An aftertreatment system configured to reduce constituents of an exhaust gas produced by an engine comprises an aftertreatment component and an optical assembly. The optical assembly comprises an optical emitter configured to emit light onto a face of the aftertreatment component, and an optical detector configured to detect light reflected from the face of the aftertreatment component. A controller is configured to determine at least one of an amount of NOx gases or an amount of ammonia on the face of the aftertreatment component based on an optical parameter of the detected light that has reflected from the face of the aftertreatment component.

An exhaust gas treatment device includes a housing having a wall. The wall of the housing defines an interior chamber. A substrate is supported by the housing within the interior chamber of the housing. The substrate extends along a longitudinal axis. The substrate includes a flow through structure that allows the flow of exhaust gas to flow through the substrate. The substrate includes a catalytic composition disposed thereon for reacting with the flow of exhaust gas. The substrate includes a cavity, extending along a cavity axis, which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the substrate. A sensor is attached to the housing. The sensor includes a probe that at least partially extends into the cavity of the substrate, for sensing a gaseous component in the flow of exhaust gas. The cavity mixes the flow of exhaust gas and directs the exhaust gas toward the probe of the sensor.

A controller for controlling regeneration of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst of an aftertreatment system is configured to cause increase in a SCR catalyst temperature of the SCR catalyst to a first regeneration temperature, the first regeneration temperature being lower than a high regeneration temperature that is equal to or greater than 500 degrees Celsius. The controller is configured to determine an amount of ammonia slip downstream of the SCR catalyst; and cause an increase in the SCR catalyst temperature to a second regeneration temperature greater than the first regeneration temperature but lower than the high regeneration temperature based on the determined amount of ammonia slip.

A first gas sensor having a first sensor element includes a first protective cover that protects the first sensor element, and a second gas sensor having a second sensor element includes a second protective cover that protects the second sensor element. The first protective cover is coated with an oxidation catalyst for one target component from among a plurality of target components, and the second protective cover is coated with an inert catalyst for the one target component.

A method for ascertaining an exhaust gas composition of an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine with regard to an ammonia fraction and a nitrogen oxides fraction in an exhaust gas system including an SCR catalytic converter. The method includes detecting, using a sensor, a first signal whose magnitude is a function of the nitrogen oxides fraction of the exhaust gas upstream from the SCR catalytic converter, detecting using a sensor a second signal whose magnitude is a function of the ammonia fraction and the nitrogen oxides fraction of the exhaust gas downstream from the SCR catalytic converter, storing the two signals over an observation period, and ascertaining the ammonia fraction and optionally the nitrogen oxides fraction of the exhaust gas downstream from the at least one SCR catalytic converter using a calculation rule that uses the two signals during the observation period as input variables.

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.

Disclosed is a method for diagnosing a first exhaust treatment component for treatment of an exhaust gas stream comprising means for oxidizing nitric oxide into nitrogen dioxide. A first reduction catalytic converter is arranged upstream said means for oxidizing nitric oxide into nitrogen dioxide, and a second reduction catalytic converter is arranged downstream said means. A reagent is for reduction of nitrogen oxides in said first catalytic converter, and a first sensor measures an occurrence of nitrogen oxide downstream said means but upstream said second reduction catalytic converter. The method comprises: causing a supply of reagent upstream said first reduction catalytic converter to an extent exceeding the extent to which reagent is consumed by the first reduction catalytic converter, determining a first measure of the occurrence of reagent downstream said means for oxidizing, and diagnosing said means for oxidizing nitric oxide into nitrogen dioxide based on said first measure.

A deterioration determination apparatus is usable with an ammonia sensor that includes an ammonia element portion that includes, a solid electrolyte, an ammonia electrode, and a reference electrode. The deterioration determining apparatus compares a first evaluation value and a second evaluation value, and determines whether deterioration has occurred in the ammonia element portion of the ammonia sensor at an evaluation time or subsequent to the evaluation time. The first evaluation value is based on a first sensor current obtained when a DC voltage is applied between the ammonia electrode and the reference electrode of the ammonia element portion at an initial time that is during an initial use period of the ammonia sensor. The second evaluation value is based on a second sensor current obtained when the DC voltage is applied between the ammonia electrode and the reference electrode subsequent to the initial period of use of the ammonia sensor.

A selective catalytic reduction system control system (10) and method of its use include an ammonia (“NH.sub.3”) slip sensor (13) located within an interior space (27) of an exhaust stack (15) of a selective catalytic reactor (31), toward an inlet end (25) of the stack (15); a housing (17) located within the interior space of the exhaust stack; the housing including face panels 19; a nitrogen oxides (“NOx”) sensor (11) contained within an interior space (29) defined by the face panels of the housing, at least two of the face panels (19.sub.I, 19.sub.O) containing an oxidation catalyst; and a dosing controller (59) in communication with the NH.sub.3 and NOx sensors, the dosing controller including a microprocessor with dosing logic embedded thereon. The housing with oxidation catalyst acts as a linear box, isolating the NOx sensor from NH.sub.3 slip, linearizing the NOx sensor signal.

A diesel-electric locomotive includes a diesel emissions reduction unit, including an inlet configured to receive an exhaust stream of a high-speed diesel engine; means for trapping at least a portion of diesel particulate matter contained in the exhaust stream; an aqueous NH.sub.3 dosing system including a dosing controller in communication with an electronic locomotive controller and a nitrogen oxide (“NO.sub.x”) concentration sensor and an ammonia (“NH.sub.3”) concentration sensor, at least one oxidation catalyst panel arranged to isolate the NO.sub.x concentration sensor from NH.sub.3 in the exhaust stream; mixing elements located between the dosing system and the NO.sub.x and NH.sub.3 concentration sensors to mix metered aqueous NH.sub.3 in the exhaust stream; a selective catalyst reactor bed located between the mixing elements and the NO.sub.x and NH.sub.3 concentration sensors; and an exhaust heating system in communication with at least one of the dosing and electronic locomotive controllers.