Patent ID: 8725386

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of modeling the operation of an EGR cooler installed in an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) loop, comprising: storing, in memory of a computer, temperature data representing the following three temperature measurements during an operation history of the cooler: temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the cooler (gas temperature in), temperature of the exhaust gas at the outlet of the cooler (gas temperature out), and temperature of the coolant (coolant temperature in); wherein the operation history of the cooler includes at least one shut-down period; using a processor of the computer to access the temperature data and to perform the following tasks: for a succession of measurement times during the operation history: subtracting the gas temperature out from the gas temperature in, thereby calculating an effectiveness numerator; subtracting the coolant temperature in from the gas temperature in, thereby calculating an effectiveness denominator; and dividing the numerator by the denominator, thereby calculating an effectiveness value for each measurement time; storing, in memory of the computer, the effectiveness values for the measurement times; and displaying, using a display in data communication with the computer, a graphical representation of the effectiveness values as a function of the measurement times, thereby displaying a graphical representation of the operation of the EGR cooler over time.