Patent ID: 6286993
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: B01D,F01N,F02D,G01K,Y02T

Abstract:
A method for forming a signal representing an instantaneous temperature of a catalytic converter in a device having an internal combustion engine, the engine being controllable using an electronic engine control unit as a function of at least a load and an engine speed, the engine being capable of being cooled by a radiator having a coolant circulation path, the engine being capable of being supplied with air via an intake port, the engine being capable of having exhaust gases carried away via an exhaust duct, a catalytic converter being disposed in the exhaust duct, the method comprising:detecting a coolant temperature, an outside air temperature, the load and the engine speed using associated sensors;supplying corresponding signals from the sensors to an electronic control device;determining, using the electronic control device, an exhaust-gas flow rate and an exhaust-gas temperature over time by calculation based on the load and the engine speed, or from at least one first characteristics map stored in a first memory of the electronic control device; anddetermining, using the electronic control device, the instantaneous temperature of the catalytic converter by calculation based on a catalytic converter starting temperature value stored in the electronic control device, the detected engine speed, the determined exhaust-gas temperature and at least one of the detected coolant temperature, the detected outside air temperature, the detected load, and the determined exhaust-gas flow rate, or from at least one second characteristics map stored in a second memory of the electronic control device.