# US 11,999,341 B2 · Aftertreatment heat up strategies in vehicles with hybrid powertrains

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- Number: US 11,999,341 B2
- Document ID: US11999341B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/077,755
- Filed: 2022-12-08
- Published: 2023-06-08
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2021-12-08
- Assignees: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
- Applicants: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
- Inventors: James E. McCarthy, Jr.; Mihai Dorobantu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999341B2

## CPC

- B60W 20/16: for reducing engine exhaust emissions
- B01D 53/9418: {for removing nitrogen oxides by selective catalytic reduction [SCR] using a reducing agent in a lean exhaust gas}
- B01D 53/9431: {Processes characterised by a specific device}
- B01D 53/9495: {Controlling the catalytic process}
- B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines
- B60W 10/08: including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
- F01N 3/2013: {using electric or magnetic heating means}
- F01N 3/2033: {using a fuel burner or introducing fuel into exhaust duct}
- 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 13/009: {having two or more separate purifying devices arranged in series}
- F02D 41/0087: {Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation (deceleration cut-off F02D41/123)}
- F02D 41/024: {to increase temperature of the exhaust gas treating apparatus}
- B60W 2510/242: for electrical energy
- F01N 3/025: using fuel burner or by adding fuel to exhaust
- F01N 3/206: {Adding periodically or continuously substances to exhaust gases for promoting purification, e.g. catalytic material in liquid form, NOx reducing agents}
- F01N 2240/14: a fuel burner
- F01N 2240/16: an electric heater, i.e. a resistance heater
- F01N 2430/10: by modifying inlet or exhaust valve timing
- F01N 2560/06: the means being a temperature sensor
- F01N 2590/11: for hybrid vehicles
- F01N 2900/1602: Temperature of exhaust gas apparatus
- Y02A 50/20: Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
- Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- 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)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A method of heating an aftertreatment system includes fulfilling a vehicle drive load of a vehicle via an electrical drivetrain of a vehicle hybrid powertrain, wherein the vehicle hybrid powertrain comprises the electrical drivetrain and an internal combustion engine; while the electrical drivetrain is fulfilling the vehicle drive load, operating the internal combustion engine to generate airflow for transport of heat through the aftertreatment system; and directing a heat source to raise a temperature through a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device of the aftertreatment system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of heating an aftertreatment system, comprising:
while a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device of the aftertreatment system is below a particular temperature, operating to spin an internal combustion engine of a vehicle hybrid powertrain of a vehicle with an electric drivetrain to generate airflow for transport of heat through the aftertreatment system; and
while operating to spin the internal combustion engine to generate airflow any time the SCR device of the aftertreatment system is below the particular temperature:
directly powering wheels of the vehicle by the electrical drivetrain of the vehicle instead of the internal combustion engine to fulfill a vehicle drive load;
directing a heat source to raise a temperature through the SCR device of the aftertreatment system; and
directing a second heat source to apply heat to the SCR device, wherein the second heat source is the internal combustion engine performing cylinder deactivation (CDA) while operating to spin the internal combustion engine.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the heat source is an electric heater located upstream the SCR device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the heat source is a fuel burner located upstream the SCR device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the SCR device is a light off SCR (LO-SCR) device and the heat source is an electric heater located upstream the LO-SCR device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the SCR device is a LO-SCR device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
preheating the SCR device using an exhaust heating device and the internal combustion engine that is operated, without fuel, by an electric motor of the vehicle hybrid powertrain to generate airflow for transport of heat supplied by the exhaust heating device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising:
deactivating one or more cylinders of the CDA-enabled internal combustion engine to minimize friction; and
adjusting engine speed to satisfy airflow requirements.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising:
receiving first temperature information of the SCR device;
determining, from the first temperature information of the SCR device, that a first temperature of the SCR device is below a SCR device operating temperature;
supplying a temperature to heat the SCR device;
while the drive load of the vehicle is unfulfilled, operating the internal combustion engine to generate airflow to transport the supplied temperature through the aftertreatment system;
receiving second temperature information of the SCR device;
determining, from the second temperature information of the SCR device, that a second temperature of the SCR device is at the operating temperature; and
after determining that the second temperature of the SCR device is at or above the operating temperature, fulfilling the vehicle drive load of the vehicle via the internal combustion engine.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
receiving battery power status information of the electrical drivetrain; and
determining from the battery power status information of the electrical drivetrain that the electrical drivetrain does not have sufficient power to fulfill the drive load of the vehicle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving battery power status information of the electrical drivetrain; and
determining from the battery power status information of the electrical drivetrain that the electrical drivetrain does have sufficient power to fulfill the drive load of the vehicle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving temperature information of the aftertreatment system; and
determining, from the received temperature information, that the SCR device is below an operating temperature.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
fulfilling the vehicle drive load of the vehicle via the internal combustion engine.

### Claim 13

A control system comprising a processor and memory, the memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor, direct the control system to:
while a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device of the aftertreatment system is below a particular temperature, operate to spin an internal combustion engine of a vehicle hybrid powertrain of a vehicle with an electric drivetrain to generate airflow for transport of heat through an aftertreatment system;
direct the electrical drivetrain of a vehicle hybrid powertrain instead of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle hybrid powertrain to fulfill a vehicle drive load of the vehicle while the internal combustion engine is operated to spin to generate the airflow any time the SCR device of the aftertreatment system is below the particular temperature; and
while the electrical drivetrain instead of the internal combustion engine is directly powering wheels of the vehicle to fulfill the vehicle drive load and the internal combustion engine is operated to spin to generate airflow for transport of heat through the aftertreatment system, direct a heat source to raise a temperature through the SCR device of the aftertreatment system and direct a second heat source to apply heat to the SCR device, wherein the second heat source is the internal combustion engine performing cylinder deactivation (CDA) while operating to spin the internal combustion engine.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The control system of claim 13, wherein the instructions further direct the control system to:
preheat the SCR device using an exhaust heating device and the internal combustion engine that is operated, without fuel, by an electric motor of the vehicle hybrid powertrain to generate the airflow for transport of heat supplied by the exhaust heating device through the aftertreatment system.