Method for monitoring an exhaust-gas sensor

Abstract

A method for monitoring an exhaust-gas sensor in which it is determined whether at least one monitored event has occurred by evaluating at least one heat quantity supplied to and/or withdrawn from the exhaust-gas sensor during a period of time, in particular under consideration of a change in the heat quantity stored by the exhaust-gas sensor that occurs during the period of time.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring an exhaust-gas sensor, comprising: evaluating at least one heat quantity at least one of: (i) supplied to the exhaust-gas sensor during a period of time, and (ii) withdrawn from the exhaust-gas sensor during the period of time, under consideration of a change in the heat quantity stored by the exhaust-gas sensor that takes place during the period of time; and determining whether at least one monitored event has occurred based on the evaluating, wherein the following heat quantities are ascertained and considered separately from one another during or prior to the evaluation: a heat dissipation between the exhaust-gas sensor and an environment of the exhaust-gas sensor, a heat convection between the exhaust-gas sensor and the environment of the exhaust-gas sensor, and a heat radiation between the exhaust-gas sensor and the environment of the exhaust-gas sensor, and a sum of the heat quantities, and wherein a change in the heat quantity stored by the exhaust-gas sensor taking place during the time period, is compared with a heat output of an electric heating device of the exhaust-gas sensor, and it is determined on this basis whether the at least one monitored event has occurred.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the evaluation takes place one of: (i) with the aid of an energy balance equation, (ii) with the aid of the conservation of energy law, (iii) with the aid of a time derivative of the energy balance equation, or (iv) with the aid of the time derivative of the conservation of energy law.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the heat quantities are at least partially ascertained based on a physical model of the exhaust-gas sensor and the environment of the exhaust-gas sensor, and the occurrence of the monitored event is not taken into account in the physical model.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the exhaust-gas sensor has a heating device and a device for a temperature measurement.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one monitored event is flooding of the exhaust-gas sensor by a fluid medium.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one monitored event is a clogging of a gas inlet opening of the exhaust-gas sensor by a solid medium.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one monitored event is ageing of the exhaust-gas sensor.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein in the case of ageing of the exhaust-gas sensor, model parameters for the calculation of a heat quantity at least one of: (i) supplied to the exhaust-gas sensor, and (ii) withdrawn from the exhaust-gas sensor, are adapted, the model parameters including a heater resistance.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the evaluation as to whether the at least one monitored event has occurred takes place based on a comparison of a predefined value with a measure that is obtained by a time integration over a heat output.

10. A non-transitory electronic storage medium on which is stored a computer program for monitoring an exhaust-gas sensor, the computer program, when executed by a control unit, causing the control unit to perform: evaluating at least one heat quantity at least one of: (i) supplied to the exhaust-gas sensor during a period of time, and (ii) withdrawn from the exhaust-gas sensor during the period of time, under consideration of a change in the heat quantity stored by the exhaust-gas sensor that takes place during the period of time; and determining whether at least one monitored event has occurred based on the evaluating, wherein the following heat quantities are ascertained and considered separately from one another during or prior to the evaluation: a heat dissipation between the exhaust-gas sensor and an environment of the exhaust-gas sensor, a heat convection between the exhaust-gas sensor and the environment of the exhaust-gas sensor, and a heat radiation between the exhaust-gas sensor and the environment of the exhaust-gas sensor, and a sum of the heat quantities, and wherein a change in the heat quantity stored by the exhaust-gas sensor taking place during the time period, is compared with a heat output of an electric heating device of the exhaust-gas sensor, and it is determined on this basis whether the at least one monitored event has occurred.

