Method and arrangement for checking catalytic converter heating measures in an internal combustion enqine

An arrangement for checking the effectiveness of at least one measure (M) for heating a catalytic converter in the exhaust-gas system of an internal combustion engine, the arrangement comprising:

• means for activating said at least one measure (M);
• means for detecting a signal (SA) in said exhaust-gas system of said engine;
• means for evaluating said signal (SA) to determine an index (Tact) for an increase in temperature of said catalytic converter after activating said at least one measure (M);
• means for detecting operating characteristic variables of said engine;
• said evaluating means including means for determining an expectation value (Tmodel) for the increase in said temperature from said operating characteristic variables of said engine and a temperature model;
• said evaluating means also including means for comparing said index (Tact) to said expectation value and for evaluating said measure (M) as ineffective when said index (Tact) is clearly less than said expectation value (Tmodel) with said expectation value (Tmodel) having been formed under the expectation of an effective heating measure or, evaluating at least one heating measure as being ineffective when said index (Tact) is not clearly less than said expectation value (Tmodel) with said expectation value (Tmodel) having been formed under the assumption of an ineffective heating measure.