the charging pressure controller or the charging pressure of the exhaust gas turbocharger; and   determining the load condition of the exhaust gas particulate filter based on the long-term observation.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 evaluating control signals provided by the charging pressure controller;   determining adaptation values for a pilot control procedure of the exhaust gas turbocharger based on the evaluated control signal; and   performing a check for determining whether a change in the adaptation values occurs in the long term.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising performing a check for determining whether a characteristic change in the control signals that are output by the charging pressure controller occurs in the long term. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing a check for determining whether characteristic deviations occur between a charging pressure desired value and a charging pressure actual value in the long term. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting a point in time directly after the exhaust gas particulate filter has been regenerated as a starting point in time for the analysis of the behavior of the charging pressure controller. 
     
     
         7 . A device for determining a load condition of an exhaust gas particulate filter that is arranged in an exhaust gas path of an internal combustion engine that is charged by an exhaust gas turbocharger, the device comprises a control unit configured to execute a method, the method comprising:
 analyzing a behavior of a charging pressure controller or the charging pressure of the exhaust gas turbocharger; and   determining the load condition of the exhaust gas particulate filter based on the analyzed behavior of the charging pressure controller or the charging pressure of the exhaust gas turbocharger.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
 performing a long-term observation of the behavior of the charging pressure controller or the charging pressure of the exhaust gas turbocharger; and   determining the load condition of the exhaust gas particulate filter based on the long-term observation.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
 evaluating control signals provided by the charging pressure controller;   determining adaptation values for a pilot control procedure of the exhaust gas turbocharger based on the evaluated control signal; and   performing a check for determining whether a change in the adaptation values occurs in the long term.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises performing a check for determining whether a characteristic change in the control signals that are output by the charging pressure controller occurs in the long term. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises performing a check for determining whether characteristic deviations occur between a charging pressure desired value and a charging pressure actual value in the long term. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising selecting a point in time directly after the exhaust gas particulate filter has been regenerated as a starting point in time for the analysis of the behavior of the charging pressure controller.