Exhaust emission prediction system and method

A method of predicting an amount of NOx in a flow of exhaust from an engine using a controller, the method comprising:

• determining, using the controller, a first estimation of the amount of NOx at a first location using an empirical model, the first location being downstream of the engine;
• determining, using the controller, a second estimation of the amount of NOx at the first location using a physics-based model;
• and
• determining, using the controller, a third estimation of the amount of NOx at the first location based on at least one of the first estimation or the second estimation.

An engine system comprising:

• an engine configured to generate a flow of exhaust;
• an injector configured to inject a reductant into the flow of exhaust;
• a catalytic device configured to receive the flow of exhaust after being injected with the reductant;
• a processor;
• a memory module configured to store instructions that, when executed, enable the processor to:
• determine a first estimation of an amount of NOx at a first location using an empirical model, the first location being downstream of the engine and upstream of the catalytic device;
• determine a second estimation of the amount of NOx at the first location using a physics-based model;
• determine a third estimation of the amount of NOx at the first location based on at least one of the first estimation or the second estimation;
• and
• adjust an amount of the reductant injected by the injector based on the determined third estimation.