Compressor for exhaust treatment system
AssigneeTenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
InventorKeith G. Olivier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exhaust aftertreatment system for an engine is provided that includes a burner, an air supply system and a control module. The air supply system may be in fluid communication with the burner and may include an air compressor disposed upstream from the burner. The air compressor may include a pump mechanism, a clutch assembly selectively transferring torque from the engine to the pump mechanism, and a motor selectively driving the pump mechanism. The control module may be in communication with the clutch assembly and the motor. The control module may selectively switch the air compressor between a first operating mode in which the clutch assembly transfers torque from the engine to the pump mechanism and a second operating mode in which the motor drives the pump mechanism.
Claims35
An exhaust aftertreatment system comprising:
- an exhaust passage receiving exhaust gas from an engine;
- an exhaust aftertreatment device disposed in the exhaust passage;
- a burner in a heat transfer relationship with the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust passage upstream of the exhaust aftertreatment device;
- an air supply system in fluid communication with the burner and including an air compressor disposed upstream from the burner, the air compressor including a pump mechanism, a clutch assembly selectively transferring torque from the engine to the pump mechanism, and a motor selectively driving the pump mechanism;
- and
- an electronic circuit in communication with the clutch assembly and the motor, the electronic circuit selectively switching the air compressor between a first operating mode in which the clutch assembly transfers torque from the engine to the pump mechanism and a second operating mode in which the motor drives the pump mechanism based on a comparison of a power demand of the air compressor and a predetermined capacity threshold of the motor.
An exhaust aftertreatment system comprising:
- an exhaust passage receiving exhaust gas from an engine;
- an exhaust aftertreatment device disposed in the exhaust passage;
- a burner in a heat transfer relationship with the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust passage upstream of the exhaust aftertreatment device;
- an air supply system in fluid communication with the burner and including an air compressor disposed upstream from the burner, the air compressor including a pump mechanism, a clutch assembly selectively transferring torque from the engine to the pump mechanism, and a motor selectively driving the pump mechanism;
- and
- an electronic circuit in communication with the clutch assembly and the motor, the electronic circuit selectively switching the air compressor between a first operating mode in which the clutch assembly transfers torque from the engine to the pump mechanism and a second operating mode in which the motor drives the pump mechanism based on a demand for airflow into the burner, wherein the electronic circuit switches the air compressor between the first and second operating modes based on a comparison of a power demand of the air compressor and a threshold capacity of the motor.
A method of controlling an air compressor for an exhaust aftertreatment system comprising:
- determining a level of demand for airflow to a burner of the exhaust aftertreatment system;
- determining a level of power needed to power the air compressor to meet the level of demand;
- determining whether the level of power is above a power threshold of a motor of the air compressor;
- and
- switching the air compressor between a motor-driven operating mode and an engine-driven operating mode based on whether the level of power is above the power threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.