Regulation of a diesel exhaust after-treatment system

A system for regulating an exhaust after-treatment (AT) system having a diesel particulate filter (DPF) in fluid communication with a diesel engine, the system comprising:

• an exhaust system providing fluid communication between the diesel engine and the DPF;
• a particulate matter (PM) sensor positioned downstream of the DPF and configured to detect a flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF and communicate a signal indicative of the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF;
• a device configured to inject diesel fuel into the exhaust system;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• detect operation of the diesel engine during which the engine generates a flow rate of particulate matter directed via the exhaust system into the DPF;
• receive from the PM sensor the signal indicative of the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF in response to the flow rate of particulate matter directed into the DPF;
• track the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF alongside a predicted particulate matter flow rate;
• pause in time tracking of the predicted particulate matter flow rate, when the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF has experienced a decline;
• resume tracking the predicted particulate matter flow rate when the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF returns to a value before the decline;
• and
• regulate operation of the AT system using the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF when the detected flow rate returns to the value before the decline.

A vehicle comprising:

• a diesel engine configured to propel the vehicle;
• an after-treatment (AT) system having a diesel particulate filter (DPF);
• an exhaust system providing fluid communication between the diesel engine and the DPF;
• a particulate matter (PM) sensor positioned downstream of the DPF and configured to detect a flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF and communicate a signal indicative of the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF;
• a device configured to inject diesel fuel into the exhaust system;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• detect operation of the diesel engine during which the engine generates a flow rate of particulate matter directed via the exhaust system into the DPF;
• receive from the PM sensor the signal indicative of the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF in response to the flow rate of particulate matter directed into the DPF;
• track the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF alongside a predicted particulate matter flow rate;
• pause in time tracking of the predicted particulate matter flow rate, when the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF has experienced a decline;
• resume tracking the predicted particulate matter flow rate when the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF returns to a value before the decline;
• and regulate operation of the AT system using the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF when the detected flow rate returns to the value before the decline.