Patent ID: 7930922

Claim:
A soot generation amount estimation apparatus for an internal combustion engine including soot generation amount estimation means for estimating the amount of soot generated in a combustion chamber of the engine as a result of a reaction of fuel, the soot generation amount estimation means comprising: soot generation speed calculation means for calculating a generation speed of the soot by use of a reaction model regarding a reaction process in which the soot is generated from the fuel; and precursor generation speed calculation means for calculating a speed at which a precursor is generated from the fuel, the precursor generation speed calculation means including: precursor formation speed calculation means for calculating a speed at which the precursor is formed from the fuel, precursor decomposition speed calculation means for calculating a speed at which the formed precursor is thermally decomposed; and soot formation speed calculation means for calculating a speed at which the soot is formed from the precursor, wherein the precursor generation speed is calculated on the basis of the calculated precursor formation speed, precursor decomposition speed, and soot formation speed, wherein the soot generation speed calculation means calculates the soot generation speed on the basis of the calculated precursor generation speed. wherein the soot generation amount is estimated on the basis of the calculated soot generation speed, and wherein a model regarding a reaction process in which the soot is generated from the fuel via the precursor of the soot is used as the reaction model.