11. An electronic control unit which includes an electronic storage medium on which is stored a computer program for monitoring an exhaust-gas sensor, the computer program, when executed by the electronic control unit, causing the electronic control unit to perform: evaluating at least one heat quantity at least one of: (i) supplied to the exhaust-gas sensor during a period of time, and (ii) withdrawn from the exhaust-gas sensor during the period of time, under consideration of a change in the heat quantity stored by the exhaust-gas sensor that takes place during the period of time; and determining whether at least one monitored event has occurred based on the evaluating, wherein the following heat quantities are ascertained and considered separately from one another during or prior to the evaluation: a heat dissipation between the exhaust-gas sensor and an environment of the exhaust-gas sensor, a heat convection between the exhaust-gas sensor and the environment of the exhaust-gas sensor, and a heat radiation between the exhaust-gas sensor and the environment of the exhaust-gas sensor, and a sum of the heat quantities, and wherein a change in the heat quantity stored by the exhaust-gas sensor taking place during the time period, is compared with a heat output of an electric heating device of the exhaust-gas sensor, and it is determined on this basis whether the at least one monitored event has occurred.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exhaust-gas sensor in an exhaust tract.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of a specific embodiment of the method according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

(3) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exhaust-gas sensor 1 in an exhaust tract 10 of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.

(4) Exhaust-gas sensor 1, for example, may be a particle sensor or a lambda probe. The exhaust-gas sensor encompasses a housing 11, a ceramic sensor element 12, and a sheath tube 13, which has a gas inlet opening 5 on the end face.

(5) Integrated into the ceramic sensor element are a heating device 2 and a device 4 for a temperature measurement, which is based on the evaluation of an electrical resistance of sensor element 12.

(6) Exhaust-gas sensor 1 is electrically contacted via a tight connection 14. In this way, it is in contact with a heating voltage supply 21 on the one side, and with a control and evaluation unit 22 on the other. Control and evaluation unit 22 has additional electronic inputs 22a, which are able to be connected to additional exhaust-gas sensors or additional arithmetic units. For example, information may thereby be available in control and evaluation unit 22 about the exhaust-gas sensor temperature, the ambient temperature, the flow velocity in the environment, the chemical composition of the environment, an amperage and a time characteristic of an electric current flowing through the exhaust-gas sensor, etc.

(7) Heating voltage supply 21 and control and evaluation unit 22 may also be jointly disposed in an exhaust-gas sensor control unit or in an engine control unit.

(8) In this instance, a physical model is furthermore stored in control and evaluation unit 22, with whose aid different heat quantities Q and their time derivatives {dot over (Q)} may be calculated from the available information. In detail, these are the following quantities:

(9) {dot over (Q)}.sub.supplythe heat output supplied by the electric heater,

(10) {dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipationthe heat output that is lost due to the various cooling effects,

(11) {dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStoragethe heat output that is stored in the materials of the exhaust-gas sensor by the heat storage capacity of the exhaust-gas sensor.

(12) The heat output {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply is calculated through the electric quantities. {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply is a function of the effective heater voltage and the heater resistance, in the form of {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply=U.sub.HeaterEffective.sup.2/R.sub.heater. Here, U.sub.HeaterEffective the effective value of the heater voltage, which is present as a pulse-width-modulated signal. R.sub.heater is the heater resistance. It is taken into account as a function of the exhaust-gas sensor temperature T.sub.sensor: R.sub.Heater=(T.sub.sensor).

(13) As an alternative or in addition and depending on the availability of the signals, the heat output that is supplied by the electric heater, {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply, may also be determined with the aid of one or more of the following correlations:
{dot over (Q)}.sub.supply=I.sub.HeaterEffective.sup.2.Math.R.sub.heater
{dot over (Q)}.sub.supply=U.sub.HeaterEffective.Math.I.sub.HeaterEffective,
where I.sub.HeaterEffective is the effective heater current.

(14) The thermal output that is lost due to the various cooling effects, {dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation, takes into account the heat dissipation losses (the conduction), the heat convection losses, the heat radiation losses, and electrical losses in the form of {dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation={dot over (Q)}.sub.conduction+{dot over (Q)}.sub.convection+{dot over (Q)}.sub.radiation+{dot over (Q)}.sub.ElectricalLosses

(15) The heat dissipation losses {dot over (Q)}.sub.conduction are modeled in the form of: {dot over (Q)}.sub.conduction=(T.sub.sensor, T.sub.ExhaustPipeWall).

(16) The heat convection losses {dot over (Q)}.sub.convection are modeled in the form of: {dot over (Q)}.sub.convection=(T.sub.Sensor, E.sub.ExhaustGas, Exhaust-gas flow through sheath pipe).

