Electric preheating of a catalytic convertor using a solar cell array

A method of allocating electrical power generated by a vehicle-mounted solar cell array to reduce exhaust gas emissions from an internal combustion engine in a vehicle after starting the engine;

• the solar cell array having a power output sensor, the vehicle having an on-board computer, a clock, a battery, a plurality of power-receiving devices and an exhaust system, the exhaust system comprising a catalytic convertor with a temperature sensor and an electric catalytic convertor heater for passing heated air through the convertor, the method comprising:
• inputting an estimated engine start time into the computer;
• then, using the computer, repeatedly;
• sensing the current time and, using the estimated engine start time, estimating a time duration before the estimated vehicle engine start;
• sensing the convertor temperature;
• estimating a time required to heat the convertor from its current temperature to its preferred operating temperature;
• estimating a time duration before a required vehicle engine start;
• sensing a state of charge of the battery;
• then,
• comparing the convertor heating time to the estimated time duration;
• and,
• if the heating time is less than the time duration and the battery is discharged, allocating the solar cell array-generated power to charge the battery;
• or
• if the heating time is less than the time duration and the battery is charged, allocating the solar cell array-generated power to one or more of the plurality of power-receiving devices;
• or
• if heating time is greater than or equal to the time duration, allocating the solar cell array-generated power to energize the catalytic convertor heater.

A system for reducing exhaust emissions from a vehicle with an electrical system and comprising an internal combustion engine and an exhaust system for discharge of products of combustion, the system comprising:

• a vehicle-mounted solar cell array with a sensor, to monitor the electrical power output by the array, the output power, being distributed through the vehicle electrical system;
• a catalytic convertor with a temperature sensor, the convertor being located in the engine exhaust system and exposed to vehicle exhaust;
• an electrically-powered catalytic convertor heater adapted to pass heated air through the convertor and integrated into the vehicle exhaust system;
• an on-vehicle computer-based controller, in communication with at least the array power sensor and the convertor temperature sensor, for distributing power from the solar cell array to at least the convertor heater to pre-heat the catalytic convertor to a preferred operating temperature prior to engine start.