Patent ID: 8011177
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: F01N,F02B,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method for regenerating a particulate filter for an exhaust system configured to receive an exhaust flow, the method comprising: injecting a source of hydrocarbon into the exhaust flow upstream of the filter; causing the injected hydrocarbon within the filter to oxidize and a temperature within the filter to rise, the temperature rise being initiated at a downstream end of the filter by virtue of the direction of exhaust flow; sensing a temperature change at the filter in response to the oxidation of the hydrocarbon; adjusting the amount of hydrocarbon being injected into the filter to increase the temperature within the filter above a defined threshold from the downstream end to an upstream end of the filter, the defined threshold temperature being sufficient to oxidize soot, the elevated temperature above the defined threshold temperature thereby serving to regenerate the filter; adjusting the amount of injected hydrocarbon to cause a temperature rise at the upstream end of the filter to be substantially equal to or greater than a temperature rise at the downstream end of the filter as the internal filter temperature rises above the threshold temperature; sensing an operational parameter indicative of the filter regeneration being complete; and preventing further injection of the hydrocarbon into the exhaust flow in response to the sensed operational parameter.