Patent Publication Number: US-7707823-B2

Title: Exhaust purification device for internal combustion engine

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is based on a Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-210651 filed on Aug. 2, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an exhaust purification device. The exhaust purification device can be suitably used for an internal combustion engine, for example. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Generally, it is contemplated that an internal combustion engine where NOx (nitrogen oxides) is discharged due to combustion in cylinders is provided with an occlusion-reduction type NOx catalyst for occluding NOx in a lean state and reducing/releasing NOx in a rich state to purify NOx in exhaust gas. 
   Although the NOx catalyst occludes NOx when an air/fuel ratio of atmosphere of exhaust gas is lean, the NOx occlusion capacity of the NOx catalyst will become low with the NOx occlusion amount approaching the limit of the occlusion capacity. 
   Therefore, in order to reduce and remove NOx having been occluded by the NOx catalyst and restore the NOx purification capacity of the NOx catalyst, a process (rich purge control) for reducing and removing NOx having been occluded is performed. In this case, the air/fuel ratio of atmosphere of exhaust gas is set rich and a reducing agent such as HC or CO is supplied to the NOx catalyst when the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst reaches a threshold value. 
   Moreover, when the internal combustion engine has been used for the long term, sulfur in fuel is adsorbed to the NOx catalyst so that a sulfur poisoning occurs. Therefore, the purification capacity of the NOx catalyst will become significantly low. Thus, with reference to JP-2000-34946A, a technology is proposed to evaluate the deterioration of the purification capacity (catalyst deterioration evaluation) of the NOx catalyst in accordance with the performing of the rich purge control. Specifically, an oxygen concentration sensor is arranged at a downstream side of the NOx catalyst, to perform the catalyst deterioration evaluation based on the detection result of the oxygen concentration sensor when the rich purge control is performed. 
   That is, in the rich purge control, the air/fuel ratio of the downstream side of NOx catalyst is switched into rich when the reduction of NOx occluded by the NOx catalyst is finished. Therefore, the finish of the reduction of NOx is determined by detecting the air/fuel ratio via the oxygen concentration sensor. In this case, the switching timing of the air/fuel ratio via the oxygen concentration sensor becomes early when the NOx occlusion capacity becomes low, that is, when the NOx amount which can be occluded by the NOx catalyst decreases. Therefore, the deterioration degree of the purification capacity of the NOx catalyst can be estimated based on the time having elapsed until the air/fuel ratio is switched. 
   There are two methods for the rich purge control. The first method (combustion purge control) is setting the air/fuel ratio of atmosphere of exhaust gas to be rich to supply fuel which has not been combusted to the NOx catalyst as the reducing agent, by increasing the injection amount of fuel into the cylinders of the internal combustion engine to set the air/fuel ratio to be rich. The second method (exhaust addition purge control) is supplying fuel which has not been combusted to the NOx catalyst as the reducing agent, by adding fuel from a fuel supply valve (arranged at exhaust pipe) into the exhaust pipe. 
   The operation field of the engine where the combustion purge control can be used is limited to the field where the engine has a low RMP and a low load, because noise, vibration and the like in the case of switching a normal state will be caused and excessive smoke will be discharged in the combustion purge control. On the other hand, the exhaust addition purge control is useful, for example, in the case where the increase of the fuel injection amount to the internal combustion engine is not suitable. In this case, the combustion purge control and the exhaust addition purge control are selectively performed, in response to the operation state of the engine when the NOx occlusion amount (which is condition for starting rich purge control) reaches the threshold value. 
   Thus, in the case of the exhaust addition purge control, there may be an error in the result of the catalyst deterioration evaluation which is performed in accordance with the rich purge control, because only HC as the reducing agent becomes excessively dense at the NOx catalyst when fuel is directly added into the exhaust pipe through the fuel supply valve. Therefore, the catalyst deterioration evaluation is performed by only using the information of the combustion purge control. 
