# US 2022/0034283 A1 · A method for controlling an internal combustion engine arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0034283 A1 - Document ID: US20220034283A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/312,333 - Filed: 2018-12-14 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-14 - Assignees: Volvo Truck Corporation - Applicants: Volvo Truck Corporation - Inventors: Johan CARLÉN ANDERSSON; Fredrik RAHM - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220034283A1 ## CPC - F02M 26/05: High pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust system upstream of the turbine and reintroduced into the intake system downstream of the compressor - F02M 26/33: controlling the temperature of the recirculated gases - F01N 3/2006: {Periodically heating or cooling catalytic reactors, e.g. at cold starting or overheating (by electrically controlling the supply of combustible mixture or its constituents only F02D41/0235)} - F01N 3/22: Control of additional air supply only, e.g. using by-passes or variable air pump drives - F01N 3/306: {Preheating additional air} - F01N 3/32: using air pump (using jet air pumps F01N3/34; pumps in general F04) - F01N 3/323: {Electrically driven air pumps} - F02B 37/168: {into the exhaust conduit (F02B37/166 takes precedence)} - F02D 41/0065: {Specific aspects of external EGR control (constructional details of EGR system F02M26/00)} - F02D 41/0255: {to accelerate the warming-up of the exhaust gas treating apparatus at engine start} - F02M 26/04: with a single turbocharger - F02M 26/34: with compressors, turbines or the like in the recirculation passage - F02M 26/35: with means for cleaning or treating the recirculated gases, e.g. catalysts, condensate traps, particle filters or heaters - F02M 31/042: {Combustion air} - F02M 31/13: Combustion air - F02M 2026/004: {EGR valve controlled by a temperature signal or an air/fuel ratio (lambda) signal} - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - 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) - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a method for controlling an internal combustion engine arrangement (100) connected to an exhaust gas aftertreatment system (200), wherein the method is arranged to control a gas heating device ( 122), as well as a gas feeding arrangement to direct a flow of intake air through the exhaust gas recirculation conduit (112) from the intake system to the exhaust system, the flow of intake air being directed through the gas heating device before the intake air enters the exhaust gas aftertreatment system, in response to determining a requested start of the internal combustion engine to heat the aftertreatment system before starting the engine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling an internal combustion engine arrangement connected to an exhaust gas aftertreatment system, the internal combustion engine arrangement comprising an internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of combustion cylinders; an intake system arranged in upstream fluid communication with the internal combustion engine and configured to feed intake air into the plurality of combustion cylinders; an exhaust system arranged in downstream fluid communication with the internal combustion engine and configured to convey exhaust gas away from the internal combustion engine to the exhaust gas aftertreatment system; an exhaust gas recirculation system comprising an exhaust gas recirculation conduit connected between the intake system and the exhaust system, wherein the internal combustion engine arrangement further comprises a gas feeding arrangement and a gas heating device, each arranged in fluid communication with the exhaust gas recirculation conduit, the method comprising: determining a requested start of the internal combustion engine; controlling start up of the gas heating device for initiating heating of gas fed there through; and controlling the gas feeding arrangement to direct a flow of intake air through the exhaust gas recirculation conduit from the intake system to the exhaust system, the flow of intake air being directed through the gas heating device before the intake air enters the exhaust gas aftertreatment system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the steps of controlling start up of the gas heating device and controlling the gas feeding arrangement to direct the flow of intake air to the exhaust system is executed prior to starting the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: receiving a signal indicative of a temperature level of the internal combustion engine arrangement; and controlling the gas feeding arrangement proportionally to the temperature level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: determining a temperature level of the internal combustion engine arrangement; comparing the temperature level with a predetermined temperature threshold limit; and controlling start up of the gas heating device and controlling the gas feeding arrangement to direct the flow of intake air to the exhaust system only if the temperature level is below the predetermined temperature threshold limit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the temperature level of the internal combustion engine arrangement corresponds to a temperature level of the internal combustion engine, and the predetermined temperature threshold limit corresponds to a predetermined engine temperature level. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the temperature level of the internal combustion engine arrangement corresponds to a temperature level of the exhaust gas aftertreatment system, and the predetermined temperature threshold limit corresponds to a predetermined exhaust gas aftertreatment system temperature threshold limit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the temperature level of the internal combustion engine arrangement corresponds to a temperature level in the exhaust gas recirculation conduit, and the predetermined temperature threshold limit corresponds to a predetermined temperature threshold limit for the exhaust gas recirculation conduit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the gas feeding arrangement comprises a gas flow pump. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the gas flow pump is a bidirectional gas flow pump arranged to controllably direct gas flow from the exhaust system to the intake system, and from the intake system to the exhaust system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the gas feeding arrangement comprises a valve unit, the valve unit being controllable to direct gas flow from the exhaust system to the intake system, and from the intake system to the exhaust system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the gas feeding arrangement comprises one of an electrically controlled supercharger or an electrically controlled turbocharger. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the gas heating device is an intake air heater positioned in the intake system. ### Claim 13 An internal combustion engine arrangement connected to an exhaust gas aftertreatment system, the internal combustion engine arrangement comprising an internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of combustion cylinders; an intake system arranged in upstream fluid communication with the internal combustion engine and configured to feed intake air into the plurality of combustion cylinders; an exhaust system arranged in downstream fluid communication with the internal combustion engine and configured to convey exhaust gas away from the internal combustion engine to the exhaust gas aftertreatment system; an exhaust gas recirculation system comprising an exhaust gas recirculation conduit connected between the intake system and the exhaust system, wherein the internal combustion engine arrangement further comprises a gas feeding arrangement and a gas heating device, each arranged in fluid communication with the exhaust gas recirculation conduit; and a control unit connected to the gas feeding arrangement and the gas heating device, characterized in that the control unit is configured to: determine a requested start of the internal combustion engine; transmit a start up signal to the gas heating device for start up of the gas heating device; and transmit a control signal to the gas feeding arrangement to direct a flow of intake air through the exhaust gas recirculation conduit from the intake system to the exhaust system, the flow of intake air being directed through the gas heating device before the intake air enters the exhaust gas aftertreatment system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine arrangement according to claim 13. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising an alternative source of propulsion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A computer program comprising program code means for performing the steps of claim 1 when the computer program code is run on a computer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A computer readable medium carrying a computer program comprising program means for performing the steps of claim 1 when the program means is run on a computer.