# US 2014/0156207 A1 · Soot monitoring method and alert system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156207 A1 - Document ID: US20140156207A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/690,695 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company - Applicants: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company - Inventors: Rita Aiello; Richard Mark Paczewski; Kevin Carre; Paul Joseph Andersen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156207A1 ## CPC - F01N 9/002: {of filter regeneration} - F01N 3/021: by means of filters - F01N 9/007: {Storing data relevant to operation of exhaust systems for later retrieval and analysis, e.g. to research exhaust system malfunctions} - F01N 2550/04: Filtering activity of particulate filters - F01N 2900/1406: Exhaust gas pressure - F01N 2900/1602: Temperature of exhaust gas apparatus - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - 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 A system and method of monitoring regeneration of a particulate matter filter for a stationary diesel engine is disclosed. The system monitors exhaust temperature and operating time of an engine to calculate accumulated operating time below a critical temperature. Upon reaching a maximum allowed accumulated operation time, the system initiates a warning signal to inform the operator to increase exhaust temperatures for passive regeneration of the filter. During regeneration, the system periodically measures filter pressure differential and the exhaust temperature to calculate a difference in pressure differentials measured at two different times and determine whether the difference is below a critical value to inform the operator that regeneration is complete. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of monitoring regeneration of a particulate matter filter for a diesel engine, the method comprising: (a) measuring exhaust temperature proximal to the particulate matter filter and operating time of an engine to calculate a first accumulated operating time during which the exhaust temperature is below a critical temperature; (b) initiating a warning signal when the first accumulated operating time is greater than or equal to a first period; (c) repeatedly measuring the exhaust temperature proximal to the particulate matter filter, a first filter pressure differential at a first time, and a second filter pressure differential at a second time, wherein the second time is equal to the first time plus an interval; (d) calculating an accumulated regeneration period, wherein the accumulated regeneration period is total instances when the exhaust temperature is greater than or equal to a regeneration temperature and the difference between the first and second filter pressure differentials is less than or equal to a critical value; and (e) generating a completion signal when either i. the accumulated regeneration period is greater than or equal to a completion value, or ii. the number of exhaust temperature measurements measured during step (c) which meet or exceed the regeneration temperature is greater than or equal to a shutdown value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first period is equal to ten hours. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: calculating a second accumulated operating time during which the exhaust temperature is below the critical temperature; and triggering a second warning signal when the second accumulated operating time is greater than or equal to a second period. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the second period is two hours. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) prompts an increase in engine load. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the engine load is increased automatically to increase the exhaust temperature above the regeneration temperature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) begins after a lag period during which the exhaust temperature is greater than or equal to the regeneration temperature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the lag period is one hour. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) is repeated every minute. ### Claim 10 A monitoring system for the regeneration of a particulate filter associated with a diesel engine, the system comprising: a temperature sensor proximal to the particulate filter configured to monitor the exhaust temperature; a pressure sensor configured to measure first and second filter pressure differentials; a clock; memory configured to store temperature readings from the temperature sensor, pressure readings from the pressure sensor, and time from the clock; a programmable logic controller configured to perform a method of monitoring soot accumulation and regeneration of a particulate matter filter for an engine, the method comprising (a) measuring exhaust temperature proximal to the particulate filter and operating time of the engine to calculate a first accumulated operating time during which the exhaust temperature is below a critical temperature, (b) initiating a warning signal when the first accumulated operating time is greater than or equal to a first period, (c) repeatedly measuring the exhaust temperature proximal to the particulate filter, the first filter pressure differential at a first time, and the second filter pressure differential at a second time, wherein the second time is equal to the first time plus an interval, (d) calculating an accumulated regeneration period, wherein the accumulated regeneration period is total instances when the exhaust temperature is greater than or equal to a regeneration temperature and the difference between the first and second filter pressure differentials is less than or equal to a critical value, and (e) generating a completion signal when the accumulated regeneration period is greater than or equal to a completion value; an indicator configured to display the warning signal; and a user interface configured to allow a user to initiate at least one of steps (a) and (c) of the method performed by the programmable logic controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the programmable logic controller is configured to generate the completion signal when the accumulated regeneration period is less than a completion value and the number of exhaust temperature measurements measured during step (c) which meet or exceed the regeneration temperature is greater than or equal to a shutdown value. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The monitoring system of claim 10 further comprising an alarm configured to sound when the exhaust temperature exceeds a maximum temperature setting. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The monitoring system of claim 10 further comprising an alarm configured to sound when filter pressure differential at any time exceeds a maximum pressure setting. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The monitoring system of claim 10 configured to be remotely controlled. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the method which the programmable logic controller is configured to perform further comprises calculating a second accumulated operating time during which the exhaust temperature is below the critical temperature; and triggering a second warning signal when the second accumulated operating time is greater than or equal to a second period. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The monitoring system of claim 10, wherein step (b) of the method which the programmable logic controller is configured to perform prompts an increase in engine load. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the programmable logic controller is configured to increase engine load automatically. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The monitoring system of claim 10, wherein step (c) of the method which the programmable logic controller is configured to perform begins after a lag period during which the exhaust temperature is greater than or equal to the regeneration temperature. ### Claim 19 A method of monitoring and regenerating a particulate matter filter for a diesel engine, the method comprising: (a) monitoring exhaust temperature and operating time of an engine to calculate a first accumulated operating time below a critical temperature; (b) initiating a warning signal when the first accumulated operating time is greater than or equal to a first period; (c) increasing load on the engine to increase the exhaust temperature; (d) maintaining the increased load on the engine during a regeneration period; (e) repeatedly measuring the exhaust temperature, a first filter pressure differential at a first time, and a second filter pressure differential at a second time, wherein the second time is equal to the first time plus an interval, (f) calculating an accumulated regeneration period, wherein the accumulated regeneration period is total instances when the exhaust temperature is greater than or equal to a regeneration temperature and the difference between the first and second filter pressure differentials is less than or equal to a critical value, and (g) generating a completion signal when either i. the accumulated regeneration period is greater than or equal to a completion value, or ii. the number of exhaust temperature measurements measured during step (c) which meet or exceed the regeneration temperature is greater than or equal to a shutdown value. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising calculating a second accumulated operating time during which the exhaust temperature is below the critical temperature; and triggering a second warning signal when the second accumulated operating time is greater than or equal to a second period.