Method and apparatus for operating an emission abatement assembly

Abstract

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a method of operating an emission abatement system having a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst includes supplying fuel to a fuel-fired burner positioned upstream of the SCR catalyst to heat exhaust gas being advanced to the SCR catalyst. The method further includes determining a flow rate of fuel being supplied to the burner. The method further includes predicting the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner based upon the determined fuel flow rate. The method further includes supplying the predicted amount of fuel to the burner.

1 . A method of operating an emission abatement system comprising a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, the method comprising:
 supplying fuel to a fuel-fired burner positioned upstream of the SCR catalyst to heat exhaust gas being advanced to the SCR catalyst,   determining a flow rate of fuel being supplied to the burner,   predicting the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner based upon the determined fuel flow rate, and   supplying the predicted amount of fuel to the burner.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a flow rate of the exhaust gas flowing through the burner, wherein:
 predicting the amount of fuel further comprises predicting the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner based upon the flow rate of exhaust gas flowing through the burner.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining a temperature of the exhaust gas at an inlet of the burner, wherein:
 predicting the amount of fuel further comprises predicting the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner based upon the temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the burner.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a temperature of the exhaust gas at an inlet of the burner, wherein:
 predicting the amount of fuel further comprises predicting the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner based upon the temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the burner.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein predicting the amount of fuel comprises:
 integrating the determined flow rate of fuel, and   predicting the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner using a fuzzy logic control strategy having the integral of the determined flow rate of fuel as an input variable thereof.   
   
   
       6 . A method of operating an emission abatement system comprising a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, the method comprising:
 supplying fuel to a fuel-fired burner positioned upstream of the SCR catalyst to heat exhaust gas being advanced to the SCR catalyst,   determining a temperature of the exhaust gas at an inlet of the burner,   predicting the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner based upon the temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the burner, and   supplying the predicted amount of fuel to the burner.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein predicting the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner based upon the temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the burner comprises predicting the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner using a Smith predictor control strategy having the integral of the determined flow rate of fuel as an input variable thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein predicting the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner based upon the temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the burner comprises predicting the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner using a bang-bang control strategy having the integral of the determined flow rate of fuel as an input variable thereof. 
   
   
       9 . An emission abatement assembly comprising:
 a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst,   a fuel fired burner positioned upstream of the SCR catalyst and operable to heat exhaust gas being advanced to the SCR catalyst,   a first sensor configured to determine a flow rate of fuel being supplied to the burner and generate a response thereto,   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 a flow rate of fuel based upon the signal generated by the first sensor, 
 predict the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner based upon the determined fuel flow rate, and 
 operate the fuel delivery assembly to supply the predicted amount of fuel to the burner based upon the determined fuel flow rate. 
   
   
   
       10 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor further cause the processor to:
 integrate the determined flow rate of fuel, and   predict the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner using a fuzzy logic control strategy having the integral of the determined flow rate of fuel as an input variable.   
   
   
       11 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a second sensor configured to determine a flow rate of exhaust gas flowing through the burner and generating a response thereto, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
 determine the flow rate of the exhaust gas flowing through the burner based upon the signal generated by the second sensor,   predict the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner based upon the flow rate of exhaust gas through the burner, and   operate the fuel delivery assembly to supply the predicted amount of fuel to the burner based upon the flow rate of exhaust gas through the burner.   
   
   
       12 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a third sensor configured to determine a temperature exhaust gas at an inlet of the burner and generating a response thereto, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
 determine the temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the burner based upon the signal generated by the third sensor,   predict the amount of fuel to be further supplied to the burner based upon the temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the burner, and   operate the fuel delivery assembly to supply the predicted amount of fuel to the burner based upon the temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the burner.   
   
   
       13 . The emission abatement assembly of  claim 8  further comprising a second sensor configured to determine the temperature of the SCR catalyst and generate a signal in response thereto, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
 determine the temperature of the SCR catalyst based upon the signal generated by the second sensor, and operate the fuel delivery system to supply fuel to the burner based upon the temperature of the SCR catalyst.