An exhaust system that includes a catalytic converter, selective catalytic reduction system, a muffler and, for certain applications, a diesel particulate filter that each include at least one filter that has an electric heating element, a metallic coating and a plurality of metal rods extending therethrough. The combination of elements are configured to heat the internal housings of the exhaust system and disrupt the direction of flow of exhaust gases which contain harmful toxic gases and pollutants and aid in removing and/or reducing said toxic gases and pollutants.

Systems and methods for controlling a gasoline urea selective catalytic reductant catalyst are described. In one example, an observer is provided that corrects an estimate of an amount of NH.sub.3 that is stored in a SCR. The amount of NH.sub.3 that is stored in the SCR is a basis for generating additional NH.sub.3 or ceasing generation of NH.sub.3.

A method (200) for operating an exhaust gas burner (120) in an exhaust section (102) of an internal combustion engine (110), comprising introducing a purging fluid comprising at least air (20) into the exhaust gas burner (120) during a purging operating phase (205), which lies outside the time of a normal operating phase (201) of the exhaust gas burner (120), and discharging a discharge mixture formed using the purging fluid from the exhaust gas burner (120), wherein the exhaust gas burner (120) is operated for the purpose of heating a component (130, 150) of the exhaust section (102) to its operating temperature during the normal operating phase (201). A processor unit (140) and a computer program for carrying out such a method (200) are furthermore proposed.

A catalytic converter is provided with: an inlet-side diffuser part; an outlet-side diffuser part; a case including an upstream-side cylindrical part and a downstream-side cylindrical part; an inner liner provided in the upstream-side cylindrical part; a first catalyst retained inside the inner liner; and a second catalyst retained inside the downstream-side cylindrical part. An end face of the second catalyst faces a peripheral surface of the inner liner. An annular flow path is provided between the upstream-side cylindrical part and the inner liner, and the first catalyst is insulated from heat by the annular flow path. A part of exhaust flows into the second catalyst via the annular flow path.

A system and method for a variable displacement internal combustion engine using different types of pneumatic cylinder springs on skipped working cycles to control engine and aftertreatment system temperatures are described. The system and method may be used to rapidly heat up the aftertreatment system(s) and/or an engine block of the engine following a cold start by using one or more different types of pneumatic cylinder springs during skipped firing opportunities. By rapidly heating the aftertreatment system(s) and/or engine block, noxious emissions such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, NO.sub.x and/or particulates, following cold starts are significantly reduced.

Systems and methods for estimating a temperature of an after treatment device in an exhaust system of an engine are described. In one example, the temperature is estimated during condition when an engine exits a fuel cut-out mode and excess fuel is delivered to the after treatment device for the purpose of increasing after treatment device efficiency.

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for determining the nitrogen oxide content and/or ammonia content in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine with a catalytic converter arranged in an exhaust tract and an exhaust gas sensor downstream of the catalytic converter. In some embodiments, the method comprises: determining an operating state of the internal combustion engine, the operating state indicating either lean operation or rich operation of the internal combustion engine; generating a signal using the exhaust gas sensor; and determining the nitrogen oxide content and/or ammonia content in the exhaust gas at least partially based on the determined operating state of the internal combustion engine and the signal.

A particulate filter disclosed herein includes a wall-flow structure substrate 10 and a wash coat layer 20 held inside a partition 16 of the substrate 10. The wash coat layer 20 includes an inlet layer 22 formed to have predetermined length L.sub.A and thickness T.sub.A from near an end thereof on an exhaust gas inflow side X1, and an outlet layer 24 formed to have predetermined length L.sub.B and thickness T.sub.B from near an end thereof on an exhaust gas outflow side X2. The inlet layer 22 and the outlet layer 24 partially overlap each other. In the particulate filter disclosed herein, the inlet layer 22 contains a precious metal catalyst, while the outlet layer 24 contains substantially no precious metal catalyst. The length L.sub.A of the inlet layer is 50% or more and 75% or less of a total length L of the partition 16. Thus, the particulate filter is capable of achieving both PM collection performance and pressure-drop reduction performance at high levels.

The present invention relates to a honeycomb catalytic converter, including: a honeycomb structured body in which multiple through-holes are arranged longitudinally in parallel with one another with a partition wall therebetween; and Pd and Rh supported on the partition walls of the honeycomb structured body, wherein the honeycomb structured body is an extrudate containing a ceria-zirconia complex oxide and alumina, a Pd-carrying region where only Pd is supported is formed on the partition walls within a predetermined width from one end of the honeycomb structured body, and a Rh-carrying region where only Rh is supported is formed on the partition walls within a predetermined width from the other end of the honeycomb structured body, and the Pd-carrying region extends to at least 50% of the length of the honeycomb structured body, and the Rh-carrying region extends to at least 20% of the length of the honeycomb structured body.

An exhaust gas purification system for a gasoline engine is described the system comprising in consecutive order the following devices: •a first three-way-catalyst (TWC1), a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) and a second three-way-catalyst (TWC2), •wherein the oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of the GPF is greater than the OSC of the TWC1, wherein the OSC is determined in mg/l of the volume of the device.