Method and device for determining the load condition of particle filters

A method for determining a load condition of a particle filter used in an exhaust gas system of a diesel engine with an exhaust gas charger, the method comprising the steps of:

• measuring a pressure of all exhaust gas flow adjacent an upstream side of the particle filter;
• measuring a temperature of the exhaust gas flow in the particle filter;
• measuring a speed of rotation of the diesel engine;
• measuring a pressure and a temperature of a charging gas downstream of the exhaust gas charger and upstream of the engine;
• calculating an actual characteristic value from said measured pressure upstream of said particle filter, said temperature, said speed of rotation of the diesel engine, and said measured pressure and temperature of the charging gas;
• determining a limit characteristic value representing a load condition of the particle filter resulting in an unacceptable power loss of the diesel engine;
• and
• comparing the actual characteristic value with the limit characteristic value and carrying out a regeneration process on the particle filter when a difference between the characteristic value and the limit characteristic value is sufficiently small.

A device for determining a load condition of a particle filter used in an exhaust gas system of a diesel engine with an exhaust gas charger, the device comprising:

• a pressure measuring means disposed in front of the particle filter for measuring a pre-filter pressure;
• temperature measuring means for measuring a temperature of said exhaust gas flow in the particle filter;
• tachometer means for measuring a speed of rotation of the engine:
• and
• means for measuring a pressure and a temperature of a charging gas downstream of the exhaust gas charger and upstream of the engine;
• computer means for forming an actual characteristic value based on said pre-filter pressure, said temperature of the exhaust gas flow, said speed of rotation of the engine, and said measured pressure and temperature of the charging gas, said computer means receiving a predetermined limit characteristic value and comparing said actual characteristic value to said predetermined limit characteristic value.

A device for determining a load condition of a particle filter used in an exhaust gas system of a diesel engine, comprising:

• pressure measuring means disposed in front of the particle filter for measuring a pre-filer pressure;
• temperature measuring means for measuring a temperature of an exhaust gas flow in the particle filter;
• tachometer means for measuring a speed of rotation of the engine;
• computer means for forming an actual characteristic value based on said prefilter pressure, said temperature of said exhaust gas and said engine speed, said computer means also including a predetermined limit characteristic value and comparing said actual characteristic value to said predetermined limit characteristic value;
• charging volume flow temperature measuring means for sensing a temperature of a charging volume flow;
• charging volume flow pressure measuring means for sensing a pressure of said charging volume flow.