Method and system for detecting and quantifying regeneration events in a diesel particulate filter

A system for detecting and quantifying regeneration in a diesel particulate filter configured to trap particulates in engine exhaust gas, the system comprising:

• a data interface configured to receive engine data from an engine management system configured to receive a plurality of parameters from sensors that monitor the parameters indicative of engine operation, where the parameters include differential pressure across the diesel particulate filter (“DPF”), exhaust temperature, and mass flow rate;
• a diesel particulate filter diagnostic system (“DPF diagnostic system”) stored as computer programs in a memory system;
• and
• a processor configured to execute the computer programs of the DPF diagnostic system, where when executed the DPF diagnostic system:
• receives and stores a plurality of DPF differential pressure measurements, engine speed, and engine load read by the engine management system periodically at predetermined sampling intervals during engine operation;
• detects a regeneration event by continuously monitoring when the exhaust temperature exceeds a regeneration temperature threshold of 500° C. and the mass flow rate exceeds a regeneration gas flow threshold of 300 kg/hr, where at least one DPF differential pressure measurement stored before detection of the regeneration event is stored as a pre-event differential pressure;
• stores at least one DPF differential pressure measurement received after completion of the regeneration event as a post-event differential pressure;
• calculates a soot burn quality=[(pre-event differential pressure−post-event differential pressure)/pre-event differential pressure]×100% to quantify actual soot removal efficiency during the regeneration event;
• scores the soot burn quality based on predetermined threshold levels where a bad soot burn is less than 33%, a medium soot burn is 33% to 66%, and a good soot burn is greater than 66%;
• and
• automatically controls engine operating parameters by outputting a DPF status based on the score to the engine management system to trigger corrective actions including initiating addition regenerating cycles when the soot burn quality indicates poor DPF performance.