An apparatus includes circuitry configured to: calculate a temperature of exhaust flowing into an exhaust after-treatment system as a first exhaust temperature, calculate a temperature of exhaust flowing out from the exhaust after-treatment system as a second exhaust temperature, calculate a rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and a rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature, and judge if the exhaust after-treatment system is in a removed state removed from the exhaust passage based on a difference between the rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and the rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature.

An apparatus includes circuitry configured to: calculate a temperature of exhaust flowing into an exhaust after-treatment system as a first exhaust temperature, calculate a temperature of exhaust flowing out from the exhaust after-treatment system as a second exhaust temperature, calculate a rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and a rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature, and judge if the exhaust after-treatment system is in a removed state removed from the exhaust passage based on a difference between the rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and the rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature.

A control device includes a first exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing into a PM trapping device as a first exhaust temperature, a second exhaust temperature calculation part calculating a temperature of exhaust flowing out from the PM trapping device as a second exhaust temperature, a rate of change over time calculation part calculating a rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and a rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature, and a judgment part judging if the PM trapping device is in a removed state removed from the exhaust passage based on a difference between the rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and the rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature.

An apparatus includes circuitry configured to: calculate a temperature of exhaust flowing into an exhaust after-treatment system as a first exhaust temperature, calculate a temperature of exhaust flowing out from the exhaust after-treatment system as a second exhaust temperature, calculate a rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and a rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature, and judge if the exhaust after-treatment system is in a removed state removed from the exhaust passage based on a difference between the rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and the rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature.

An apparatus includes circuitry configured to: calculate a temperature of exhaust flowing into an exhaust after-treatment system as a first exhaust temperature, calculate a temperature of exhaust flowing out from the exhaust after-treatment system as a second exhaust temperature, calculate a rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and a rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature, and judge if the exhaust after-treatment system is in a removed state removed from the exhaust passage based on a difference between the rate of change over time of the first exhaust temperature and the rate of change over time of the second exhaust temperature.

A particulate detection apparatus for controlling a particulate sensor which detects the amount of particulates discharged from a filter for collecting particulates contained in exhaust gas. The particulate sensor includes a detection section configured to electrify particulates contained in exhaust gas so as to produce electrified particulates. The particulate detection apparatus includes a period judgment section, an output obtainment section and an anomaly judgment section. The period judgment section judges whether or not the present point in time is within a previously set anomaly determination period just after completing a filter regeneration process. The output obtainment section obtains a sensor output representing the result of detection by the particulate sensor in the case where the present point in time is judged to be within the anomaly determination period. The anomaly judgment section judges whether or not the particulate sensor is anomalous based on the sensitivity characteristic of the sensor output.

A control device is configured to direct an opening degree of a throttle valve disposed in an intake passage or an exhaust passage of an engine including a DOC disposed in the exhaust passage and a DPF disposed downstream of the DOC in the exhaust passage. The control device includes: a hysteresis occurring condition determination unit configured to determine whether a hysteresis occurring condition (predetermined time elapses after instructed opening degree of throttle valve becomes equal to or smaller than predetermined opening degree and/or predetermined time elapses after engine output becomes equal to or smaller than predetermined output) is met; and a hysteresis elimination execution unit configured to cause, if it is determined that the hysteresis occurring condition is met, the throttle valve to execute hysteresis elimination that involves temporarily increasing the opening degree of the throttle valve from the instructed opening degree and then returning it to the instructed opening degree.

A method for desulphurising a nitrogen oxide accumulator catalytic converter of an exhaust gas system that includes the nitrogen oxide accumulator catalytic converter and at least one selective catalytic reduction catalytic converter disposed downstream of the nitrogen oxide accumulator catalytic converter, of an internal combustion engine, where a desulphurisation strategy, on the basis of which the nitrogen oxide accumulator catalytic converter is desulphurised, is adjusted to the ageing of the nitrogen oxide accumulator catalytic converter.

An exhaust gas-purifying system includes an exhaust gas-purifying unit that includes one or more exhaust gas-purifying catalysts, is supplied with the exhaust gas from a combustion engine, and purifies the exhaust gas so that the exhaust gas can be released to the atmosphere, a sensor that detects a concentration of nitrogen oxides contained in the purified exhaust gas, and a processing section that makes a judgment with respect to at least one of the exhaust gas-purifying catalysts, as to whether or not a performance is maintained at a sufficient level, based on the concentration detected by the sensor.

A method for controlling a return valve of an exhaust system and to an exhaust system with a control unit which is configured to carry out the method. The method is based on the object of avoiding an overpressure in the line system for urea solution as a result of a reduction in the injection rate. The method includes the steps of determining whether one or more of the following states are present during the operation of the exhaust system: a) an injection rate per unit of time of urea solution of the dosing valve is less than or equal to a predefined injection limit, b) a pressure measured by the pressure sensor in the line system overshoots a predefined first upper pressure limit (P2). The return valve is opened for a first predefined opening duration (Δt1) if states a) and b) are present and at least one of the states has already been present for at least a predefined period of time (Δta). The return valve is closed after the first predefined opening duration (Δt1) has elapsed.