Patent ID: 6862880
Filing Date: 2005-03-08
Classification: F01N,F02D,Y02A,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a catalytic converter arranged in a location where the catalytic converter is exposable to an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising: controlling a composition of the exhaust gas in front of the catalytic converter by adding a reducing agent that promotes a regeneration of the catalytic converter; measuring the composition of the exhaust gas via an exhaust-gas sensor arranged downstream from the catalytic converter, detecting a change in the composition of the exhaust gas after the catalytic converter; and evaluating a time lag between a start of the controlling of the composition of the exhaust gas and the detecting of the change in the composition of the exhaust gas by evaluating a gradient of an output signal of the exhaust-gas sensor; wherein the catalytic converter includes at least one of a first catalyst capable of storing a nitrogen oxide and a second catalyst capable of storing oxygen, the at least one of the first catalyst and the second catalyst being judged to be regenerated when the gradient of the output signal of the exhaust-gas sensor initially exceeds a first limiting value and then falls below a second limiting value.