Filter regeneration control

A regeneration control device which regenerates a filter for trapping particulate matter in exhaust gas from an engine, the filter supporting a catalyst which oxidizes unburnt components in the exhaust gas, the regeneration control device comprising:

• heat generating means which raises a bed temperature of the filter and burns particulate matter trapped by the filter, in order to regenerate the filter,
• temperature detecting means which detects a filter inlet exhaust gas temperature;
• means for computing a filter outlet exhaust gas temperature, not including temperature rise due to oxidation reaction of unburnt components based on the detected inlet exhaust gas temperature;
• means for computing the filter bed temperature based on the detected inlet exhaust gas temperature and computed outlet exhaust gas temperature;
• means for computing a temperature rise due to oxidation reaction of unburnt components;
• means for correcting the bed temperature based on the computed temperature rise;
• and
• means for controlling said heat generating means based on the corrected bed temperature.

A regeneration control method for regenerating a filter which traps particulate matter in exhaust gas from an engine, the filter supporting a catalyst which oxidizes unburnt components in the exhaust gas, the regeneration control method comprising:

• detecting a filter inlet exhaust gas temperature;
• computing a filter outlet exhaust gas temperature, not including temperature rise due to oxidation reaction of unburnt components based on the detected inlet exhaust gas temperature;
• computing the filter bed temperature based on the detected inlet exhaust gas temperature and computed outlet exhaust gas temperature;
• computing a temperature rise due to oxidation reaction of unburnt components;
• correcting the bed temperature based on the computed temperature rise;
• and
• controlling a heat generating device based on the corrected bed temperature, the heat generating device being capable of raising a bed temperature of the filter and burning particulate matter trapped by the filter, in order to regenerate the filter.