Internal Combustion Engine Featuring Exhaust Gas Aftertreatment and Method For the Operation Thereof

Abstract

An internal combustion engine with exhaust gas aftertreatment and method for the operation thereof are provided. The internal combustion engine includes at least one first and one second group of one or more combustion chambers, in which the one or more combustion chambers of the first group may be supplied with fuel independently of the one or more combustion chambers of the second group, an exhaust system having a first exhaust branch line which leads away from the first combustion chamber group, and a second exhaust branch line which leads away from the second combustion chamber group, and at least one exhaust gas aftertreatment unit which, at the inlet side, is connected to the first and second exhaust branch lines. Also, a bypass line, which leads away from the second exhaust branch line, for bypassing the exhaust gas aftertreatment unit is provided.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An internal combustion engine comprising:
 at least one first and one second group of one or more combustion chambers, the one or more combustion chambers of the first group being supplied with fuel independently of the one or more combustion chambers of the second group;   an exhaust system including a first exhaust branch line which leads away from the first combustion chamber group, a second exhaust branch line which leads away from the second combustion chamber group, at least one exhaust gas aftertreatment unit which, at the inlet side, is connected to the first and second exhaust branch lines, and a bypass line, which leads away from the second exhaust branch line, for bypassing the exhaust gas aftertreatment unit; and   a control unit configured to carry out ignition in the second combustion chamber group with a reduced fuel quantity in comparison with the first combustion chamber group in a reduced-power operating mode of the internal combustion engine.   
     
     
         13 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an exhaust gas recirculation line including a controllable valve, which exhaust gas recirculation line leads away from the second exhaust branch line or from the bypass line which leads away from the second exhaust branch line to bypass the exhaust gas aftertreatment unit.   
     
     
         14 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a controllable valve disposed in the bypass line.   
     
     
         15 . An internal combustion engine, as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an exhaust gas recirculation line including a controllable valve, which exhaust gas recirculation line leads away from the second exhaust branch line or from a bypass line which leads away from the second exhaust branch line to bypass the exhaust gas.   
     
     
         16 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 at least one exhaust gas turbocharger, an exhaust gas turbine of which is connected at the inlet side to the first and second exhaust branch lines.   
     
     
         17 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a controllable valve disposed in the second exhaust branch line upstream of the exhaust gas turbine and downstream of a point at which the bypass line opens out.   
     
     
         18 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a controllable switching flap, from which the bypass line leads away, disposed in the second exhaust branch line upstream of the exhaust gas turbine.   
     
     
         19 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a wastegate line, which leads away upstream of the first exhaust branch line and bypasses the exhaust gas turbine, including an actuable wastegate valve.   
     
     
         20 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 at least one exhaust gas turbocharger, an exhaust gas turbine of which is connected at the inlet side to the first and second exhaust branch lines.   
     
     
         21 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 at least one exhaust gas turbocharger, an exhaust gas turbine of which is connected at the inlet side to the first and second exhaust branch lines.   
     
     
         22 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one exhaust gas turbocharger, an exhaust gas turbine of which is connected at the inlet side to the first and second exhaust branch lines.   
     
     
         23 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a controllable valve disposed in the second exhaust branch line upstream of the exhaust gas turbine and downstream of a point at which the bypass line opens out.   
     
     
         24 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a controllable valve disposed in the second exhaust branch line upstream of the exhaust gas turbine and downstream of a point at which the bypass line opens out.   
     
     
         25 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a controllable valve disposed in the second exhaust branch line upstream of the exhaust gas turbine and downstream of a point at which the bypass line opens out.   
     
     
         26 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a controllable switching flap, from which the bypass line leads away, disposed in the second exhaust branch line upstream of the exhaust gas turbine.   
     
     
         27 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a controllable switching flap, from which the bypass line leads away, disposed in the second exhaust branch line upstream of the exhaust gas turbine.   
     
     
         28 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a controllable switching flap, from which the bypass line leads away, disposed in the second exhaust branch line upstream of the exhaust gas turbine.   
     
     
         29 . The internal combustion engine as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a wastegate line, which leads away upstream of the first exhaust branch line and bypasses the exhaust gas turbine, including an actuable wastegate valve.   
     
     
         30 . A method for operating an internal combustion engine including at least one first and one second group of one or more combustion chambers, the one or more combustion chambers of the first group being supplied with fuel independently of the one or more combustion chambers of the second group; an exhaust system including a first exhaust branch line which leads away from the first combustion chamber group, a second exhaust branch line which leads away from the second combustion chamber group, at least one exhaust gas aftertreatment unit which, at the inlet side, is connected to the first and second exhaust branch lines, and a bypass line, which leads away from the second exhaust branch line, for bypassing the exhaust gas aftertreatment unit; and a control unit configured to carry out ignition in the second combustion chamber group with a reduced fuel quantity in comparison with the first combustion chamber group in a reduced-power operating mode of the internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
 in a partial ignition operating mode, reducing the fuel quantity supplied to the second combustion chamber group in comparison with the first combustion chamber group; and   in operating modes in which the fuel quantity supplied to the second combustion chamber group is reduced to a value greater than zero, guiding the exhaust gas passing out of the second combustion chamber group entirely via the exhaust gas recirculation line.