An electronic control unit (ECU) of an internal combustion engine, which includes an air-fuel ratio sensor arranged at a downstream side of an exhaust purification catalyst, is configured to judge if a state of the air-fuel ratio sensor is normal or abnormal based on the first characteristic of change of air-fuel ratio and, if a judgment cannot be made based on the first characteristic, the ECU is configured to judge if the state of the air-fuel ratio sensor is normal or abnormal based on a second characteristic of change of air-fuel ratio. As a result, it is possible to suppress the effects of the change of state of the exhaust purification catalyst while accurately diagnosing the abnormality of deterioration of response of a downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor.

An electronic control unit (ECU) of an internal combustion engine, which includes an air-fuel ratio sensor arranged at a downstream side of an exhaust purification catalyst, is configured to judge if a state of the air-fuel ratio sensor is normal or abnormal based on the first characteristic of change of air-fuel ratio and, if a judgment cannot be made based on the first characteristic, the ECU is configured to judge if the state of the air-fuel ratio sensor is normal or abnormal based on a second characteristic of change of air-fuel ratio. As a result, it is possible to suppress the effects of the change of state of the exhaust purification catalyst while accurately diagnosing the abnormality of deterioration of response of a downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor.

A method for controlling an exhaust gas aftertreatment system, wherein the system includes a first selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device, a catalytic particulate filter arrangement arranged downstream of the first SCR device, and a second selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device arranged downstream of the catalytic particulate filter arrangement. The method includes estimating future exhaust conditions based upon predicted vehicle operating conditions (s403); —estimating a future NOx conversion demand based on the estimated future exhaust conditions (s405); —dosing a reducing agent from a first reducing agent dosing device at a rate based at least on the estimated future NOx conversion demand (s406).

A nitrogen oxide purification system includes an exhaust line exhausting exhaust gas from a combustion chamber. A first nitrogen oxide purification device is mounted at an upstream side of the exhaust line to primarily purify nitrogen oxides (NOx) included in the exhaust gas, and a second nitrogen oxide purification device is mounted to a downstream side of the first nitrogen oxide purification device to secondarily purify the NOx. A second injector is disposed between the first nitrogen oxide purification device and the first injector to additionally inject fuel for controlling an air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gas.

A nitrous oxide (N.sub.2O) removal catalyst composite is provided, comprising a N.sub.2O removal catalytic material on a substrate, the catalytic material comprising a rhodium (Rh) component supported on a ceria-based support, wherein the catalyst composite has a H.sub.2-consumption peak of about 100° C. or less as measured by hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H.sub.2-TPR). Methods of making and using the same are also provided.

An exhaust purification system includes: a NOx reduction catalyst for reducing and purifying NOx in an exhaust gas; a catalyst regeneration control module for executing a catalyst regeneration process of restoring a NOx purification capacity of the NOx reduction catalyst by switching an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas from a lean state to a rich state by using in parallel an air system control to reduce an intake air amount and an injection system control to increase a fuel injection amount; an exhaust gas temperature sensor that is provided on a downstream side of the NOx reduction catalyst on an exhaust passageway; a catalyst temperature estimating module for estimating a catalyst temperature of the NOx reduction catalyst; a temperature sensor value estimating module for estimating a sensor value of the exhaust gas temperature sensor; and an abnormality determination module for determining on an abnormality of a catalyst regeneration process.

There is provided an exhaust gas purification system including: a NOx storage-reduction catalyst that is provided in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine to reduce and purify NOx in exhaust gas; a degree of deterioration estimation module 120 for estimating a degree of deterioration of the NOx storage-reduction catalyst; a regeneration control unit 100 for executing a regeneration process in which exhaust gas is enriched so as to restore a NOx storage capacity of the NOx storage-reduction catalyst; an interval setting module for setting a target interval from an end of the regeneration process to a start of the subsequent regeneration process by the regeneration control unit; and an interval target value correction module for correcting the target interval based on the degree of deterioration that is estimated by the degree of deterioration estimation module.

Provided are an LNT layered catalyst for a lean burn gasoline engine having an enhanced NOx storage rate and capable of developing a higher NOx purification rate, and an exhaust gas purification apparatus using the same, the LNT layered catalyst including a substrate, a first catalyst layer including ceria-alumina particles carrying Pt, Pd, and BaO, and a second catalyst layer including ceria-alumina particles carrying Pt and Rh, in which a content of Pt in the first catalyst layer is 0.45 to 0.85 mass %; among Pt included in the first catalyst layer, a content proportion in a first depth region is 88 to 90 mass %, and a content proportion in a second depth region is 10 to 12 mass %; a content of Ba in the first catalyst layer is 4 to 11 mass %; and the second catalyst layer is substantially free from Ba.

A housing connection for connecting at least two adjacently placed exhaust gas housing end sections or exhaust pipe end sections of an exhaust gas housing or exhaust pipe, wherein the housing connection includes a spacer element which can be introduced between the two end sections, and wherein at least one retaining part is provided, configured as a retaining band, with at least two ends, which can be applied onto a circular shape of the exhaust gas housing or exhaust pipe end sections which are to be connected, and which at least partially circumferentially surrounds the respective end section, wherein the respective end is secured to the spacer element, and wherein the spacer element can be brought into contact against the respective exhaust gas housing end section or exhaust pipe end section, at least indirectly by way of the retaining band, or directly.

An apparatus for purifying an exhaust gas passing through an exhaust pipe includes a catalytic converter disposed on the exhaust pipe. The catalytic converter is provided with a lean NOx trap (LNT) device, the LNT device having an LNT catalyst coated therein, and a catalyzed particulate filter (CPF), the CPF having a catalyst coated therein, and the LNT device and the CPF are sequentially disposed in the catalytic converter. The CPF includes at least one inlet channel extending in a longitudinal direction, the at least one inlet channel having a first end into which fluid flows and a second end which is blocked, at least one outlet channel extending in the longitudinal direction, the at least one outlet channel having a first end which is blocked and a second end through which the fluid flows out, at least one porous wall that defines a boundary between neighboring inlet and outlet channels and that extends in the longitudinal direction, and a support with the catalyst coating thereon, and the support is located within at least one among the at least one inlet channel and the at least one outlet channel.