Particle filter assembly for a motor vehicle, motor vehicle, and method for regenerating a particle filter

Abstract

A particle filter assembly for a motor vehicle includes a particle filter, an exhaust-gas-conducting line which opens into the particle filter, and a secondary air supply. The secondary air supply is formed separately from the exhaust-gas-conducting line and fresh air is suppliable to the particle filter via the secondary air supply.

Claims

1. A particle filter assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising: a particle filter; an exhaust-gas-conducting line which opens into the particle filter; and a secondary air supply, wherein the secondary air supply is formed separately from the exhaust-gas-conducting line and wherein fresh air is suppliable to the particle filter via the secondary air supply, wherein the secondary air supply is not connected in terms of flow to an intake tract of an internal combustion engine, wherein a pump is disposed in the secondary air supply, wherein the pump is a suction jet pump, wherein a throttle valve is disposed in the secondary air supply downstream of the pump in a direction of flow of the fresh air, wherein a measuring section is disposed in the secondary air supply downstream of the throttle valve in the direction of flow of the fresh air, and wherein the particle filter has an exhaust gas inlet and an air inlet and wherein the air inlet is formed separately from the exhaust gas inlet.

2. The particle filter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the particle filter is disposed downstream of a catalytic converter and wherein the fresh air supply is disposed downstream of the catalytic converter.

3. The particle filter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the particle filter is an Otto particle filter.

4. A motor vehicle, comprising: an internal combustion engine; an exhaust gas system; and the particle filter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the particle filter assembly is connected to the exhaust gas system.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the internal combustion engine is an Otto engine.

6. A method for regenerating the particle filter of the particle filter assembly according to claim 1 in a driving mode of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: cleaning an exhaust gas flowing through the particle filter by depositing soot particles on a surface of a honeycomb body of the particle filter; supplying fresh air in addition to the exhaust gas into the particle filter by the secondary air supply; and burning off the deposited soot particles.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the particle filter is regenerated at any operating points of the motor vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 6 further comprising a step of measuring a secondary air mass flow.

9. The particle filter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the measuring section is a throttle or a nozzle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 schematically shows a motor vehicle according to the invention with a particle filter assembly;

(2) FIG. 2 schematically shows a particle filter assembly according to the invention; and

(3) FIG. 3 schematically shows a further particle filter assembly according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(4) FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle 10 according to the invention having an internal combustion engine 12, in particular having an Otto engine, and having a particle filter assembly 14. The particle filter assembly 14 is connected in terms of flow to an exhaust gas system 16 of the motor vehicle 10.

(5) FIG. 2 shows a particle filter assembly 14 according to the invention for a motor vehicle, for example for a motor vehicle 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

(6) The particle filter assembly 14 comprises an exhaust-gas-conducting line 18 which is connected to the exhaust gas system 16 of the motor vehicle 10 or which is simultaneously part of the particle filter assembly 14 and of the exhaust gas system 16. The particle filter assembly 14 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a single-flow arrangement, that is to say a particle filter assembly 14 having just one exhaust-gas-conducting line 18.

(7) The particle filter assembly 14 furthermore comprises a particle filter 20 which has a housing 22 and a honeycomb body 24 arranged in the housing 22.

(8) In the embodiment shown, the particle filter 20 is arranged upstream of a muffler 26 and downstream of a catalytic converter 28. Alternatively, the particle filter 20 can be located downstream of a muffler 26 or in a muffler 26.

(9) The particle filter 20 can also be arranged downstream of the muffler 26. The particle filter 20 can also be integrated in the muffler 26.

(10) For the regeneration of the particle filter 20, the particle filter 20 comprises a secondary air supply 30 via which fresh air can be supplied to the particle filter 20, specifically by means of a line 32. The secondary air supply 30 is formed separately from the exhaust-gas-conducting line 18 here.

(11) The particle filter 20 thus comprises an exhaust gas inlet 17 and an air inlet 19 which is formed separately from the exhaust gas inlet 17.

(12) In order to control or to regulate the fresh air supply, a valve 34, for example a switchable valve, in particular a regulating valve, is arranged in the line 32. As a result, irrespective of the short operating points with excess oxygen in the exhaust gas system of the internal combustion engine 12 (for example overrunning mode, gear shifting operations, etc.), fresh air can be supplied to the particle filter 20 at any operating points.

(13) The secondary air supply 30 also comprises a pump 36 in order to sufficiently build up pressure in the line 32 so as to supply fresh air to the particle filter 20, for example a suction jet pump or a secondary air pump.

(14) Alternatively or additionally, the secondary air supply 30, in particular the line 32, can be connected in terms of flow to an intake tract of the internal combustion engine 12.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a particle filter assembly 14 according to the invention. The particle filter assembly 14 according to FIG. 3 differs from the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 in that it is a two-flow arrangement, that is to say a particle filter assembly 14 having two exhaust-gas-conducting lines 18. A particle filter assembly 14 is arranged in each of the exhaust-gas-conducting lines 18. Two-flow exhaust gas systems are generally used in the case of high-performance internal combustion engines.

(16) In this case, the secondary air supply 30 comprises a branching line 32 which supplies fresh air equally to the two particle filters 20. Alternatively, two separate lines 32 can also be provided.

(17) The particle filter 20 is regenerated equally for each embodiment.

(18) In the driving mode of the motor vehicle 10, first of all exhaust gas is cleaned by exhaust gas flowing through the particle filter 20 and, in the process, soot particles being deposited on a surface of the honeycomb body of the particle filter 20.

(19) For the regeneration of the particle filter 20, fresh air in addition to the exhaust gas is additionally supplied into the particle filter 20. The deposited soot particles can thereby be burned off.

(20) In particular, the fresh air is supplied separately from the exhaust gas air, which means that the fresh air is mixed with the exhaust gas only in the particle filter 20. It is also possible for the line 32 for supplying fresh air to open into the exhaust-gas-conducting line 18 upstream of the particle filter 20, but in any case downstream of the catalytic converter 28.

(21) In order to measure a mass flow of the secondary air, a measuring section 38 is provided both in the case of the single-flow and in the case of the two-flow embodiment.