A method for NOx emission control during start of a vehicle comprising an exhaust aftertreatment system, an engine, and a NOx sensor is provided. The method includes determining a temperature of the NOx sensor; if the determined temperature of the NOx sensor is below a predetermined threshold, initiating heating of the NOx sensor, and performing a preventive action for delaying engine start until a determined temperature of the NOx sensor exceeds or is equal to the predetermined threshold.

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 controlling exhaust flow in an EATS of a vehicle. A NO.sub.x sensor output parameter is monitored. It is determined that the NO.sub.x sensor output parameter is below a limit. When the NO.sub.x sensor output parameter is below the limit, it is determined that a first part of the exhaust flow should bypass at least a first area of the SCR unit and that a second part of the exhaust flow should be inputted to at least the first area of the SCR unit. It is initiated that the first part is bypassed and that the second part is inputted to at least the first area of the SCR unit. An amount of reductant that should be added to the second part of the exhaust flow is determined. Addition of the amount of reductant is initiated.

A method for determining NOx sensor data falsification based on remote emission monitoring, includes the steps of: acquiring a plurality of vehicle data sets and urea level data of to-be-tested reference vehicles, wherein vehicle data include NOx sensor readings and corresponding engine data vectors; acquiring urea level data of reference vehicles; calculating standard urea consumption per kilometer; (2) acquiring an average distribution probability of the vehicle data of the to-be-tested vehicles through a probability distribution evaluation step; counting a total proportion of invalid or negative NOx sensor readings in the plurality of vehicle data sets; determining whether the data of the to-be-tested vehicles satisfy one or more falsification conditions; if so, determining that the data from the NOx sensors of the to-be-tested vehicles are falsified; otherwise, determining that the data from the NOx sensors of the to-be-tested vehicles are not falsified.

An exhaust gas sample collector includes a tubular body, a plurality of inlet openings circumferentially spaced about an outer periphery of the tubular body, the plurality of inlet openings configured to receive exhaust gas, an outlet in fluid communication with the plurality of inlet openings, and a sensor configured to measure a characteristic of the exhaust gas at the outlet.

A method for controlling urea injection in an exhaust aftertreatment system includes injecting urea at a flow rate upstream of the first catalytic reduction device; measuring a level of nitrogen oxides downstream of the first catalytic reduction device and upstream of the second catalytic reduction device; controlling the flow rate of the urea injection until the measured level of nitrogen oxides fulfils a predetermined condition; if the measured level of nitrogen oxides is decreasing in response to reducing the flow rate of the urea injection, reducing the flow rate of the urea injection, and controlling a flow rate of urea injection using the second urea injector upstream of the second catalytic reduction device according to the measured level of nitrogen oxides downstream of the first catalytic reduction device and upstream of the second catalytic reduction device.

A method for diagnosing a NOx sensor is provided. The method includes receiving data indicative of operating conditions of an engine or an aftertreatment system; determining, during a first period of time, that an amount of NOx output from the aftertreatment system satisfies a low NOx operating mode condition; determining, during a second period of time, that operating conditions for ammonia slip are present based on data regarding operation of the aftertreatment system; responsive to the determination that operating conditions for ammonia slip are present, determining that the amount of NOx output from the aftertreatment system satisfies a high NOx operating mode condition; comparing a difference between a minimum value from the first period of time and a maximum value from a second period of time to a diagnostic threshold; and responsive to the difference being less than the diagnostic threshold, setting an alert.

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.

A method that determines a cause for the impaired performance of a catalytic configuration of the exhaust gas of a combustion engine (231), the method including determining (s410) a course of a NOx-conversion ratio; determining (s420) a prevailing temperature of the catalytic configuration; increasing (s430) the temperature of the catalytic configuration from a prevailing temperature below a predetermined temperature value (Te) to a temperature (TSred) above the predetermined temperature value above which sulphur is removed from the catalytic configuration; and/or decreasing (s440) the temperature of the catalytic configuration from a prevailing temperature (TSred) above the predetermined temperature value (Te) to a temperature below the predetermined temperature value so as to impair the performance of the catalytic configuration in case sulphur is present; and determining (s450) one cause out of a set of causes on the basis of the course of the NOx-conversion ratio thus determined.

Methods and systems to control a temperature of a selective catalytic reduction catalyst are disclosed. In one example, a diverter valve that includes two butterfly valves that are coupled together via a shaft is adjusted to control a temperature at an inlet of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst so that the selective catalytic reduction catalyst may operate efficiently.