   However, in this case, the threshold value of the NOx occlusion amount which is the condition for starting the rich purge control is set across-the-board irrespectively of the combustion purge control/exhaust addition purge control. That is, the same threshold value is provided for the combustion purge control and the exhaust addition purge control. Therefore, it is difficult to sufficiently ensure the occasion where the combustion purge control is performed. Therefore, it is also difficult to sufficiently ensure the occasion where the catalyst deterioration evaluation is performed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the above-described disadvantages, it is an object of the present invention to provide an exhaust purification device, where a combustion purge control and an exhaust addition purge control are provided and an occasion of a catalyst deterioration evaluation is increased by an increase of an occasion of the combustion purge control. 
   According to one aspect of the present invention, an exhaust purification device for an internal combustion engine has a NOx catalyst which is arranged in an exhaust apparatus of the internal combustion engine, and a control unit for selectively performing a combustion purge control and an exhaust addition purge control in response to an operation state of the internal combustion engine. The NOx catalyst occludes NOx when an air/fuel ratio is lean, and reduces NOx having been occluded when the air/fuel ratio is rich so that the NOx is released. The combustion purge control is performed to set an amount of fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine in such a manner that the air/fuel ratio becomes rich and supply fuel for reduction to the NOx catalyst. The exhaust addition purge control is performed to add fuel for reduction into a part of the exhaust apparatus of an upstream side of exhaust gas with respect to the NOx catalyst. The control unit evaluates a deterioration degree of the NOx catalyst based on an amount of NOx which is reduced and released at the NOx catalyst by the combustion purge control. The control unit performs the combustion purge control in the case where a NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst is larger than or equal to a first threshold value, and performs the exhaust addition purge control in the case where the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst is larger than or equal to a second threshold value which is larger than the first threshold value. 
   Therefore, the occasion of the combustion purge control is increased, so that the occasion of the catalyst deterioration evaluation is increased. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, an exhaust purification method for an internal combustion engine includes a combustion purge control process for supplying fuel for reduction for a NOx catalyst arranged in an exhaust apparatus of the internal combustion engine by setting an amount of fuel supplied for the internal combustion engine in such a manner that an air/fuel ratio becomes rich, and an exhaust addition purge control process for adding fuel for reduction to a part of the exhaust apparatus of an upstream side of exhaust gas with respect to the NOx catalyst. The combustion purge control process and the exhaust addition purge control process are selectively performed in response to an operation state of the internal combustion engine. The combustion purge control process is performed in the case where a NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst is larger than or equal to a first threshold value, and the exhaust addition purge control process is performed in the case where the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst is larger than or equal to a second threshold value which is larger than the first threshold value. 
   Thus, the occasion of the combustion purge control is increased. 
   Preferably, the exhaust purification method further includes an evaluation process for evaluating a deterioration degree of the NOx catalyst based on an amount of NOx which is reduced and released at the NOx catalyst by the combustion purge control process. 
   Therefore, the occasion of the catalyst deterioration evaluation is increased. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a block view showing a construction of an internal combustion engine where an exhaust purification device is suitably used according to an exampled embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a graph showing a range A where a combustion purge control is performed and a range B where an exhaust addition purge control is performed according to the exampled embodiment; 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing a rich purge control process and a catalyst deterioration evaluation process performed by an ECU according to the exampled embodiment; 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing the rich purge control process and the catalyst deterioration evaluation process performed by the ECU according to the exampled embodiment; and 
       FIG. 5  is a time chart showing an operation example of the processes of  FIGS. 3 and 4  according to the exampled embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLED EMBODIMENT 
   Exampled Embodiment 
   An exhaust purification device according to an exampled embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 . The exhaust purification device can be suitably used for an internal combustion engine  1 , for example. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the internal combustion engine  1  (e.g., internal combustion engine of compression ignition type) has an injector  11  which is attached to the body portion of the internal combustion engine  1 . The internal combustion engine  1  is connected with a common rail (not shown) where high-pressure fuel is accumulated. The high-pressure fuel supplied from the common rail can be injected into a cylinder of the internal combustion engine  1 . 
