Carbon dioxide sensor for controlling exhaust gas recirculation in diesel engines
AssigneeEdwards Systems Technology, Inc.
InventorMichael B. Schell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of measuring a rate of change of carbon dioxide concentration in recirculated air of an engine, is disclosed. The method includes installing a conductive sample tube into an engine's pre-combustion/air-mixing chamber, and installing a carbon dioxide sensor, remote from the chamber, to measure relative concentrations of carbon dioxide. The method may also be used to measure nitrogen oxide exhaust gas levels.
Claims18
A method of measuring a rate of change of carbon dioxide concentration in recirculated air of an engine, said method comprising:
- (a) installing an elongated conductive sample tube into an air-mixing chamber of the engine to sample air in the engine;
- (b) installing a carbon dioxide sensor onto said sample tube at a predetermined installation length from said chamber;
- and
- (c) measuring the rate of change of carbon dioxide concentration in said sampled air using said carbon dioxide sensor.
A method of measuring a nitrogen oxide exhaust gas level in recirculated air of an engine, said method comprising:
- (a) installing an elongated conductive sample tube into an air-mixing chamber of the engine to sample air in the engine;
- (b) installing a carbon dioxide sensor onto said sample tube at a predetermined installation length from said chamber, said predetermined installation length allowing for sampled gas temperature below 50 degrees Centigrade;
- (c) measuring carbon dioxide concentration levels in said sampled air using said carbon dioxide sensor;
- (d) determining, using said carbon dioxide concentration levels, a percentage of exhaust gas recirculation being introduced into said chamber;
- and
- (e) maintaining no more than a maximum level of nitrogen oxide exhaust gas in the recirculated air of the engine, based on said measured concentration level of carbon dioxide in said chamber, and said percentage of exhaust gas recirculation introduced into said chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.