Radio frequency system and method for monitoring engine-out exhaust constituents
Inventors
Sappok, Alexander G. • Ragaller, Paul A. • Bromberg, Leslie • Herman, Andrew D.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10260400-B2
Publication Date
2019-04-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A radio frequency system and method for monitoring an engine-out exhaust emission constituent. The system comprises a housing containing the emission constituent, one or more radio frequency sensors extending into the housing and transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals, and a control unit for controlling the radio frequency signals and monitoring changes in the emission constituent based on changes in one or more parameters of the radio frequency signals. In one embodiment, the control unit measures a rate of change in one or more of the parameters of the radio frequency signals for monitoring a rate of change of the emission constituent including for example the emission rate, accumulation rate, and/or depletion rate of the emission constituent.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a radio frequency (RF) system and method for monitoring an engine-out exhaust emission constituent using a housing that contains the emission constituent. One or more radio frequency sensors extend into the housing and transmit and receive radio frequency signals spanning a radio frequency range, while a control unit controls the radio frequency signals and monitors emission constituent changes based on changes in one or more parameters of the radio frequency signals.
The method monitors changes in the emission constituent by monitoring changes in one or more parameters of the radio frequency signals, where the parameters include magnitude, amplitude, phase, and resonant frequency shift. The method further decreases measurement response time by sampling one or more of the parameters in one or more predefined narrow radio frequency signal ranges.
The invention ties the sampling approach to resonant modes and supports mapping parameter changes to predefined spatial regions in the housing. It also enables monitoring and inference of emission dynamics by evaluating parameter changes and, in some embodiments, measuring a rate of change of the parameters to monitor emission rate, accumulation rate, and/or depletion rate of the emission constituent.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers an RF-based method for monitoring an emission constituent in a housing by controlling and sampling RF signal parameters, with a key inventive element of sampling within predefined narrow radio frequency signal ranges to decrease measurement response time. Dependent refinements add resonant-mode selection, monitoring via magnitude/amplitude and phase shifts, spatial mapping, and optional rate-of-change and emission-rate, accumulation-rate, and depletion-rate monitoring.
Sampling narrow radio frequency signal ranges to decrease measurement response time
A method comprising controlling the radio frequency signals and monitoring changes in the emission constituent based on changes in one or more parameters of the radio frequency signals, and sampling one or more of the parameters of the radio frequency signals in one or more predefined narrow radio frequency signal ranges to decrease the measurement response time.
Predefined narrow signal ranges corresponding to resonant modes
Sampling the one or more predefined narrow radio frequency signal ranges that correspond to one or more predefined resonant modes of the radio frequency signal.
Monitoring emission constituent changes using magnitude/amplitude and phase shifts
Monitoring changes in one or more emission constituents based on changes in signal magnitude and/or amplitude and/or shifts in the phase of the radio frequency signals in one or more predefined radio frequency signal ranges.
Measuring parameter changes corresponding to predefined spatial regions in the housing
Measuring changes in one or more parameters of the radio frequency signals within one or more predefined radio frequency signal ranges that correspond to one or more predefined spatial regions in the housing.
Measuring rate of change of RF signal parameters
Measuring a rate of change in one or more parameters of the radio frequency signals to monitor the rate of change of the emission constituent.
Monitoring emission rate, accumulation rate, and/or depletion rate
Monitoring the emission rate, accumulation rate, and/or depletion rate of the emission constituent.
Overall, the claim set focuses on monitoring an emission constituent in an RF system by controlling RF signals and using parameter sampling in predefined narrow frequency ranges to decrease response time, with refinements that use resonant modes, magnitude/amplitude and phase shifts, spatial-region correspondence, and optional rate and rate-of-change monitoring for emission dynamics.
Stated Advantages
Decreases the measurement response time.
Documented Applications
Integration into engine-out exhaust monitoring of an aftertreatment assembly for catalyst and filter loading/health diagnostics, including particulate filter (DPF/GPF) and catalysts such as TWC, SCR, NOx trap, LNT, ammonia slip catalyst, and hydrocarbon trap.
Diagnostic and feedback/OBD/engine control actions based on inferred catalyst/filter loading state.
Monitoring soot oxidation and ammonia storage/consumption and/or oxygen storage/consumption within the aftertreatment assembly.
Use of correction with engine/temperature/pressure/other sensor inputs and models for evaluating/loading inference.
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