Method of estimating soot accumulation amount of exhaust gas purification filter, and computer program product therefor

A soot accumulation amount estimation method for an exhaust gas purification filter, comprising:

• a first step of burning soot collected in pores of the exhaust gas purification filter to regenerate the filter;
• a second step of judging whether or not an operation state of an engine is in a burning operation state where a soot amount to be burnt within the filter is larger than a soot amount flowing into the filter;
• a third step of forcibly controlling an operational condition of the engine to be brought to the burning operation state when it is judged that the engine is not operated in the burning operation state;
• a fourth step of judging whether or not the engine is continuously operated for a predetermined period of time or longer so as to bum out soot within the pores, when the operation state of the engine is judged to be in the burning operation state;
• and
• a fifth step of estimating a soot accumulation amount of the filter based on a pressure loss through the filter, when it is judged that the engine is continuously operated in the burning operation state for the predetermined period of time.

A soot accumulation amount estimation method for an exhaust gas purification filter comprising:

• a first step of burning soot collected in pores of the exhaust gas purification filter to regenerate the filter;
• a second step of judging whether or not an operation state of an engine is in a burning operation state where a soot amount to be burnt within the filter is larger than a soot amount flowing into the filter;
• a third step of judging whether or not the engine is continuously operated for a predetermined period of time or longer so as to burn out soot within the pores, when the operation state of the engine is judged to be in the burning operation state;
• a fourth step of forcibly controlling an operational condition of the engine such that the burning operation state is continued for a predetermined period of time or longer when it is judged that the engine is not keeping the burning operation state for the predetermined period of time;
• and
• a fifth step of estimating a soot accumulation amount of the filter based on a pressure loss through the filter, when it is judged that the engine is continuously operated in the burning operation state for the predetermined period of time.

A computer program product configured to be used for estimating a soot amount accumulated in an exhaust gas purification filter after burning soot collected from exhaust gas by the exhaust gas purification filter to thereby regenerate the filter, comprising:

• a recording medium;
• means recorded in the recording medium and configured to detect a temperature of exhaust gas flowing into the filter, to judge whether or not the exhaust gas temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature at which a soot amount flowing into the filter is substantially equal to a soot amount to be burnt in the filter;
• means recorded in the recording medium and configured to add up a period of time during which the exhaust gas temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, when the exhaust gas temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature;
• means recorded in the recording medium and configured to judge whether or not the added up period of time is equal to or longer than a period of time during which a predetermined amount of soot is accumulated in the pores after the filter regeneration;
• and
• means recorded in the recording medium and configured to estimate a soot accumulation amount of the filter based on a pressure loss through the filter, when the added up period of time is equal to or longer than the period of time during which the predetermined amount of soot is accumulated.

A computer program product configured to be used for estimating a soot amount accumulated in an exhaust gas purification filter after burning soot collected from exhaust gas by the exhaust gas purification filter to thereby regenerate the filter, comprising:

• a recording medium;
• means recorded in the recording medium and configured to judge whether or not an operation state of an engine is in a burning operation state where a soot amount to be burnt within the filter is larger than a soot amount flowing into the filter;
• means recorded in the recording medium and configured to forcibly control an operational condition of the engine to be brought to the burning operation state when it is judged that the engine is not operated in the burning operation state;
• means recorded in the recording medium and configured to judge whether or not the engine is continuously operated for a predetermined period of time or longer so as to burn out soot within the pores, when the operation state of the engine is judged to be in the burning operation state;
• and
• means recorded in the recording medium and configured to estimate a soot accumulation amount of the filter based on a pressure loss through the filter, when it is judged that the engine is continuously operated in the burning operation state for the predetermined period of time.

A computer program product configured to be used for estimating a soot amount accumulated in an exhaust gas purification filter after burning soot collected from exhaust gas by the exhaust gas purification filter to thereby regenerate the filter, comprising

• a recording medium;
• means recorded in the recording medium and configured to judge whether or not an operation state of an engine is in a burning operation state where a soot amount to be burnt within the filter is larger than a soot amount flowing into the filter;
• means recorded in the recording medium and configured to judge whether or not the engine is continuously operated for a predetermined period of time or longer so as to burn out soot within the pores, when the operation state of the engine is judged to be in the burning operation state;
• means recorded in the recording medium and configured to forcibly control an operational condition of the engine such that the burning operation state is continued for a predetermined period of time or longer when it is judged that the engine is not keeping the burning operation state for the predetermined period of time;
• and
• means recorded in the recording medium and configured to estimate a soot accumulation amount of the filter based on a pressure loss through the filter, when it is judged that the engine is continuously operated in the burning operation state for the predetermined period of time.