# US 10,767,584 B2 · Systems and methods for controlling an engine based on aftertreatment system characteristics

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- Number: US 10,767,584 B2
- Document ID: US10767584B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/456,810
- Filed: 2017-03-13
- Published: 2018-09-13
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-13
- Assignees: Cummins Inc.
- Applicants: Cummins Inc.
- Inventors: Michael Haas; Adam W. Kidd; Jeffrey David Selwyn Diwakar Abraham
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767584B2

## CPC

- F02D 41/0235: {in relation with the state of the exhaust gas treating apparatus (control of exhaust gas treating apparatus per se F01N)}
- F01N 3/021: by means of filters
- F01N 3/101: {Three-way catalysts}
- F01N 3/103: {Oxidation catalysts for HC and CO only}
- F01N 3/2066: {Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]}
- F01N 3/208: {Control of selective catalytic reduction [SCR], e.g. by adjusting the dosing of reducing agent}
- 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 11/00: Monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus
- F02D 41/0002: {Controlling intake air}
- F02D 41/0245: {by increasing temperature of the exhaust gas leaving the engine}
- F02D 41/0275: {the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a NOx trap or adsorbent}
- F02D 41/3005: {Details not otherwise provided for}
- F01N 2430/00: Influencing exhaust purification, e.g. starting of catalytic reaction, filter regeneration, or the like, by controlling engine operating characteristics
- F01N 2550/02: Catalytic activity of catalytic converters
- F01N 2570/14: Nitrogen oxides
- F01N 2610/02: the substance being ammonia or urea
- F01N 2900/1402: Exhaust gas composition
- F01N 2900/1404: Exhaust gas temperature
- F01N 2900/1411: Exhaust gas flow rate, e.g. mass flow rate or volumetric flow rate
- F01N 2900/1616: NH3-slip from catalyst
- F01N 2900/1621: Catalyst conversion efficiency
- F02D 41/1445: {the characteristics being related to the exhaust flow}
- F02D 41/1446: {the characteristics being exhaust temperatures}
- F02D 41/146: {the characteristics being an NOx content or concentration}
- F02D 2041/1468: {the characteristics being an ammonia content or concentration of the exhaust gases}
- Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies
- Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems
- 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)
- 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)
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

Systems and apparatuses include an apparatus including an aftertreatment system control circuit structured to receive a signal indicative of an exhaust gas characteristic from a sensor, determine an aftertreatment system characteristic based on the exhaust gas characteristic, determine an acceptable input value responsive to the aftertreatment system characteristic, and control at least one of a fuel system actuator and an air handling actuator to achieve or substantially achieve the acceptable input value.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
an aftertreatment system control circuit structured to:
receive a signal indicative of an exhaust gas characteristic from a sensor,
determine an aftertreatment system characteristic based on the exhaust gas characteristic,
determine an acceptable input value associated with a desired condition of exhaust gas exiting an engine responsive to the aftertreatment system characteristic, the acceptable input value differing from the exhaust gas characteristic,
determine a correction factor to achieve the acceptable input value,
control at least one of a fuel system actuator and an air handling actuator to achieve the acceptable input value,
compare the acceptable input value to a predetermined acceptable input threshold criteria,
compare the correction factor to a predetermined correction threshold, and
generate a fault code when the acceptable input value fails to meet the predetermined acceptable input threshold criteria or the correction factor exceeds the predetermined correction threshold.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas characteristic is selected from a list including a system out NOx, an exhaust flow rate, an exhaust gas temperature, a reductant dosing value, an ammonia slip value, and an ammonia storage factor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aftertreatment system control circuit is further structured to determine a NOx reduction efficiency, and
compare the NOx reduction efficiency to a predetermined threshold, and
wherein the acceptable input value includes an increased engine out temperature when the NOx reduction efficiency is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aftertreatment system control circuit is further structured to determine a NOx reduction efficiency, and
compare the NOx reduction efficiency to a predetermined threshold, and
wherein the acceptable input value includes one of a decreased engine out temperature or an increased engine out NOx when the NOx reduction efficiency is equal to or exceeds the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aftertreatment system control circuit is further structured to determine a NOx reduction efficiency, and
compare the NOx reduction efficiency to a predetermined threshold, and
wherein the acceptable input value includes a decreased engine out NOx when the NOx reduction efficiency is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas characteristic is an ammonia slip condition, and the aftertreatment system control circuit is further structured to compare the ammonia slip condition to a predetermined threshold, and
wherein the acceptable input value includes an increased engine out NOx when the ammonia slip condition is equal to or exceeds the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 7