   An intake pipe  21  of the internal combustion engine  1  is provided with an air flow meter  22  for detecting fresh air amount supplied to the internal combustion engine  1 , and an intake throttle  23  which is arranged at the downstream side of air with respect to the air flow meter  22  to adjust the fresh air amount. 
   A capture apparatus  32  for capturing (collecting) exhaust particulates in exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine  1  is arranged in an exhaust pipe  31  of the internal combustion engine  1 . A NOx catalyst  33  is provided in the exhaust pipe  31  and positioned at the downstream side of exhaust gas with respect to the capture apparatus  32 , to occlude NOx in exhaust gas when the air/fuel Ratio is lean. In this case, the NOx catalyst  33  reduces and releases NOx having been occluded when the air/fuel Ratio is rich. 
   A fuel supply valve  34 , through which fuel is injected to the exhaust pipe  31  to supply the fuel as a reducing agent for the NOx catalyst  33 , is attached to the exhaust pipe  31  and positioned at the downstream side with respect to the capture apparatus  32  and at the upstream side with respect to the NOx catalyst  33 . The fuel supply valve  34  can be constructed in such a manner that a needle of the fuel supply valve  34  for opening/closing an injection hole of the fuel supply valve  34  is driven by an electromagnetic solenoid, for example. 
   A first A/F sensor  35  for detecting the air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx catalyst  33  is arranged at the exhaust pipe  31  and positioned at the downstream side with respect to the fuel supply valve  34  and at the upstream side with respect to the NOx catalyst  33 . A second A/F sensor  36  for detecting the air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gas having passed through the NOx catalyst  33  is arranged at the exhaust pipe  31  and positioned at the downstream side with respect to the NOx catalyst  33 . 
   The outputs of the sensors  35  and  36  are provided for a control unit  4  (e.g., ECU) which can be constructed of a microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an EEPROM (not shown) to process a predetermined calculation based on signals from the sensors  35  and  36  or the like. Thus, operations of the components of the internal combustion engine  1  can be controlled by the ECU  4 . 
   Specifically, the ECU  4  can calculate a command injection amount based on the load and revolution (e.g., RPM) of the internal combustion engine  1 . Moreover, the ECU  4  calculates an injection amount command value corresponding to the injector driving time, based on the command injection amount, and outputs a signal of the injection amount command value to the internal combustion engine  1 . Furthermore, the 4 controls the intake throttle  23  and  34  and the like based on the calculation result. 
   Next, a rich purge control process and a catalyst deterioration evaluation process executed by the ECU  4  will be described. 
     FIG. 2  is graph showing a range A (combustion purge range) where a combustion purge control is performed and a range B (exhaust addition purge range) where an exhaust addition purge control is performed. The graph can be memorized in the ROM of the ECU  4 , for example. In  FIG. 2 , the longitudinal axis represents the load of the internal combustion engine  1 , and the lateral axis represents the revolution of the internal combustion engine  1 . The combustion purge range A where the load and revolution are low is indicated by a range filled with oblique line. The exhaust addition purge range B where the load and revolution are intermediate is indicated by a range filled with dot. In this case, the rich purge control is prohibited in a range where the load and revolution are high. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  are flow charts showing the rich purge process and the catalyst deterioration evaluation process performed by the ECU  4 .  FIG. 5  is a time chart showing operations of the processes of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In  FIG. 5 , ranges A 1 -A 4  correspond to the combustion purge range A, and ranges B 1 -B 4  correspond to the exhaust addition purge range B. 
