Patent ID: 8146346
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: B01D,F01N,F02D,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A NOx trapping catalytic converter diagnostic apparatus comprising: a particulate matter accumulation estimating component configured to estimate an estimated amount of particulate matter accumulated in a particulate matter filter that is positioned downstream of a NOx trapping catalytic converter based on at least the particulate matter flowing into the particulate matter filter; a particulate matter accumulation detecting component configured to detect a detected amount of particulate matter accumulated in the particulate matter filter; and a deterioration determining component configured to determine if deterioration of the NOx trapping catalytic converter has occurred based on the estimated amount of accumulated particulate matter and the detected amount of accumulated particulate matter, the particulate matter accumulation estimating component being further configured to estimate the estimated amount of particulate matter that flows into and accumulates in the particulate matter filter during a prescribed amount of time based on an engine operating condition, the estimated amount of particulate matter corresponding to an increased amount of particulate matter increased in the particulate matter filter during the prescribed amount of time, and the particulate matter accumulation detecting component being further configured to detect the detected amount of particulate matter that flows into and accumulates in the particulate matter filter during the prescribed amount of time based on a detected pressure difference across the particulate matter filter, the detected amount of particulate matter corresponding to an increased amount of particulate matter increased in the particulate matter filter during the prescribed amount of time.