Exhaust system having pressure sensing system with plugging-mitigation conduit forming always-open leakage path

An exhaust pressure sensing system comprising:

• an upstream sensor conduit including a first inlet end structured to fluidly connect to an exhaust conduit at an upstream location, and a first sensing end opposite to the first inlet end;
• a downstream sensor conduit including a second inlet end structured to fluidly connect to the exhaust conduit at a downstream location, and a second sensing end opposite to the second inlet end;
• a differential pressure sensor including at least one sensing element exposed to a fluid pressure of the upstream sensor conduit and to a fluid pressure of the downstream sensor conduit at the respective first sensing end and second sensing end, and the differential pressure sensor being configured to produce a pressure signal indicative of a pressure difference between an exhaust pressure of the upstream sensor conduit at the first inlet end and an exhaust pressure of the downstream sensor conduit at the second inlet end;
• and
• a plugging-mitigation conduit fluidly connected to the upstream sensor conduit and to the downstream sensor conduit, the plugging-mitigation conduit including a flow restriction fluidly between the upstream sensor conduit and the downstream sensor conduit, and forming an always-open leakage path to convey condensate in a stream of leaked exhaust from the upstream sensor conduit to the downstream sensor conduit.

A method of exhaust pressure sensing in an exhaust system comprising:

• fluidly connecting a sensor conduit to an exhaust conduit in the exhaust system;
• fluidly connecting a plugging-mitigation conduit to the sensor conduit so as to form a leakage path from the sensor conduit;
• feeding exhaust from the exhaust conduit into the sensor conduit from a first location of the exhaust conduit that is upstream of an exhaust aftertreatment device, such that a fluid pressure of the exhaust fed into the sensor conduit from the first location impinges upon an exhaust pressure sensor;
• feeding exhaust from the exhaust conduit into the sensor conduit from a second location of the exhaust conduit that is downstream of the exhaust aftertreatment device such that a fluid pressure of the exhaust fed into the sensor conduit from the second location impinges upon the exhaust pressure sensor;
• leaking exhaust out of the sensor conduit through the exhaust leakage path;
• conveying condensate out of the sensor conduit with the leaked exhaust;
• returning the leaked exhaust and the conveyed condensate to the exhaust conduit;
• and
• producing an exhaust pressure signal with the exhaust pressure sensor.