(17) The heat radiation losses {dot over (Q)}.sub.radiation are modeled in the form of: {dot over (Q)}.sub.radiation=(T.sub.Sensor.sup.4, T.sub.ExhaustGas, Exhaust-gas flow through sheath pipe).

(18) The electrical losses {dot over (Q)}.sub.ElectricalLosses are modeled in the form of: {dot over (Q)}.sub.ElectricalLosses=(R.sub.Heater, R.sub.HeaterSupply, R.sub.HeaterSwitch, U.sub.HeaterEffective), where

(19) T.sub.ExhaustPipeWall: the temperature of the exhaust-pipe wall at the location of the exhaust-gas sensor;

(20) T.sub.ExhaustGas: the exhaust-gas temperature at the location of the exhaust-gas sensor

(21) R.sub.HeaterSupply: the electrical resistance of the heater supply line;

(22) R.sub.HeaterSwitch: the electrical resistance of the heater switch.

(23) The quantity {dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStorage formally occurring as loss is the rate of change of the internal energy or the heat quantity that is stored in the exhaust-gas sensor.

(24) $Q_{\mathrm{HeatStorage}}=C_{\mathrm{Sensor}}\frac{{\mathrm{dt}}_{\mathrm{Sensor}}}{\mathrm{dt}},$

(25) C.sub.Sensor being the heat storage capacity of the exhaust-gas sensor.

(26) An adaptation of the heat storage capacity to its actual value, e.g. in the case of ageing of the exhaust-gas sensor, may be provided.

(27) It is provided that the various heat outputs are compared to one another in a balance equation. In the event that all occurring heat outputs are correctly acquired in the physical model, this balance equation represents the conservation of energy law: {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply=Q.sub.dissipation+Q.sub.HeatStorage. In this case it may be determined that a monitored event has not occurred. One will also reach the same result if the equation is not exactly but still approximately satisfied.

(28) Another result could be that more heat was supplied to the exhaust-gas sensor than corresponds to the ascertained heat losses: {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply>{dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation+{dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStorage. In this case, it may be inferred that there is an additional heat loss that was not considered in the model, as may occur as a result of flooding of the exhaust-gas sensor when a motor vehicle is driving through deep water. Especially such an event may be inferred.

(29) It may optionally be provided that the inference of the travel in deep water event takes place only when the discrepancy between the heat quantities supplied to the exhaust-gas sensor and the ascertained heat losses is great and occurs suddenly, for instance by more than 10% or within less than 10 seconds, respectively. In order to ensure a reliable detection of the driving in deep water event, it may be required as an additional, necessary criterion that the dynamic behavior, in particular the change in the physical quantities {dot over (Q)}.sub.suppply>{dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation+{dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStorage listed on the two sides of the inequation correlates, and in particular shows a rapid increase in each case.

(30) Another result could be that less heat was supplied to the exhaust-gas sensor than corresponds to the ascertained heat losses: {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply<{dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation+{dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStorage. In this case, it may be inferred that the heat losses in reality are less than assumed on the basis of the model. In particular, it may be inferred that clogging of a gas inlet opening 5 of exhaust-gas sensor 1 by a solid medium is present. As an additional, necessary criterion for a reliable detection of the clogging event, it may be demanded that the dynamic behavior, especially the change in the physical variables present on the two sides of the inequation, {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply>{dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation+{dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStorage, does not correlate.

(31) Over the course of the service life, ageing of exhaust-gas sensor 1 takes place, which manifests itself especially by a gradual increase in the actual value of resistance R.sub.Heater of its heating device 2. If the previously used value continues to be used in the modeling for calculating heat quantity {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply supplied to the exhaust-gas sensor, then this will result in an incorrect calculation of heat quantity {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply supplied to the exhaust-gas sensor. More precisely, it will be overvalued or undervalued, depending on the manner in which {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply is calculated ({dot over (Q)}.sub.supply=I.sub.HeaterEffective.sup.2.Math.R.sub.heater or {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply=U.sub.HeaterEffective.sup.2/R.sub.heater).

