Method for operating an internal combustion engine and apparatus for the implementation of the method

An apparatus for operating an internal combustion engine, comprising at least one customized control unit to implement a method of operating an internal combustion engine having a particle filter arranged in an exhaust gas zone, wherein the particle filter is cyclically loaded with particles and thermally regenerated, the method comprising:

• turning the internal combustion engine off so that the internal combustion engine stops;
• performing a test to determine if an exothermal reaction is taking place in the particle filter, wherein the test comprises determining whether at least one measurement of a temperature in the particle filter upstream or downstream exceeds a temperature threshold value;
• closing a butterfly valve upon a determination that an exothermal reaction is taking place, wherein the closed butterfly valve prevents an exhaust gas flow through the particle filter;
• first determining if a measurement of a temperature in the exhaust gas zone undershoots a second temperature threshold value;
• when the measurement undershoots the second temperature threshold value, reopening the butterfly valve;
• second, if the butterfly valve is closed, determining if a time duration has elapsed after the closing of the butterfly valve;
• and when the time duration has elapsed, reopening the butterfly valve.

A control unit program product with a program code stored on a non-transitory machine-readable carrier to implement, if executed on a control unit, all the steps of a method of operating an internal combustion engine having a particle filter arranged in an exhaust gas zone, wherein the particle filter is cyclically loaded with particles and thermally regenerated, the method comprising:

• turning the internal combustion engine off so that the internal combustion engine stops;
• performing a test to determine if an exothermal reaction is taking place in the particle filter, wherein the test comprises determining whether at least one measurement of a temperature in the particle filter upstream or downstream exceeds a temperature threshold value;
• closing a butterfly valve upon a determination that an exothermal reaction is taking place, wherein the closed butterfly valve prevents an exhaust gas flow through the particle filter;
• first determining if a measurement of a temperature in the exhaust gas zone undershoots a second temperature threshold value;
• when the measurement undershoots the second temperature threshold value, reopening the butterfly valve;
• second, if the butterfly valve is closed, determining if a time duration has elapsed after the closing of the butterfly valve;
• and when the time duration has elapsed, reopening the butterfly valve.

A control unit program product with a program code stored on a non-transitory machine-readable carrier to implement, if the program is executed in a control unit, a method of operating an internal combustion engine having a particle filter arranged in an exhaust gas zone, wherein the particle filter is cyclically loaded with particles and thermally regenerated, the method comprising:

• turning the internal combustion engine off so that the internal combustion engine stops;
• performing a test to determine if an exothermal reaction is taking place in the particle filter, wherein the test comprises determining whether at least one measurement of a temperature in the particle filter upstream or downstream exceeds a temperature threshold value;
• and closing a butterfly valve upon a determination that an exothermal reaction is taking place, wherein the closed butterfly valve prevents an exhaust gas flow through the particle filter;
• first determining if a measurement of a temperature in the exhaust gas zone undershoots a second temperature threshold value;
• when the measurement undershoots the second temperature threshold value, reopening the butterfly valve;
• second, if the butterfly valve is closed, determining if a time duration has elapsed after the closing of the butterfly valve;
• and when the time duration has elapsed, reopening the butterfly valve.