Exhaust particulates are collected by a GPF(gasoline particulate filter) device. EGR control is executed, and exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust passage upstream of the GPF device is introduced into an intake passage via an EGR passage. In the EGR control, an opening area of the EGR passage is controlled to reduce the opening area of the EGR passage according to an operating state of the engine as a particulate deposition amount in the GPF device is increased.

The present invention describes a fuel-management system for minimizing particulate emissions in turbocharged direct injection gasoline engines. The system optimizes the use of port fuel injection (PFI) in combination with direct injection (DI), particularly in cold start and other transient conditions. In the present invention, the use of these control systems together with other control systems for increasing the effectiveness of port fuel injector use and for reducing particulate emissions from turbocharged direct injection engines is described. Particular attention is given to reducing particulate emissions that occur during cold start and transient conditions since a substantial fraction of the particulate emissions during a drive cycle occur at these times. Further optimization of the fuel management system for these conditions is important for reducing drive cycle emissions.

The present invention describes a fuel-management system for minimizing particulate emissions in turbocharged direct injection gasoline engines. The system optimizes the use of port fuel injection (PFI) in combination with direct injection (DI), particularly in cold start and other transient conditions. In the present invention, the use of these control systems together with other control systems for increasing the effectiveness of port fuel injector use and for reducing particulate emissions from turbocharged direct injection engines is described. Particular attention is given to reducing particulate emissions that occur during cold start and transient conditions since a substantial fraction of the particulate emissions during a drive cycle occur at these times. Further optimization of the fuel management system for these conditions is important for reducing drive cycle emissions.

The present invention describes a fuel-management system for minimizing particulate emissions in turbocharged direct injection gasoline engines. The system optimizes the use of port fuel injection (PFI) in combination with direct injection (DI), particularly in cold start and other transient conditions. In the present invention, the use of these control systems together with other control systems for increasing the effectiveness of port fuel injector use and for reducing particulate emissions from turbocharged direct injection engines is described. Particular attention is given to reducing particulate emissions that occur during cold start and transient conditions since a substantial fraction of the particulate emissions during a drive cycle occur at these times. Further optimization of the fuel management system for these conditions is important for reducing drive cycle emissions.

A vehicle is provided and includes a GPF (gasoline particulate filter) that is configured to store a soot generated in an engine and burn the soot and a sensor that is configured to detect a first soot mass included in the GPF. A controller is configured to calculate a second soot mass estimated at the ignition off based on the detected first soot mass and determine an inlet temperature of the GPF based on the second soot mass and a predetermined reference value. The engine is then operated based on the determined inlet temperature of the GPF.

Methods and systems are provided for combusting an air-fuel mixture in a pre-chamber of a cylinder during an exhaust stroke of the cylinder responsive to fouling of the pre-chamber. In one example, a method may include injecting air into the pre-chamber during the exhaust stroke, injecting fuel into the pre-chamber during the exhaust stroke, and actuating a pre-chamber spark plug in order to combust the air-fuel mixture during the exhaust stroke. In this way, a temperature of the pre-chamber may be increased, which may decrease a soot load of one of a pre-chamber air-injector, a pre-chamber fuel injector, and the pre-chamber spark plug.

In a method for diagnosing a particle filter of a motor vehicle a particle sensor which is connected downstream and has a ceramic sensor element is used, wherein, for the particle sensor, regeneration (10) of the ceramic sensor element is provided by thermal heating to a specific temperature and for a specific time after the start of the motor vehicle. Within the scope of an on-board diagnosis a confirmed diagnosis result is output after a repeated occurrence of a first diagnosis result. In the proposed method reduced regeneration (40) of the ceramic sensor element takes place after a first diagnosis result (30).

Various embodiments include a method for checking a sensor for soot particles in exhaust of an engine comprising: generating a sensor current between a first electrode and a second electrode of the sensor, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode define a gap through which the exhaust gas flows between the electrodes, by applying a difference in potential between the electrodes, wherein soot particles accumulate on the electrodes and, after a dwell time dependent on the preloading of the electrodes with soot particles, they move from a first electrode to the respective second electrode generating a flow of current as a measure of the quantity of soot in the stream of exhaust gas; determining whether a peak in the sensor current is measured after the switching off of the internal combustion engine; and if no peak in the sensor current is measured, flagging the particle sensor as faulty.

A method and control device for monitoring the function of a particulate filter in an exhaust gas duct of an internal combustion engine. A soot emission in the exhaust gas duct downstream from the particulate filter is determined with a particle sensor, an expected soot emission after a limit particulate filter at the location of the particle sensor is simulated and a comparison value is ascertained. A good particulate filter is found if the measured soot emission is less than the comparison value of the simulated soot emission. A defective particulate filter is found if the measured soot emission is higher than the comparison value of the simulated soot emission. The simulated soot emission is determined as being a simulated soot particle concentration at the installation site of the particle sensor such that a basic soot concentration in a soot concentration model is corrected at least with an oxygen correction.

Methods and systems are provided for combusting an air-fuel mixture in a pre-chamber of a cylinder during an exhaust stroke of the cylinder responsive to fouling of the pre-chamber. In one example, a method may include injecting air into the pre-chamber during the exhaust stroke, injecting fuel into the pre-chamber during the exhaust stroke, and actuating a pre-chamber spark plug in order to combust the air-fuel mixture during the exhaust stroke. In this way, a temperature of the pre-chamber may be increased, which may decrease a soot load of one of a pre-chamber air-injector, a pre-chamber fuel injector, and the pre-chamber spark plug.