   The processes shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  can be started when power is supplied to the ECU  4  (e.g., when the internal combustion engine  1  is actuated by operation of a key switch), and be ended when the power supply for the ECU  4  is ceased (e.g., when internal combustion engine  1  is stopped by operation of key switch). 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , at first, at step S 101 , it is determined whether or not the operation state of the internal combustion engine  1  is in the range (purge prohibition range) where the rich purge control is prohibited. Specifically, the determining is performed with reference to the map shown in  FIG. 2  memorized in the ROM of the ECU  4 , based on the load and revolution of the internal combustion engine  1 . Thus, when it is determined that the operation state of the internal combustion engine  1  is in the range where the rich purge control is prohibited (that is, determining result of step S 101  is “YES”), the process shown in  FIG. 3  will be repeated from step S 101 . 
   When it is determined that the operation state of the internal combustion engine  1  is in the range where the rich purge control is not prohibited (that is, determining result of step S 101  is “NO”), step S 102  will be performed. In the case where the predetermined condition is satisfied, the rich purge control will performed. 
   At Step S 102 , it is determined whether or not the operation state of the internal combustion engine  1  is in the combustion purge range A. Specifically, the determining is performed with reference to the map shown in  FIG. 2 , based on the load and revolution of the internal combustion engine  1 . Thus, when it is determined that the operation state of the internal combustion engine  1  is not in the combustion purge range A (i.e., determining result of step S 102  is “NO”), that is, when the operation state of the internal combustion engine  1  is in the exhaust addition purge range B, step S 103  will be performed. 
   At step S 103 , an initial purge threshold value Qnox 1  which is the condition for starting the exhaust addition purge control is set, with reference to  FIG. 5 . Then, at step S 104 , it is determined whether or not the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  is larger than or equal to the initial purge threshold value Qnox 1 . 
   When the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  is larger than or equal to the initial purge threshold value Qnox 1  (that is, determining result of step S 104  is “YES”), step S 105  will be performed. 
   At step S 105 , it is determined whether or not the temperature of the NOx catalyst  33  detected by a temperature sensor (not shown) is in a temperature range (e.g., substantially from 200° C. to 450° C.) where the reduction of NOx is capable. When it is determined that the temperature of the NOx catalyst  33  is in the temperature range (that is, determining result of step S 105  is “YES”), step S 106  will be performed to perform the exhaust addition purge control process (referring to range B 1  in  FIG. 5 ). 
   At step S 104 , the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  can be calculated based on the concentration of NOx, the flow amount of exhaust gas, and the purification rate of the NOx catalyst  33 . Alternatively, the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  can be also estimated based on the operation period of the internal combustion engine  1  from the finish of the preceding rich purge control to the current time. 
   At step S 106 , the air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing to the NOx catalyst  33  is set rich, by opening the fuel supply valve  34  and injecting the fuel into the exhaust pipe  31 . Thus, NOx having been occluded by the NOx catalyst  33  is reduced and removed. 
   In the case of the exhaust addition purge control, because whether or not the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  has become zero is unknown, the process shown in  FIG. 3  will be repeated from step S 101  after step S 106  is finished. 
   Moreover, in the case where the process condition of the exhaust addition purge control is not satisfied (that is, in the case where determining result of step S 104  or step S 105  is “NO”), the process shown in  FIG. 3  will be also repeated from step S 101 . 
   On the other hand, in the case where the determining result of step S 102  is “YES”, that is, in the case where the operation state of the internal combustion engine  1  is in the combustion purge range A, step S 107  will be performed. At step S 107 , it is determined whether or not the temperature of the NOx catalyst  33  is in the temperature rang where the reduction of NOx is capable. 
   In the case where it is determined that the temperature of the NOx catalyst  33  is in the temperature rang where the reduction of NOx is capable (that is, determining result of step S 107  is “YES”), step S 108  will be performed. 
