Method for Increasing Catalyst Temperature Using Ethanol-Blended Diesel Fuels

Abstract

A method for managing the temperature of an E-diesel catalyst by distilling out a portion of the ethanol, injecting the distilled ethanol into exhaust gasses upstream of the catalyst, reacting the distilled ethanol with excess oxygen in the exhaust gasses to produce heat, and controlling the ethanol injection using various engine parameters.

1 . A method for managing the temperature of an E-diesel catalyst comprising the steps of: 
 distilling out a portion of the ethanol in E-diesel under reduced pressure,    injecting said distilled ethanol into exhaust gasses from the engine upstream of the catalyst,    reacting said distilled ethanol with excess oxygen in said exhaust gasses to produce heat,    controlling said ethanol injection using at least one engine parameter selected from the group consisting of intake air flow, fuel mixture richness, engine operating temperature, catalyst temperature and NO x  sensor output.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising an ignition source to initiate the reaction ethanol with oxygen.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said ignition source is selected from the group consisting of spark plug and glow plug.  
   
   
       4 . A method of  claim 1  wherein said catalyst further comprises an oxidation catalyst and a separate reducing catalyst.  
   
   
       5 . A method of  claim 1  wherein said ethanol injection is performed periodically.