A system comprising:
a sensor structured to provide a sensor signal indicative of an exhaust gas characteristic;
an aftertreatment system control circuit coupled to the sensor, the aftertreatment system control circuit structured to:
receive the sensor signal,
determine an aftertreatment system characteristic as a function of the exhaust gas characteristic,
determine an acceptable input value as a function of the aftertreatment system characteristic, and
send a command signal indicative of the acceptable input value; and
an engine control circuit coupled to the aftertreatment system control circuit, the engine circuit structured to:
receive the command signal, and to control at least one of a fuel system and an air handling actuator to achieve the acceptable input value,
determine a correction factor required to achieve the acceptable input value,
compare the correction factor to a predetermined threshold, and
generate a fault code when the correction factor exceeds the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the exhaust gas characteristic is selected from a list including a system out NOx, an exhaust flow rate, an exhaust gas temperature, a reductant dosing, an ammonia slip, and an ammonia storage factor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the aftertreatment system control circuit is further structured to determine a NOx reduction efficiency, and
compare the NOx reduction efficiency to a predetermined threshold, and
wherein the acceptable input value includes an increased engine out temperature when the NOx reduction efficiency is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the aftertreatment system control circuit is further structured to determine a NOx reduction efficiency, and
compare the NOx reduction efficiency to a predetermined threshold, and
wherein the acceptable input value includes a decreased engine out temperature or an increased engine out NOx when the NOx reduction efficiency is equal to or exceeds the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the aftertreatment system control circuit is further structured to determine a NOx reduction efficiency, and
compare the NOx reduction efficiency to a predetermined threshold, and
wherein the acceptable input value includes a decreased engine out NOx when the NOx reduction efficiency is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the exhaust gas characteristic is an ammonia slip condition, and the aftertreatment system control circuit is further structured to compare the ammonia slip condition to a predetermined threshold, and
wherein the acceptable input value includes an increased engine out NOx when the ammonia slip condition is equal to or exceeds the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 13

A method comprising:
receiving a signal from an aftertreatment sensor by an aftertreatment system control circuit, the signal indicative of an exhaust gas characteristic;
determining, by the aftertreatment system control circuit, an aftertreatment system characteristic as a function of the exhaust gas characteristic;
determining, by the aftertreatment system control circuit, an acceptable input value as a function of the aftertreatment system characteristic, the acceptable input value associated with a desired condition of exhaust gas exiting an engine and differing from the exhaust gas characteristic;
communicating the acceptable input value to an engine control circuit;
determining, by the engine control circuit, a correction factor to achieve the acceptable input value;
controlling, by the engine control circuit, at least one of a fuel system and an air handling actuator to achieve the acceptable input value;
comparing, by the aftertreatment system control circuit, the acceptable input value to a predetermined acceptable input threshold criteria;
comparing, by the engine control circuit, the correction factor to a predetermined correction threshold; and
generating, by the aftertreatment system control circuit, a fault code when the acceptable input value fails to meet the predetermined acceptable input threshold criteria or the correction factor exceeds the predetermined correction threshold.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the exhaust gas characteristic is selected from a list including a system out NOx, an exhaust flow rate, an exhaust gas temperature, a reductant dosing, an ammonia slip, and an ammonia storage factor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising determining, with the aftertreatment system control circuit, a NOx reduction efficiency; and
comparing the NOx reduction efficiency to a predetermined threshold, and
wherein the acceptable input value includes an increased engine out temperature when the NOx reduction efficiency is below the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising determining, with the aftertreatment system control circuit, a NOx reduction efficiency; and
comparing the NOx reduction efficiency to a predetermined threshold, and
wherein the acceptable input value includes a decreased engine out temperature or an increased engine out NOx when the NOx reduction efficiency exceeds the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising determining, with the aftertreatment system control circuit, a NOx reduction efficiency; and
comparing the NOx reduction efficiency to a predetermined threshold, and
wherein the acceptable input value includes a decreased engine out NOx when the NOx reduction efficiency is below the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the exhaust gas characteristic is an ammonia slip condition, and the method further comprising comparing the ammonia slip condition to a predetermined threshold, and
wherein the acceptable input value includes an increased engine out NOx when the ammonia slip condition exceeds the predetermined threshold.