Embodiments described herein methods can be used in particulate filter regeneration, such as particulate filters used for filtering the exhaust of an engine, e.g., a diesel engine. Systems herein can be configured to dispense combustion gas(es) into housing were a particulate filter is contained and to ignite the combustion gases. Methods for conducting a safety verification process of such systems are disclosed, as well as methods for regenerating the filters. Still other embodiments are described.

A vehicle exhaust system including an exhaust pipe section, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, and a burner assembly, connected to the exhaust pipe section at a position upstream of the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, for pre-heating the exhaust system prior to engine start-up. The burner assembly includes a burner with a combustion chamber and a connecting tube that extends between the burner and the exhaust pipe section. A metallic mesh filter element is located inside the connecting tube and/or a catalytic washcoat is disposed on an inner surface of the connecting tube to reduce emissions of the burner assembly at start-up. The catalytic washcoat comprises a mixture of a support material and a catalyst material that chemically reacts with emissions generated by the burner to reduce the amount of burner produced emissions released from the exhaust system during pre-heating.

A method for heating an exhaust pipe in a motor vehicle, including a plurality of spark cycles performed in succession at a preset frequency, wherein each spark cycle includes injecting a-preset fuel quantity into an injection area inside of an exhaust pipe in a motor vehicle and generating at least one spark between the ends of a pair of electrodes located in proximity to the injection area in order to start combustion.

Thus, a value of an ionization current flowing between the ends of the pair of electrodes is detected following the extinction of the spark and this ionization current value is compared with a preset reference value.

Therefore, the presence of combustion in the spark cycle is determined, if the ionization current value is greater than the preset reference value, or the absence of combustion in the spark cycle, if the ionization current value is lower than the preset reference value.

A method for operating an exhaust burner with a secondary air system downstream of a combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The method includes: activating an ignition device as a function of a release condition, the ignition device being heated up to a specifiable target temperature; metering fuel at a first time point into a combustion chamber of the exhaust burner at a first injection frequency using an injection valve, and the combustion chamber not being actively supplied with air; setting a first target air-mass flow using a secondary air system at a further, second time point, wherein the air-mass flow is increased strictly monotonically; controlling the air-fuel ratio to a first target air-fuel ratio as a function of a lambda sensor starting from the second time point, and metering fuel at a second injection frequency; setting a second target air-mass flow at a further, third time point.

Safety of vehicles employing an electrolysis generator is improved by a rollover abatement system.

A heating device for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine and having: a tubular body, where a combustion chamber is obtained on the inside; a fuel injector, which is designed to inject fuel into the combustion chamber; at least one inlet opening, which can be connected to a fan so as to receive an air flow, which is directed to the combustion chamber; a feeding channel, which receives air from the inlet opening, surrounds an end portion of the fuel injector and ends with a nozzle, which is arranged around a spray tip of the fuel injector, from which fuel flows out; and a spark plug, which is mounted through a side wall of the tubular body. An axial distance, namely measured along a longitudinal axis of the tubular body, between the spray tip of the fuel injector and a longitudinal axis of the spark plug ranges from 33% to 100% of an inner diameter of the tubular body.

An HHO gas stream for use in an internal combustion engine is heated by heat exchange from with an exhaust gas stream from the internal combustion engine.

An active regeneration method for a gasoline particulate filter includes determining if a particulate filter soot load level is greater than a predetermined soot load level threshold and, if so, determining if the particulate filter's temperature is greater than a predetermined burn off temperature threshold. A particulate filter heating phase is initiated when the particulate filter's temperature is not greater than a predetermined burn off temperature threshold and a soot burning phase is started when the particulate filter's temperature is greater than a predetermined burn off temperature threshold.

A method for operating an exhaust burner, which is situated in an exhaust system downstream from an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. Prior to and during a start phase of the exhaust burner, an air-mass flow supplied to a combustion chamber of the exhaust burner is increased, in particular in a strictly monotonical manner, between a start time in a starting air-mass flow and a further time in a further air-mass flow. Prior to the further time, fuel is supplied to the combustion chamber. A fuel-air mixture is produced in the combustion chamber from the fuel and air of the air-mass flow. The fuel-air mixture is ignited with the aid of an ignition device which is continuously hot or forms ignition sparks intermittently.

A dual-chamber electrolysis vessel safely stores HHO gas for use by an internal combustion engine.