A method is disclosed for regulating an exhaust after-treatment (AT) system for a diesel engine. The method includes detecting the engine's cold start when the engine's exhaust gas flow directed into the AT system is at a temperature below a threshold value. The method also includes determining flow-rates of the engine's exhaust gas and its fuel supply. The method additionally includes determining a magnitude of exhaust gas energy using the determined exhaust gas flow-rates and the fuel supply over an elapsed time following the cold start. The method also includes integrating a detected temperature of the exhaust gas over the elapsed time and comparing the determined magnitude of exhaust gas energy with the integrated temperature. Furthermore, the method includes regulating operation of the AT system using the determined exhaust gas temperature when the determined magnitude of exhaust gas energy is within a predetermined value of the integrated exhaust gas temperature.

An exhaust system is provided that includes at least one exhaust aftertreatment unit provided in an exhaust fluid flow pathway and a thermal storage device disposed upstream from the exhaust aftertreatment unit. The thermal storage device is operable to store thermal mass and provide thermal insulation to enable a catalyst to maintain a minimum predetermined temperature for a minimum predetermined time. In one form, a heater is also provided proximate the thermal storage device, along with variations that include a secondary flow pathway for the thermal storage device.

A susceptor for use in a heated fluid flow system is provided. In one form, a susceptor is arranged within a conduit and adapted to absorb radiant energy from at least one heating element and inhibit the radiant energy from being absorbed by the at least one wall of the conduit and/or other components. In another form, the susceptor absorbs and inhibits the radiant energy from being absorbed by the outer wall of the conduit.

A heater system for an exhaust system is provided. The heater system includes a heater disposed in an exhaust conduit. The heater includes a plurality of heating elements disposed in the exhaust conduit. A heating control module controls the plurality of heating elements differently according to operating conditions specific to each heating element. In other forms, the heater system for an exhaust system has a plurality of heating zones, instead of a plurality of heating elements. The heating control module controls the plurality of heating zones differently according to operating conditions specific to each heating zone.

A fluid control system is provided that in one form includes a first flow channel, a second flow channel, a heater disposed in the second flow channel, and a fluid control device disposed upstream from the first and second flow channels. When the heater is turned on, the fluid control device changes a fluid flow rate through at least one of the first flow channel and the second flow channel. In another form, the fluid control system includes a bypass conduit, a heater disposed within the bypass conduit, and a fluid control device disposed near the inlet and outlet of the bypass conduit. In still another form, the fluid control system includes a regeneration device disposed downstream from at least one exhaust aftertreatment system and closes an outlet of the exhaust pipe.

A control system for use in a fluid flow application is provided. The control system includes a heater having at least one resistive heating element. The heater is adapted to heat the fluid flow. The control system further includes a control device that uses heat loss from at least one resistive heating element to determine flow characteristics of the fluid flow.

A control system for a heating system of an exhaust system is provided. The control system includes at least one electric heater disposed within an exhaust fluid flow pathway, and a control device adapted to receive at least one input selected from the group consisting of mass flow rate of an exhaust fluid flow, mass velocity of an exhaust fluid flow, flow temperature upstream of the at least one electric heater, flow temperature downstream of the at least one electric heater, power input to the at least one electric heater, parameters derived from physical characteristics of the heating system, and combinations thereof. The control device is operable to modulate power to the at least one electric heater based on at least one input.

A load drive apparatus (1) includes a pulse drive circuit (51) which applies a pulse voltage PS to a resistive load (4); current detection means (S14) for detecting the current flowing to the resistive load (4) through the pulse drive circuit (51); level detection means (S1, S7) for determining whether an output terminal voltage VD of the pulse drive circuit (51) is a high potential level or a low potential level; anomaly detection means (S8, S9, S18) for detecting a wire breakage anomaly, a short-to-power anomaly, and a short-to-ground anomaly based on the level of the output terminal voltage VD detected by the level detection means (S1, S7) and the current detected by the current detection means (S14), when the pulse drive circuit 51 is turned on and off.

Methods and systems are provided for performing fuel tank pressure sensor rationality for a hybrid electric vehicle during refueling. In one example, a method may include indicating degradation of the fuel tank pressure sensor based on the pressure detected in the canister vent line when the canister vent line is restricted.

An apparatus for preventing a jackrabbit accident using a vehicle black box includes a jackrabbit accident prevention unit that is provided in the vehicle black box, synchronizes an accelerator position signal with a vertical synchronization signal for recording of an image to generate first jackrabbit analysis information to be transmitted to an accident record unit, combines the accelerator position signal with a throttle position signal to be transmitted to the accident record unit as second jackrabbit analysis information and to determine jackrabbit based on the second jackrabbit analysis information, and prevents the jackrabbit accident by automatically shutting off driving power to a fuel pump in the jackrabbit state, and the accident recording unit that provides horizontal and vertical synchronization signals for storing of an image to the jackrabbit accident prevention unit, maps the first jackrabbit analysis information with a recorded image, and stores the mapping result in a memory card.