A method for controlling an exhaust gas purification apparatus as a catalyst oxygen purge control method during a cold engine period of an exhaust gas purification apparatus including a three way catalyst (TWC) converter purifying exhaust gas exhausted from the engine includes determining whether a fuel cut condition of an injector which injects the fuel to the combustion chamber is satisfied; performing a fuel cut of the injector when the fuel cut condition is satisfied; determining heat load of the three way catalyst by use of a temperature detector and an exhaust gas flow rate detector; measuring oxygen storage capacity (OSC) stored in the three way catalyst according to the heat load; determining an inflection point by use of variation amount of the OSC; and controlling oxygen purge period differently around the inflection point.

A method for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions of a diesel vehicle. In this context, first state variables of the diesel vehicle are measured with the aid of sensors of the diesel vehicle, and using an arithmetic unit, it is ascertained, as a function of the first state variables, if the nitrogen oxide emissions are exceeding a predetermined threshold, or using the arithmetic unit, it is predicted, as a function of the first state variables, if the nitrogen oxide emissions will exceed the predetermined threshold. If exceedance of the threshold is calculated or predicted, then an intervention in the current torque demand of the diesel vehicle and/or an intervention in the current transmission ratio or setting of a transmission of the diesel vehicle is ascertained by the arithmetic unit; the intervention contributing to a reduction in the nitrogen oxide emissions to a value below the threshold.

A vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine; a filter collecting particulate matter contained in exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine; a heater core configured to be able to heat up a vehicle cabin; and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to execute regeneration cut control and heating control. The regeneration cut control is a control for regenerating the filter by stopping a fuel supply to the internal combustion engine and supplying oxygen to the filter in a state where an output shaft of the internal combustion engine rotates. The heating control is a control for bringing the internal combustion engine into a combustion state and heating by the heater core. The electronic control unit is configured not to execute the heating control but to execute the regeneration cut control when the heating control is requested and the regeneration cut control is requested.

When an output of a braking force to a driving shaft is needed, and a needed braking force can be output by regenerative drive of the second motor, the engine self-sustainably operates, the regenerative drive of the second motor is performed to cause the second motor to output the needed braking force to the driving shaft. When the needed braking force cannot be output by the regenerative drive of the second motor, the needed braking force is output to the driving shaft by the regenerative drive of the second motor and motoring of the engine that performs fuel cut using the first motor. When a filter regeneration condition is established, an allowable input electric power is set to be lower than that of when the filter regeneration condition is not established.

A system and method for controlling a temperature of an exhaust gas at an inlet of a selective catalytic reduction system during at least certain low air density conditions. The system may detect an air density value upstream of an internal combustion engine of an engine system, such as, for example, at an inlet of a compressor. Using the detected air density, one of a plurality of relationships between an engine speed and an outputted engine power, as a function of the detected air density value, may be selected for use in determining what combination of engine speed(s) and/or engine power(s) will produce an exhaust gas that is within a target exhaust gas temperature. Using the selected relationship, at least one of the engine speed and the engine power may be adjusted to at least assist in attaining the target exhaust gas temperature.

Regeneration of a diesel particle filter of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is controlled according to soot mass loading and the vehicle operating condition. Regeneration modes include active regeneration and forced passive regeneration, and operating conditions include highway, town and off-road driving. One strategy may determine initiation of regeneration, and another may determine cessation. Regeneration mode may change in real time.

A vehicle includes a generator, an internal combustion engine for driving the generator, a catalytic device, and a controller for controlling the operation of the internal combustion engine. At a start of the internal combustion engine to allow the generator to start generating electricity, the controller, until the catalytic device reaches an activated state, operates the internal combustion engine in a warm-up mode such that the driving force of the internal combustion engine for driving the generator is below a value at which electricity is generated, and the controller, after the catalytic device reaches the activated state, operates the internal combustion engine in an electricity generating operating mode such that the driving force of the internal combustion engine is enhanced to the value at which electricity is generated to allow the generator to generate a predetermined quantity of electricity.

When an output of a braking force to a driving shaft is needed, and a needed braking force can be output by regenerative drive of the second motor, the engine self-sustainably operates, the regenerative drive of the second motor is performed to cause the second motor to output the needed braking force to the driving shaft. When the needed braking force cannot be output by the regenerative drive of the second motor, the needed braking force is output to the driving shaft by the regenerative drive of the second motor and motoring of the engine that performs fuel cut using the first motor. When a filter regeneration condition is established, an allowable input electric power is set to be lower than that of when the filter regeneration condition is not established.

Operation of the direct-injection internal combustion engine includes executing a particulate filter service routine in response to a regeneration command, wherein the particulate filter service routine includes a warm-up phase and a steady-state phase. The service routine includes determining a first temperature in the exhaust gas feedstream upstream of the oxidation catalyst and a second temperature in the exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the oxidation catalyst and upstream of the particulate filter, and determining an exhaust gas flowrate and a soot level in the particulate filter. A preferred warm-up temperature gradient in the particulate filter is determined based upon the exhaust gas flowrate and the soot level. The warm-up phase of the particulate filter service routine is determined based upon the preferred warm-up temperature gradient. Operation of the engine is controlled to achieve the preferred warm-up temperature gradient in the particulate filter during the warm-up phase.

Methods and systems are provided for regenerating a particulate filter of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, during a non-engine operating condition, regenerating a particulate filter coupled in an exhaust system downstream of an engine by activating an electric heater of the particulate filter and directing intake air through the particulate filter, the intake air bypassing the engine, and adjusting an electrical load of the electric heater responsive to one or more of exhaust temperature and intake airflow