(32) In order to improve the method according to the present invention, it may therefore be provided to recognize this ageing, to take it into account and/or to compensate for it.

(33) A consideration of the ageing of exhaust-gas sensor 1 may be realized in that on the basis of empirical values, model parameters for calculating a heat quantity supplied to exhaust-gas sensor 1 and/or withdrawn from exhaust-gas sensor 1, especially a parameter that describes a heater resistance R.sub.heater, is/are gradually modified over the service life of exhaust-gas sensor 1. For example, corrections of this type may take place as a function of the operating hours of exhaust-gas sensor 1. As the case may be, certain operating conditions of exhaust-gas sensor 1, such as the temperature and/or a similar condition, may be taken into account in addition.

(34) As an alternative but also completely in the sense of the present invention, a detection of the ageing of exhaust-gas sensor 1 may also take place with the aid of a method in which it is determined whether ageing of exhaust-gas sensor 1, in particular a rise in heater resistance R.sub.heater, has taken place. This determination is carried out by analyzing at least one heat quantity supplied to exhaust-gas sensor 1 during a time period and/or a heat quantity withdrawn from exhaust-gas sensor 1 during the particular time period, in particular under consideration of a change in the heat quantity stored by exhaust-gas sensor 1 during the time period.

(35) For example, this may be done by comparing the heat losses {dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation+{dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStorage with modeled heat output {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply across a certain period of time, in particular across a longer period of time, such as at least 100 s. If a permanent deviation comes about between the heat losses {dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation+{dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStorage and modeled heat output {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply, then it may be inferred that ageing of exhaust-gas sensor 1, in particular an increase in heater resistance R.sub.heater, has taken place.

(36) Additional criteria may be utilized in order to be able to reliably distinguish between the case of ageing of the exhaust-gas sensor and the cases of driving through deep water and/or clogging of the sheath tube.

(37) For example, the inference of an aged exhaust-gas sensor 1 is particularly only permitted if a deviation between the heat losses {dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation+{dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStorage and modeled heat output {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply occurs gradually, e.g., by at most a few percent across 100 operating hours. In the case of deep water driving, on the other hand, a deviation between heat losses {dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation+{dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStorage and modeled heat output {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply takes place within a very short period of time, for example within a few seconds. In addition or as an alternative, it may be provided that the inference of an aged exhaust-gas sensor 1 is permitted only if the deviation also occurs in situations in which driving through deep water is physically impossible, e.g., at a high vehicle speed of at least 50 km/h, for example.

(38) In addition or as an alternative, it may also be provided that the inference of an aged sensor is not permitted especially if a marked dependency of the deviation between the heat losses {dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation+{dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStorage and the modeled heat output {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply from the exhaust-gas velocity at the location of exhaust-gas sensor 1 is noticeable. In this case, one may possibly also assume clogging of a gas inlet opening 5 of exhaust-gas sensor 1 by a solid medium.

(39) After ageing of exhaust-gas sensor 1 has been detected, such ageing may be taken into account by an adequate adaptation of a model parameter for the calculation of a heat quantity supplied to exhaust-gas sensor 1 and/or withdrawn from exhaust-gas sensor 1, in particular a parameter that describes a heater resistance R.sub.heater.

(40) Whether the equation {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply={dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation+{dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStorage has been satisfied with sufficient accuracy, or in other words, only small and/or only brief deviations occur, or whether deviations permit the conclusion that certain events have occurred or may have occurred as a function of additional criteria, can then for one be inferred from the absolute amount of the deviation that has occurred.

(41) However, such a measure is tainted by error since the magnitude of the deviation may be subject to external conditions to which exhaust-gas sensor 1 is exposed (such as the exhaust-gas temperature, exhaust-tract wall temperature, exhaust-gas velocity, exhaust-gas acceleration, and exhaust-gas mass flow); it may furthermore depend on operating conditions of exhaust-gas sensor 1 (e.g., the sensor temperature, the voltage duty cycle of the sensor heater, the sensor voltage).

