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US 2017/0248055 A1Published application
Method and system for reducing engine exhaust emissions
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDouglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, John Eric Rollinger
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for addressing engine cold-start emissions while an exhaust catalyst is activated. In one example, a method for improving exhaust emissions may include flowing ionized air into an engine exhaust, downstream of an exhaust catalyst, to oxidize exhaust emissions left untreated by the catalyst. The approach reduces the PM load of the exhaust as well as of a downstream particulate matter filter.
Claims6
1-15. (canceled)
A hybrid vehicle system, comprising:
- an engine including an intake and an exhaust, the exhaust including an oxidation catalyst;
- an electric air pump for flowing air into an ionizer;
- an ionizer for ionizing air into ionic air;
- an electric motor;
- vehicle wheels propelled via one or more of the engine and the electric motor;
- and
- a controller with computer-readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory for:
- during a first engine cold-start of a drive cycle, discontinuing vehicle propulsion via the motor while operating the engine with ignition timing retard to raise a temperature of the catalyst above a threshold temperature;
- and
- during a second, subsequent engine cold-start of the drive cycle, continuing vehicle propulsion via the motor while flowing ionized air into the engine exhaust, downstream of the exhaust catalyst, while operating the engine, until the temperature of the exhaust catalyst is above the threshold temperature.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.