Method and Apparatus for Controlling a Fuel-Fired Burner of an Emission Abatement Assembly

Abstract

A method of operating a fuel-fired burner of an emission abatement assembly includes advancing exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine to the fuel-fired burner. The method further includes determining an amount of useable oxygen present in the exhaust gas. The method further includes adjusting an amount of fuel supplied to the burner based upon the amount of useable oxygen present in the exhaust gas.

1 . A method of operating a fuel-fired burner of an emission abatement assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
 advancing exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine to the fuel-fired burner,   determining an amount of useable oxygen present in the exhaust gas, and   adjusting an amount of fuel supplied to the burner based upon the amount of useable oxygen present in the exhaust gas.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the amount of useable oxygen comprises:
 comparing at least one operating condition of the internal combustion engine to predetermined data, and   determining the amount of useable oxygen present in the exhaust gas based upon the predetermined data.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining the engine speed of the internal combustion engine, wherein:
 determining the amount of useable oxygen comprises determining the amount of useable oxygen present in the exhaust gas based upon the engine speed.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining the engine load of the internal combustion engine, wherein:
 determining the amount of useable oxygen comprises determining the amount of useable oxygen present in the exhaust gas based upon the engine load.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining a fuel limit of the amount of fuel supplied to the burner based upon the amount of useable oxygen present in the exhaust gas, and   adjusting the amount of fuel supplied to the burner based upon the fuel limit.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining an amount of oxygen available from an air supply, wherein:
 adjusting the amount of fuel comprises adjusting the amount of fuel to supplied the burner based upon the amount of useable oxygen present in the exhaust gas and the amount of oxygen available from the air supply.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein determining the amount of oxygen available from the air supply comprises determining the amount of oxygen available from a turbocharger. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein determining the amount of oxygen available from the air supply comprises determining the amount of oxygen available from an air pump. 
   
   
       9 . An emission abatement assembly for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a fuel-fired burner configured to receive exhaust gas advanced from the internal combustion engine,   a sensor configured to generate a signal indicating at least one operating condition of the engine,   an electronically-controlled fuel delivery assembly operable to deliver fuel to the burner, and   a controller electrically coupled to the fuel delivery assembly, the controller comprising (i) a processor, and (ii) a memory device electrically coupled to the processor, the memory device having stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:   determine an amount of useable oxygen present in the exhaust gas based upon the signal generated by the sensor, and   operate the fuel delivery assembly to adjust an amount of fuel supplied to the burner based upon the amount of useable oxygen present in the exhaust gas.   
   
   
       10 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
 determine the at least one operating condition based upon the signal generated by the sensor,   compare the at least one operating condition of the internal combustion engine to predetermined data, and   determine the amount of useable oxygen present in the exhaust gas based upon the predetermined data.   
   
   
       11 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one operating condition is the engine speed of the internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       12 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one operating condition is the engine load of the internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       13 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
 determine a fuel limit of the amount of fuel supplied to the burner based upon the amount of useable oxygen present in the exhaust gas, and   operate the fuel delivery assembly to adjust the amount of fuel supplied to the burner based upon fuel limit.   
   
   
       14 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising an air supply electronically coupled to the controller, wherein:
 the controller is electrically coupled to the air supply, and   the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:   determine an amount of oxygen available from the air supply, and   operate the fuel delivery assembly to adjust the amount of fuel based upon the amount of useable oxygen present in the exhaust gas and the amount of oxygen available from the air supply.   
   
   
       15 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the air supply comprises a turbocharger. 
   
   
       16 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the air supply comprises an air pump.