   At step S 108 , it is determined whether or not the internal combustion engine  1  is in a steady operation state. In the case where it is determined that the internal combustion engine  1  is in the steady operation state (that is, determining result of step S 108  is “YES”), step S 109  will be performed to execute the combustion purge control (with reference to range A 1  shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
   At step S 108 , in the case where the state that the load and revolution of the internal combustion engine  1  keep constant continues for a period which is larger than or equal to a predetermined value (for example, which is larger than 1 sec and smaller than 2 secs), it is determined that the internal combustion engine  1  is in the steady operation state. 
   Specifically, at step S 109 , the air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing to the NOx catalyst  33  is set rich by increasing the injection amount of fuel into the cylinder of the internal combustion engine  1 , so that NOx having been occluded by the NOx catalyst  33  is reduced and removed. That is, the combustion purge control at step S 109  is performed irrespectively of the occlusion amount of NOx of the NOx catalyst  33 . 
   Thereafter, at step S 110 , it is determined whether or not the combustion purge control has been performed until the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  becomes about zero. Specifically, the air/fuel ratio at the downstream side of the NOx catalyst  33  will be switched into rich, when the reduction of occluded NOx is finished in the combustion purge control process. Therefore, it is determined that the combustion purge control has been performed until the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  becomes about zero, in the case where the combustion purge control has been performed until the air/fuel ration detected by the second A/F sensor  36  becomes a value of the rich side. 
   Thus, in the case where the combustion purge control has been performed until the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  becomes about zero (i.e., determining result of step S 110  is “YES”), that is, in the case where once the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  is reset to be substantially equal to zero, the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  after the resetting can be estimated so that the catalyst deterioration evaluation process can be performed. 
   Thus, in the case where the determining result of step S 110  is “YES”, step  111  shown in  FIG. 4  will be performed. Then, the catalyst deterioration evaluation will be performed in the case where the predetermined conditions are satisfied. 
   On the other hand, in the case where the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  is not reset to be substantially equal to zero (that is, determining result of step S 110  is “NO”), it is difficult to estimate the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  so that the catalyst deterioration evaluation cannot be performed with a satisfied accuracy. Therefore, the process shown in  FIG. 3  will be repeated from step S 101 . Moreover, in the case where the process condition of the combustion purge control is not satisfied, that is, in the case where the determining result of step S 107  or step S 108  is “NO”, the process shown in  FIG. 3  will be also repeated from step S 101 . 
   Next, the process after it is determined that the combustion purge control has been performed until the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  becomes about zero (i.e., determining result of step S 110  is “YES”) will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
   At first, at step S 111 , a combustion purge threshold value Gnox 2  (first threshold value) for a start of the combustion purge control is set, and an exhaust addition purge threshold value Gnox 3  (second threshold value) for a start of the exhaust addition purge control is set (with reference to  FIG. 5 ). In this case, the three threshold values are set to be Gnox 1 &lt;Gnox 2 &lt;Gnox 3 . 
   Then, step S 112  will be performed. At step S 112 , it is determined whether or not the operation state of the internal combustion engine  1  is in the range where the rich purge control is prohibited. In the case where it is determined that the operation state of the internal combustion engine  1  is in the range where the rich purge control is prohibited (that is, determining result of step S 112  is “YES”), step S 112  will be repeated. 
   On the other hand, in the case where it is determined that the operation state of the internal combustion engine  1  is not in the range where the rich purge control is prohibited (that is, determining result of step S 112  is “NO”), step S 113  will be repeated. The rich purge control will be performed in the case where the predetermined conditions are satisfied. 
   At step S 113 , it is determined whether or not the operation state of the internal combustion engine  1  is in the combustion purge range A. In the case where it is determined that the operation state of the internal combustion engine  1  is in the combustion purge range A (that is, determining result of step S 113  is “YES”), step S 114  will be performed. 
   At step S 114 , it is determined whether or not the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  is larger than or equal to the combustion purge threshold value Qnox 2 . In the case where the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  is larger than or equal to the combustion threshold value Qnox 2  (that is, determining result of step S 114  is “YES”), it is further determined at step S 115  whether or not the temperature of the NOx catalyst  33  is in the predetermined range where the reduction of NOx is capable. 
