Patent ID: 7836685
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: F02D,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A regeneration controller for eliminating particulate matter accumulated in an exhaust purification apparatus in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, in which exhaust having an air-fuel ratio passes through the exhaust system during engine operation, wherein the exhaust apparatus includes catalyst, the regeneration controller comprising: a heating section for heating the exhaust purification apparatus and eliminating the particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust purification apparatus when an estimated accumulation amount is greater than a reference accumulation amount, the heating section obtaining the estimated accumulation amount by estimating the amount of particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust purification apparatus; a temperature detector for detecting temperature of the exhaust purification apparatus; a control section for repeatedly changing the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust between a rich state and a lean state to perform burn-up heating of the exhaust purification apparatus for burning the particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust purification apparatus and for continuously lowering the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust to perform normal heating of the exhaust purification apparatus, wherein the control section performs burn-up heating when the estimated accumulation amount is less than or equal to a burn-up start determination value and performs normal heating when the estimated accumulation amount is greater than the reference accumulation amount and the burn-up start determination value, and wherein the control section switches the heating of the exhaust purification apparatus from the normal heating to the burn-up heating when the estimated accumulation amount obtained in a period in which heating of the exhaust purification apparatus is being performed becomes less than or equal to the burn-up start determination value; and a prohibition section for prohibiting burn-up heating when the temperature detected by the temperature detector decreases to a catalyst inactivation level.