Operating a Catalytic Converter Device in a Motor Vehicle

Abstract

Various embodiments may include a method for operating a catalytic converter device comprising: measuring electrical properties of the catalytic converter using high-frequency electromagnetic waves; determining a current operating state of the converter; acquiring reference points associated with the operating state; and checking a calibration of a measuring device. The operating states are selected from: an accumulator is completely emptied; an accumulator is completely filled; an accumulator is partially filled; a component to be stored is put into storage; a component to be stored is removed from storage; and an exhaust gas component to be converted or a quantity of the catalyst material in the exhaust gas which exceeds a threshold value is detected. The component to be stored is selected from the group consisting of: a catalyst material and the exhaust gas component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a catalytic converter device in a motor vehicle, wherein the catalytic converter device converts an exhaust gas component, the method comprising:
 measuring electrical properties of the catalytic converter device by detecting reflection and/or transmission of high-frequency electromagnetic waves emitted into a metallic housing of the catalytic converter device;   determining a current operating state of the catalytic converter device;   acquiring reference points associated with the determined current operating state;   checking a calibration of the measuring device is checked using the reference points;   wherein the operating states of the catalytic converter are selected from the group of operating states consisting of:
 an accumulator of the catalytic converter device is completely emptied of a component to be stored; 
 an accumulator of the catalytic converter device is completely filled with a component to be stored; 
 an accumulator of the catalytic converter device is partially filled with a component to be stored; 
 a component to be stored is put into storage in an accumulator of the catalytic converter device; 
 a component to be stored is removed from storage in an accumulator of the catalytic converter device; and 
 an exhaust gas component which is to be converted by the catalytic converter or a quantity of the catalyst material in the exhaust gas which exceeds a threshold value is detected; 
   wherein the component to be stored is selected from the group consisting of: a catalyst material and the exhaust gas component.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the catalytic converter device is comprises an SCR catalytic converter; and
 the operating states are selected from the group of operating states consisting of:
 the temperature of the catalytic converter device is above a defined threshold temperature; 
 the temperature of the catalytic converter device is in the range for normal operation, and the catalytic converter device is heated; 
 the temperature of the catalytic converter device is in the range for normal operation, and the catalytic converter device is cooled; and 
 a breakthrough of NO x  or of the reducing agent NH 3  is detected. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the catalytic converter device comprises a three-way catalytic converter; and
 the operating states are selected from the group of operating states consisting of:   an oxygen accumulator of the catalytic converter device is completely emptied after a rich phase of an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle;   the oxygen accumulator is completely filled after the overrun mode of an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle;   oxygen is put into storage in the oxygen accumulator;   oxygen is removed from storage in the oxygen accumulator; and   a breakthrough of an exhaust gas component is detected.   
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the catalytic converter device comprises an LNT catalytic converter; and the operating states are selected from the group of operating states consisting of:
 a NO x  accumulator of the catalytic converter device is completely filled;   the NO x  accumulator is completely emptied after desulfurization;   the NO x  is put into storage in the NO x  accumulator;   the NO x  is removed from storage in the NO x  accumulator; and a breakthrough of NO x  is detected.   
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the catalytic converter device comprises a diesel oxidation catalytic converter; and
 the operating states are selected from the group of operating states consisting of:   the temperature of the catalytic converter device is below a defined threshold temperature;   the temperature of the catalytic converter device is above a defined threshold temperature; and   a breakthrough of an exhaust gas component is detected.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the catalytic converter device comprises an ASC catalytic converter; and
 the operating states are selected from the group of operating states consisting of:   the temperature of the catalytic converter device is above a defined threshold temperature;   the temperature of the catalytic converter device is in the range for normal operation, and the catalytic converter device is heated;   the temperature of the catalytic converter device is in the range for normal operation, and the catalytic converter device is cooled; and   a breakthrough of an exhaust gas component or of an oxidizing agent is detected.   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the catalytic converter device comprises a particle filter; and
 the operating states are selected from the group of operating states consisting of:   the differential pressure at the particle filter is above a defined upper threshold temperature; and   the differential pressure at the particle filter is below a defined lower threshold temperature;   
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising, during the acquisition of reference points, accounting for at least one of the following measurement variables:
 the temperature of the catalytic converter device, gas humidity in the catalytic converter device, air mass flow through the catalytic converter device, metering quantity of a catalyst material to be metered in, gas composition of NO/NO 2  in the exhaust gas, soot emissions, and differential pressure at a particle filter.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising diagnosing the catalytic converter device based on the calibration of the measuring device. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising diagnosing the measuring device based on the calibration of the measuring device.