   In the case where the temperature of the NOx catalyst  33  is in the predetermined range where the reduction of NOx is capable (that is, determining result of step S 115  is “YES”), it is further determined at step S 116  whether or not the internal combustion engine  1  is the steady operation state. 
   In the case where it is determined that the internal combustion engine  1  is the steady operation state (that is, determining result of step S 116  is “YES”), S 117  will be performed so that the combustion purge control will be performed (referring to range A 2  and A 3  shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
   On the other hand, when the determining result of step S 114 , or S 115  or S 116  is “NO” (that is, processing condition of combustion purge control are not satisfied), the process shown in  FIG. 4  will be repeated from step S 112 . 
   After step S 117 , step S 118  will be performed to determine whether or not the combustion purge control has been performed until the occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  becomes about zero. 
   In the case where it is determined that the combustion purge control has been performed until the occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  becomes about zero (that is, determining result of step S 118  is “YES”), the catalyst deterioration evaluation will be performed at step S 119 . 
   In this case, the catalyst deterioration evaluation is performed to determine the deterioration degree of the catalyst, by comparing an expected reduction amount of NOx (for example, which can be calculated based on property of catalyst before deterioration) with the reduction amount of NOx which has been practically reduced via the combustion purge control. 
   After the catalyst deterioration evaluation at step S 119  is finished, the process shown in  FIG. 4  will be repeated from step S 112 . In the case where it is determined at step S 118  that the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  is not reset to be about zero (that is, determining result of step S 118  is “NO”), the process will be repeated from step S 101  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   On the other hand, in the case where it is determined at step S 113  that the operation state of the internal combustion engine  1  is not in the combustion purge range A, that is, that the operation state of the internal combustion engine  1  is in the exhaust addition purge range B, step S 120  will be performed. 
   At step S 120 , it is determined whether or not the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  is larger than or equal to the exhaust addition purge threshold value Qnox 3 . In the case where the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  is larger than or equal to the exhaust addition purge threshold value Qnox 3  (that is, determining result of step S 120  is “YES”), step S 121  will be performed. 
   At step S 121 , it is determined whether or not the temperature of the NOx catalyst  33  is in the predetermined range where the reduction of NOx is capable. In the case where the temperature of the NOx catalyst  33  is in the predetermined range (that is, determining result of step S 121  is “YES”), the exhaust addition purge control will be performed at step S 122  (referring to range B 4  shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
   In this case, because whether or not the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  has been reset to be substantially equal to zero is unknown, the process will be repeated from step S 101  shown in  FIG. 3  after step S 122  is finished. Moreover, in the case where the processing condition of the exhaust addition purge control is not satisfied (that is, determining result of step S 120  and S 121  is “NO”), the process shown in  FIG. 4  will be repeated from step S 112 . 
   According to this embodiment, because the combustion purge threshold value Qnox 2  is set smaller than the exhaust addition purge threshold value Qnox 3 , the occasion of the combustion purge control is increased. Therefore, the occasion of the catalyst deterioration evaluation is increased. 
   Moreover, in at least one of following two cases, the combustion purge control is performed (step S 109 ) irrespectively of the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33 , when the internal combustion engine  1  is in the predetermined operation state where the combustion purge control is selected (that is, determining result of step S 102  is “YES”). The first case is that the combustion purge control is ceased before the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  becomes zero, immediately after the startup of the internal combustion engine  1  (that is, in the case where the determining result of step S 110  or S 118  is “NO”). The second case is immediately after the finish of the exhaust addition purge control (step S 106  and step S 122 ). 
   Therefore, the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst  33  can be reset to be about zero at an early occasion, so that the catalyst deterioration evaluation can be performed earlier with an improved accuracy.