Patent ID: 11927125
Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
Field: Environmental technology (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC F  Y | IPC F

Claim 9:
10. A prediction method of predicting time for a reducing agent accommodated in a container mounted on a work vehicle to be heated and thawed by a heating unit installed in the container, the method comprising:
a step of providing the container having a heater tube therein for circulating engine coolant to heat the reducing agent in the container;
a step of acquiring remaining amount information indicating a remaining amount of the reducing agent accommodated in the container;
a step of acquiring a wall surface temperature detection value that is a detection result of a wall surface temperature of the container;
a step of acquiring a reducing agent temperature detection value that is a detection result of a temperature of the reducing agent; and
a step of calculating the time for the reducing agent to be thawed based on the wall surface temperature detection value, the reducing agent temperature detection value, and the remaining amount information,
wherein the time calculating step calculates the freezing prediction time during which the reducing agent drops to a freezing point temperature and is maintained in a solid-liquid coexistence region of a temperature drop curve diagram of the reducing agent,
whereby when freezing of the reducing agent in the container is detected, then circulation of the engine coolant in the heater tube is started.