# US 8,783,016 B2 · Hybrid HC absorber/EHC PZEV exhaust architecture

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- Number: US 8,783,016 B2
- Document ID: US8783016B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/803,683
- Filed: 2007-05-15
- Published: 2008-11-20
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2007-05-15
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: Eugene V. Gonze; Halim G Santoso; Frank Ament
- Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze; Halim G Santoso; Frank Ament
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783016B2

## CPC

- F02D 41/024: {to increase temperature of the exhaust gas treating apparatus}
- F01N 3/0814: {combined with catalytic converters, e.g. NOx absorption/storage reduction catalysts}
- F01N 3/2013: {using electric or magnetic heating means}
- F01N 9/00: Electrical control of exhaust gas treating apparatus (monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus F01N11/00; conjoint electrical control of two or more combustion engine functions F02D43/00)
- F01N 13/0097: {the purifying devices are arranged in a single housing}
- F01N 13/011: {having two or more purifying devices arranged in parallel}
- F01N 2430/06: by varying fuel-air ratio, e.g. by enriching fuel-air mixture
- F02D 2200/0802: Temperature of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
- Y02A 50/20: Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
- Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies
- Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems
- 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)
- 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)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A system may include a hydrocarbon (HC) absorber positioned in an exhaust flow path and an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) positioned in the exhaust flow path downstream of the HC absorber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
operating a combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle at an air-fuel ratio that is less than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio during a first time period and at a generally stoichiometric air-fuel ratio during a second time period after the first time period, the hybrid vehicle including the combustion engine, an electric motor, and a battery that powers the electric motor;
trapping hydrocarbons (HC) from an exhaust gas from the combustion engine during the first time period in a HC absorber that is in communication with the exhaust gas and upstream of an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) that is in communication with the exhaust gas;
energizing the EHC with the battery during the first time period; and
oxidizing HC from the exhaust gas within the EHC during the second time period.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising rotating a crankshaft of the combustion engine using the electric motor when the combustion engine is not in an operating state during a vehicle cold start condition and before operating the combustion engine during the first time period.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said trapping includes operating the HC absorber at a temperature less than 100 degrees Celsius.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said energizing occurs simultaneously with or before said operating.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising determining if the engine is operating at a cold start condition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 wherein operation of the combustion engine during the first time period corresponds to a cold start condition.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said oxidizing includes operating the EHC at a temperature greater than 400 degrees Celsius.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the EHC reaches a temperature of 400 degrees Celsius before the HC absorber reaches a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising releasing the trapped HC from the HC absorber to the exhaust gas during the second time period.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein said releasing occurs during or after said oxidizing.