Machine, exhaust particulate filter system, and method

A method of operating an exhaust particulate filter system for an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of:

• receiving inputs from a sensing mechanism indicative of moisture within the exhaust particulate filter system;
• outputting a moisture compensation signal responsive to the inputs;
• and
• commanding regeneration of the exhaust particulate filter system responsive to the moisture compensation signal;
• wherein the step of outputting further includes outputting a moisture compensation signal which encodes an offset;
• wherein the step of commanding further includes commanding regeneration at a time based on a filter soot loading state which is determined based on the offset;
• wherein the step of commanding further includes commanding regeneration if the moisture compensation signal satisfies condensation removal criteria;
• wherein the step of receiving further includes receiving inputs from the sensing mechanism for a first time period prior to switching the internal combustion off under first ambient conditions, and receiving inputs from the sensing mechanism for a second time period after switching the internal combustion engine on under second ambient conditions;
• wherein the step of receiving further includes receiving inputs from a sensing mechanism having an RF transmitter, an RF receiver and a temperature sensor;
• wherein the step of receiving further includes receiving inputs indicative of an attenuation of RF signals transmitted through the exhaust particulate filter in the first time period and an attenuation of RF signals transmitted through the exhaust particulate filter in the second time period, and the method further including a step of determining a mean value for the RF signals in the first time period and a second mean value for the RF signals in the second time period;
• the method further comprising a step of comparing the mean values, and outputting the moisture compensation signal responsive to a difference between the mean values.

A machine comprising:

• a frame;
• ground engaging propulsion elements coupled with the frame;
• and
• an engine system coupled with the frame and including an internal combustion engine, an exhaust particulate filter fluidly connected with the internal combustion engine, and a control system for the exhaust particulate filter having a sensing mechanism and a data processor;
• the data processor being configured to receive inputs from the sensing mechanism indicative of moisture within the exhaust particulate filter, and further configured to output a moisture compensation signal for controlling regeneration of the exhaust particulate filter, responsive to the inputs;
• wherein the sensing mechanism includes a soot sensor;
• the machine further comprising a computer readable memory, wherein the data processor is configured to store filter soot loading data received from the sensing mechanism on the computer readable memory, and further configured to compare stored filter soot loading data for a first time period prior to switching the engine system off with filter soot loading data for a second time period after switching the engine system on, and responsively output the moisture compensation signal.