Method and internal combustion engine arrangement for regenerating an exhaust after-treatment device

A process for regenerating an exhaust gas after-treatment device adapted to be fitted in an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine arrangement, the exhaust gas after-treatment device including a particle filter, comprising:

• determining an initial soot loading in the particle filter,
• performing a particle filter regeneration when the initial soot loading is above a predetermined level, wherein the particle filter regeneration comprises:
• when the initial soot loading is above the predetermined level and further above
• a safe high temperature regeneration level,
• setting and maintaining temperature at the particle filter within a first temperature range during a first period of time until at least one of a predetermined period of time has lapsed, and
• a determination has been made that soot loading of the particle filter is below the safe high temperature regeneration level, and
• following the first period of time, increasing the temperature at the particle filter to be within a second temperature range above the first temperature range, and
• when the initial soot loading is above the predetermined level but below the safe high temperature regeneration level,
• increasing the temperature at the particle filter to be within the second temperature range above the first temperature range without first setting the temperature of exhaust gases within the first temperature range and without maintaining the temperature of the exhaust gases at the first temperature range for the first period of time.

A process for regenerating an exhaust gas after-treatment device adapted to be fitted in an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine arrangement, the exhaust gas after-treatment device including a particle filter, comprising:

• determining an initial soot loading in the particle filter,
• performing a particle filter regeneration when the initial soot loading is above an initial predetermined level, wherein the particle filter regeneration comprises:
• when the initial soot loading is above the initial predetermined level and further is above a first predetermined level
• maintaining temperature of exhaust gases at the particle filter within a first temperature range during a first period of time that is at least one of a predetermined period of time and a time sufficient to reduce soot loading of the particle filter to below the first predetermined level and, after the first period of time, increasing the temperature of the exhaust gases at the particle filter to within a second temperature range above the first temperature range,
• wherein, following the first period of time, increasing the temperature at the particle filter to be within a second temperature range above the first temperature range comprises controlling a rate of increase of the temperature of the exhaust gases at the particle filter from the first temperature range to the second temperature range, and
• when the initial soot loading is above the initial predetermined level but below the first predetermined level, increasing the temperature at the particle filter to be within the second temperature range above the first temperature range without first maintaining the temperature of the exhaust gases at the particle filter within the first temperature range for the first period of time.

A process for regenerating an exhaust gas after-treatment device adapted to be fitted in an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine arrangement, wherein the exhaust gas after-treatment device comprises a particle filter, the process comprising:

• determining an initial soot loading in the particle filter,
• performing a particle filter regeneration when the initial soot loading is above an initial predetermined level, wherein the particle filter regeneration comprises:
• when the initial soot loading is above the initial predetermined level and further above
• a safe high temperature regeneration level,
• a) setting a temperature of exhaust gases at the particle filter within a first temperature range comprised between 420 and 550 degrees Celsius,
• b) maintaining the temperature of exhaust gases at the particle filter at the first temperature range during a first period of time,
• c) after the first period of time, further increasing the temperature at the particle filter to a second temperature range which is over 550 degrees Celsius,
• wherein, during at least a sub-step of step c), the temperature at the particle filter is increased at a controlled rate of temperature increase over time which is controlled as a function of a soot loading determination of the particle filter, wherein the soot loading of the particle filter is an estimated soot loading, and wherein the soot loading is estimated using an engine out soot emission model that estimates the soot emitted by engine as a function of engine operating parameters and using a soot regeneration model that estimates soot oxidation in the particle filter based on operating conditions at the particle filter, and
• when the initial soot loading is above the predetermined level but below the safe high temperature regeneration level,
• increasing the temperature at the particle filter to the second temperature range without first setting the temperature of exhaust gases within the first temperature range and without maintaining the temperature of the exhaust gases at the first temperature range for the first period of time.

A process for regenerating an exhaust gas after-treatment device adapted to be fitted in an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine arrangement, wherein the exhaust gas after-treatment device comprises a particle filter, the process comprising the steps of:

• determining an initial soot loading in the particle filter,
• performing a particle filter regeneration when the initial soot loading is above an initial predetermined level, wherein the particle filter regeneration comprises:
• when the initial soot loading is above the initial predetermined level and further above a safe high temperature regeneration level,
• after detecting the low temperature regeneration trigger
• a) setting a temperature of exhaust gases at the particle filter within a first temperature range comprised between 420 and 550 degrees Celsius;
• b) maintaining the temperature of the exhaust gases at the particle filter at the first temperature range during a first period of time,
• c) after the first period of time, further increasing the temperature at the particle filter to a second temperature range which is over 550° degrees Celsius,
• wherein, during step c), the temperature at the particle filter is increased in at least two sub-steps,
• in a first sub-step c1) at a first rate of temperature increase over time,
• a second sub-step c2) at a second rate of temperature increase over time,
• where the second rate is lower than the first rate, and
• when the initial soot loading is above the predetermined level but below the safe high temperature regeneration level,
• increasing the temperature at the particle filter to the second temperature range without first setting the temperature of exhaust gases within the first temperature range and without maintaining the temperature of the exhaust gases at the first temperature range for the first period of time.