Method and system for regenerating particulate filter

Abstract

A particulate filter regeneration system regenerates a particulate filter provided in an exhaust line of an engine equipped with a turbocharger by burning matter trapped on the particulate filter by raising the temperature of exhaust gas at times that the particulate filter requires regeneration. The system has an electric motor functioning as an intake quantity regeneration portion capable of increasing the flow rate of compressed air without depending on the flow rate of exhaust gas flowing across a turbine of the turbocharger, a bypass line connecting an engine intake line upstream of the engine to a section of the exhaust line upstream of the particulate filter, a flow rate regulation valve regulating the flow rate in the bypass line, and a control portion controlling the electric motor and the flow rate regulator.

1 . A method of regenerating a particulate filter provided in an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine equipped with a turbocharger, by burning matter trapped on the particulate filter by raising the temperature of exhaust gas at times that the particulate filter requires regeneration, comprising:
 a first step of increasing the flow rate of compressed air without depending on the flow rate of exhaust gas flowing across a turbine of the turbocharger, and a second step of delivering part of the compressed air from a section of an intake line upstream of the internal combustion engine to a section of the exhaust line upstream of the particulate filter, bypassing the engine.   
     
     
         2 . The method of regenerating the particulate filter according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a third step of performing regulation to reduce the energy loss that the exhaust gas suffers in the turbine.   
     
     
         3 . The method of regenerating the particulate filter according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the third step consists of opening a variable nozzle provided to make the turbocharger a variable displacement type, or opening a wastegate. 
     
     
         4 . A system for regenerating a particulate filter provided in an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine equipped with a turbocharger, by burning matter trapped on the particulate filter by raising the temperature of exhaust gas at times that the particulate filter requires regeneration, comprising:
 an intake quantity regulation means capable of increasing the flow rate of compressed air without depending on the flow rate of exhaust gas flowing across a turbine of the turbocharger, a bypass line connecting a section of an intake line upstream of the internal combustion engine to a section of the exhaust line upstream of the particulate filter, a flow rate regulation valve regulating the flow rate in the bypass line, and a control means controlling the intake quantity regulation means and the flow rate regulation valve.   
     
     
         5 . The system for regenerating the particulate filter according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the intake quantity regulation means consists of an electric motor connected to the turbocharger or an electric booster arranged upstream of the turbocharger. 
     
     
         6 . The system for regenerating the particulate filter according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the bypass line is connected to the exhaust line, immediately after the internal combustion engine or immediately before the particulate filter. 
     
     
         7 . The system for regenerating the particulate filter according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the turbocharger includes a turbine flow regulation means regulating the flow rate of exhaust gas entering the turbine, and the control means regulates the turbine flow regulation means to reduce the energy loss that the exhaust gas suffers in the turbine. 
     
     
         8 . The system for regenerating the particulate filter according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the turbine flow regulation means consists of a variable nozzle or a wastegate, and the control means opens the variable nozzle or the wastegate.