# US 10,480,377 B2 · System and method to improve aftertreatment in an internal combustion engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,377 B2 - Document ID: US10480377B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/432,464 - Filed: 2017-02-14 - Published: 2017-06-01 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-22 - Assignees: Cummins Inc. - Applicants: Cummins Inc. - Inventors: Paul Douglas Free; Jennifer Kay Light-Holets; Vaibhav Daramwar; David A. Brush - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480377B2 ## CPC - F01N 3/225: {Electric control of additional air supply} - F01N 9/00: Electrical control of exhaust gas treating apparatus (monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus F01N11/00; conjoint electrical control of two or more combustion engine functions F02D43/00) - F01N 13/011: {having two or more purifying devices arranged in parallel} - F01N 13/107: {More than one exhaust manifold or exhaust collector} - F02D 41/0055: {Special engine operating conditions, e.g. for regeneration of exhaust gas treatment apparatus} - F02D 41/0087: {Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation (deceleration cut-off F02D41/123)} - F02D 41/0245: {by increasing temperature of the exhaust gas leaving the engine} - F02M 26/43: in which exhaust from only one cylinder or only a group of cylinders is directed to the intake of the engine - F01N 13/14: having thermal insulation {(exhaust manifolds F01N13/102)} - F01N 2410/03: in case of low temperature - F01N 2430/02: by cutting out a part of engine cylinders - F01N 2430/06: by varying fuel-air ratio, e.g. by enriching fuel-air mixture - F01N 2900/1602: Temperature of exhaust gas apparatus - F01N 2900/1621: Catalyst conversion efficiency - F02D 2041/026: {using an external load, e.g. by increasing generator load or by changing the gear ratio} - F02D 2200/0802: Temperature of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A system and method are disclosed for improving the performance of an aftertreatment system by elevating its temperature above an activation temperature. According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, the method includes injecting a quantity of a fuel into certain fueled cylinders of a plurality of combustion cylinders of an internal combustion engine, the plurality of combustion cylinders further including non-fueled cylinders. Exhaust from the fueled cylinders is directed through the aftertreatment system while uncombusted gas from the non-fueled cylinders is directed away from the aftertreatment system. In certain embodiments, the uncombusted gas may be directed into an intake manifold in fluid communication with the plurality of combustion cylinders through an orifice. The system includes an engine having exhaust valves to control flow of the exhaust and uncombusted gas and a controller configured to perform the operations of the method. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An engine system comprising: an internal combustion engine having a plurality of combustion cylinders in fluid communication with an intake manifold structured to supply the cylinders with charge gas, each cylinder including a fuel injector capable of selectively supplying each cylinder with a fuel; two or more exhaust manifolds, each in fluid communication with respective first and second portions of the cylinders and structured to enable exhaust gas generated in the cylinders to exit the engine; a first aftertreatment unit downstream of the two or more exhaust manifolds; an exhaust line connecting the exhaust manifolds to the first aftertreatment unit; a recirculation line connecting the exhaust manifolds to the intake manifold; a first exhaust flow valve disposed in the exhaust line between a first one of the exhaust manifolds and the first aftertreatment unit, the first exhaust flow valve structured to selectively direct the exhaust gas from the first exhaust manifold either through the first aftertreatment unit or away from the first aftertreatment unit into the recirculation line; a second exhaust flow valve disposed between a second one of the exhaust manifolds and the first aftertreatment unit, the second exhaust flow valve structured to selectively direct the exhaust gas from the second exhaust manifold either through the first aftertreatment unit or away from the first aftertreatment unit into the recirculation line; and a controller, in response to a regeneration mode of operation for the first aftertreatment unit, configured to fuel only one of the first portion or the second portion of the plurality of cylinders and position the first and second exhaust flow valves so the exhaust gas from combustion of fuel in the one of the first portion or the second portion of the plurality of cylinders is directed to the first aftertreatment unit and non-fueled charge gas from the other of the first portion and the second portion of the plurality of cylinders is directed away from the first aftertreatment unit through the recirculation line to the intake manifold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first exhaust flow valve is structured to selectively discharge the exhaust gas from the first exhaust manifold to an environment external to the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, the system further comprising: an orifice disposed in the recirculation line, the orifice structured to restrict the flow of exhaust to the intake manifold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the orifice is adjustable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising insulation enveloping the first aftertreatment unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the insulation envelops the recirculation line. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor in communication with the exhaust gas in the first aftertreatment unit to provide a temperature of the first aftertreatment unit, wherein the temperature sensor is in communication with the controller and the controller is configured to initiate the regeneration mode of operation in response to the temperature of the first aftertreatment unit being below an activation temperature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to apply an auxiliary torque load to the internal combustion engine that is supported by an increase in an amount of demanded fuel injected into the one of the first portion and the second portion of the plurality of cylinders that are fueled. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the auxiliary torque load is one of an electromagnetic generator and a hydraulic pump mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein electrical power generated by the electromagnetic generator is directed to a heating grid positioned inside the exhaust line. ### Claim 11 An engine system comprising: an internal combustion engine having a plurality of combustion cylinders in fluid communication with an intake manifold structured to supply the cylinders with charge gas, each cylinder including a fuel injector capable of selectively supplying each cylinder with a fuel; two or more exhaust manifolds, each in fluid communication with respective first and second portions of the cylinders and structured to enable exhaust gas generated in the cylinders to exit the engine; a first aftertreatment unit downstream of the two or more exhaust manifolds; an exhaust line connecting the exhaust manifolds to the first aftertreatment unit; a recirculation line connecting the exhaust manifolds to the intake manifold; a first exhaust flow valve disposed in the exhaust line between a first one of the exhaust manifolds and the first aftertreatment unit, the first exhaust flow valve structured to selectively direct the exhaust gas from the first exhaust manifold either through the first aftertreatment unit or away from the first aftertreatment unit into the recirculation line; a second exhaust flow valve disposed between a second one of the exhaust manifolds and the first aftertreatment unit, the second exhaust flow valve structured to selectively direct the exhaust gas from the second exhaust manifold either through the first aftertreatment unit or away from the first aftertreatment unit into the recirculation line; a controller configured to fuel only one of the first portion or the second portion of the plurality of cylinders and position the first and second exhaust flow valves so the exhaust gas from combustion of fuel in the one of the first portion or the second portion of the plurality of cylinders is directed to the first aftertreatment unit and non-fueled charge gas from the other of the first portion and the second portion of the plurality of cylinders is directed away from the first aftertreatment unit through the recirculation line to the intake manifold; and a temperature sensor in communication with the exhaust gas in the first aftertreatment unit to provide a temperature of the first aftertreatment unit, wherein the temperature sensor is in communication with the controller and the controller is configured to initiate a regeneration mode of operation in response to the temperature of the first aftertreatment unit being below an activation temperature, and wherein the controller is configured to fuel only one of the first portion or the second portion of the plurality of cylinders and position the first and second exhaust flow valves so the exhaust gas from combustion of fuel in the one of the first portion or the second portion of the plurality of cylinders is directed to the first aftertreatment unit and non-fueled charge gas from the other of the first portion and the second portion of the plurality of cylinders is directed away from the first aftertreatment unit through the recirculation line to the intake manifold in response to initiation of the regeneration mode.