(42) An objective measure for whether the equation {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply={dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation+{dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStorage has been satisfied with sufficient accuracy may be provided as follows:

(43) The variable {dot over (Q)}.sub.deviation is calculated from {dot over (Q)}.sub.deviation=({dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation+{dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStorage)modeled. {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply and may have a negative or a positive algebraic sign.

(44) An amplified and energetically normalized measure {dot over (Q)}.sub.deviation, amplified, normalized is formed:

(45) $Q_{\mathrm{deviation},\mathrm{amplified},\mathrm{normalized}}=\frac{Q_{{\mathrm{deviation}}^2}}{{\left({\stackrel{.}{Q}}_{\mathrm{dissipation}}+{\stackrel{.}{Q}}_{\mathrm{HeatStorage}}\right)}_{\mathrm{modeled}}}$

(46) This is applied to certain periods of time through time integration and time normalization:

(47) $Q_{\mathrm{deviation},\mathrm{amplified},\mathrm{normalized}}={}_{t_1}^{t_2}{Q}_{\mathrm{deviation},\mathrm{amplified},\mathrm{normalized}}.Math.\mathrm{dt}$$Q_{\mathrm{deviation},\mathrm{amplified},\mathrm{normalized},\mathrm{time}\text{-}\mathrm{normalized}}=\frac{Q_{\mathrm{deviation},\mathrm{amplified},\mathrm{normalized}}}{t}$
where t=(t.sub.at.sub.1)+(t.sub.ctb)+(t.sub.et.sub.d)+ . . . +(t.sub.2t.sub.f) and [t.sub.1, t.sub.2]={[t.sub.1, t.sub.a], [t.sub.b, t.sub.c], [t.sub.d, t.sub.e] . . . [t.sub.f, t.sub.2]}

(48) As such an objective measure {dot over (Q)}.sub.obj: {dot over (Q)}.sub.deviation, amplified, normalized, time-normalized may already be used. In order to obtain better robustness, it is also possible to form a mean value across a multitude of time raster samples:

(49) $Q_{\mathrm{deviation},\mathrm{amplified},\mathrm{normalized},\mathrm{time}\text{-}\mathrm{normalized},\mathrm{mean}\text{-}\mathrm{value}}=\frac{{}_{t_1}^{t_2}{\stackrel{.}{Q}}_{\mathrm{deviation},\mathrm{amplified},\mathrm{normalized},\mathrm{time}\text{-}\mathrm{normalized}}.Math.\mathrm{dt}}{\mathrm{number}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{time}\mathrm{raster}\mathrm{samples}\left(t\right)}$

(50) The objective measure {dot over (Q)}.sub.obj obtained in this manner is finally also compared to a predefined threshold in order to determine in an objective manner whether or not the monitored event has occurred.

(51) FIG. 2 once again shows steps of the method according to the present invention by way of example. In a first step 101, an electrical heat output {dot over (Q)}.sub.z of exhaust-gas sensor 1 is detected. In a second step 102, heat quantities {dot over (Q)}.sub.a withdrawn from exhaust-gas sensor 1, a change in heat quantity {dot over (Q)}.sub.w stored by exhaust-gas sensor 1 are detected. In a third step 103, a comparison of the neat quantities takes place. In addition, as already outlined, an objective measure {dot over (Q)}.sub.obj is calculated, which describes to what extent the equation {dot over (Q)}.sub.supply={dot over (Q)}.sub.dissipation+{dot over (Q)}.sub.HeatStorage is satisfied or to what extent deviations are present.

(52) In the following text, on the basis of the comparison, and possibly under consideration of additional criteria and possibly under consideration of objective measure {dot over (Q)}.sub.obj and a predefined value, as described earlier, a decision is made in steps 104a and 104b and 104c as to whether or not clogging of sheath tube 13 is present; in addition or as an alternative, it is decided whether or not flooding of exhaust-gas sensor 1 is present. In addition or as an alternative, it is determined whether ageing of exhaust-gas sensor 1 has occurred. The method may subsequently begin again at step 101. If warranted, especially in the event that sensor ageing was previously determined, an adaptation of model parameters, especially a parameter that describes a heater resistance R.sub.heater, may be implemented in step 105.