Powertrain Control to Optimize CO2 and Criteria Pollutants

Abstract

A powertrain control unit may be configured to control an engine to optimize the emission of CO2 vs. criteria pollutants according to various duty cycle parameters. The control unit may identify a first operating condition is expected to fulfill a demand for output with an exhaust stream having a first amount of a pollutant (e.g., CO2, NOx, particulate matter), and a second operating condition expected to fulfill the demand with an exhaust stream having a reduced amount of the pollutant as compared to the first amount. The powertrain control unit may receive duty cycle information to control the engine to fulfill the demand per the second operating condition, yielding the reduced amount of pollutant in the exhaust. Duty cycle information may include speed, location, position, rotation, temperature, and/or other information. A vehicle, backhoe, bulldozer, crane, and/or combine harvester may comprise the powertrain control unit and an engine and aftertreatment system. An exhaust aftertreatment system may be remotely activated, which may reduce warmup time associated with emissions mitigation.

1 . A powertrain control unit configured to control an engine coupled to a load, the powertrain control unit comprising a processor and a computer readable non-transitory storage medium and configured to:
 receive a demand for output to be provided by the engine to the load;   identify a first operating condition that is expected to fulfill the demand, the first operating condition having a first expected emissions profile in an exhaust stream from the engine during operation according to the first operating condition, the first emissions profile including:
 a first amount of a first pollutant, and 
 a first amount of a second pollutant; 
   identify a second operating condition that is expected to fulfill the demand, the second operating condition having a second emissions profile in the exhaust stream from the engine during operation according to the second operating condition, the second emissions profile including:
 a second amount of the first pollutant that is less than the first amount of the first pollutant, and 
 a second amount of the second pollutant; and 
   control the engine to fulfill the demand according to the second operating condition.   
     
     
         2 . The powertrain control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the second amount of the second pollutant in the exhaust stream is greater than the first amount of the second pollutant. 
     
     
         3 . The powertrain control unit of  claim 2 , wherein the first pollutant includes a criteria pollutant, and the second pollutant includes CO2. 
     
     
         4 . The powertrain control unit of  claim 3 , wherein the criteria pollutant comprises NO. 
     
     
         5 . The powertrain control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first pollutant includes soot, and the second pollutant includes NO2. 
     
     
         6 . The powertrain control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first pollutant includes NOx, and the second pollutant includes CO2. 
     
     
         7 . The powertrain control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the demand comprises a first demand at a first time and a second demand at a second time, the powertrain control unit further configured to:
 receive the first demand;   identify the first operating condition that is expected to fulfill the first demand, the first operating condition having a first expected emissions profile in an exhaust stream from the engine during operation according to the first operating condition, the first emissions profile including:
 a first amount of a first pollutant, and 
 a first amount of a second pollutant; 
   identify the second operating condition that is expected to fulfill the first demand, the second operating condition having a second emissions profile in the exhaust stream from the engine during operation according to the second operating condition, the second emissions profile including:
 a second amount of the first pollutant that is less than the first amount of the first pollutant, and 
 a second amount of the second pollutant that is greater than the first amount of the second pollutant; 
   control the engine to fulfill the demand according to the second operating condition;   receive the second demand;   identify a third operating condition that is expected to fulfill the second demand, the third operating condition having a third expected emissions profile in the exhaust stream during operation according to the third operating condition, the third emissions profile including:
 a third amount of the first pollutant, and 
 a third amount of the second pollutant; 
   identify a fourth operating condition that is expected to fulfill the second demand, the fourth operating condition having a fourth emissions profile in the exhaust stream during operation according to the fourth operating condition, the fourth emissions profile including:
 a fourth amount of the first pollutant that is greater than the third amount of the first pollutant, and 
 a fourth amount of the second pollutant that is less than the third amount of the second pollutant; 
   control the engine to fulfill the second demand according to the fourth operating condition.   
     
     
         8 . The powertrain control unit of  claim 7 , wherein the first pollutant comprises at least one of N2O, NO, and NO2, and the second pollutant comprises soot. 
     
     
         9 . The powertrain control unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a location sensor coupled to the processor and configured to identify a geographical location of the engine, the powertrain control unit further configured to:
 receive location data defining the location of the engine;   identify the location as associated with a reduced emissions profile having a constraint on emitted amounts of one or more pollutants;   identify a modified demand lower than the received demand, the modified demand having an acceptable deviation from the received demand;   choose a reduced operating condition for operation proximate to the location, the reduced operating condition having the reduced emissions profile while fulfilling the modified demand;   replace the received demand with the modified demand; and   control the engine to fulfill the modified demand according to the reduced operating condition.   
     
     
         10 . The powertrain control unit of  claim 9 , wherein the location information associated with the reduced emissions profile comprises at least one of a school, a hospital, a nursing home, and a toll booth. 
     
     
         11 . The powertrain control unit of  claim 1 , further configured to precondition an aftertreatment system coupled to the engine prior to fulfilling the demand. 
     
     
         12 . A powertrain comprising:
 the powertrain control unit of  claim 1 ,   an engine coupled to the powertrain control unit, and   an aftertreatment system coupled to the engine and powertrain control unit, the aftertreatment system configured to reduce an amount of one or more pollutants in the exhaust stream.   
     
     
         13 . The powertrain of  claim 12 , wherein the engine comprises a direct injection engine and the aftertreatment system comprises a particulate filter. 
     
     
         14 . The powertrain of  claim 12 , wherein the engine comprises an Atkinson cycle engine. 
     
     
         15 . The powertrain of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the engine comprises a gasoline engine; and   the aftertreatment system comprises a three-way catalytic converter.   
     
     
         16 . The powertrain of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the engine comprises a diesel engine; and   the aftertreatment system comprises at least one of an SCR system, a NOx trap, and a lean NOx catalyst.   
     
     
         17 . A backhoe, bulldozer, crane, or combine harvester comprising the powertrain of  claim 12 , wherein the engine comprises a diesel engine and the aftertreatment system comprises an SCR system. 
     
     
         18 . A method for operating a powertrain comprising:
 the powertrain control unit of  claim 1 ; and   an engine coupled to the powertrain control unit;
 the method comprising:
 receiving the demand for output; 
 calculating the first emissions profile associated with fulfilling the demand pursuant to the first operating condition; 
 calculating the second emissions profile associated with fulfilling the demand pursuant to the second operating condition; and 
 controlling the engine to fulfill the demand according to the second operating condition. 
 
   
     
     
         19 . A powertrain control unit configured to control a powertrain comprising an engine, an aftertreatment system coupled to the engine, and an energy supply coupled to at least one of the engine and the aftertreatment system, the powertrain control unit configured to:
 receive a demand for output from the powertrain;   activate the aftertreatment system with the energy supply; and   activate the engine after the aftertreatment system has been activated.   
     
     
         20 . A remote aftertreatment system for reducing a concentration of a pollutant in an exhaust stream emitted by a tailpipe, the system comprising:
 an aftertreatment device including:
 a container having an inlet and an outlet, the container having a volume greater than one gallon; 
 a hose coupled to the inlet at one end and having a fitting at the other end, the fitting configured to fluidically couple the hose to the tailpipe of at least one of a bus, a train, a ship, a boat, a truck, a fire engine, and an ambulance, such that the exhaust stream emitted by the tailpipe is conveyed to the inlet; 
 a suction device coupled to the container and configured to suck the exhaust stream from the tailpipe into the hose; and 
 an apparatus within the container that is configured to reduce the concentration of the pollutant upon interaction of the exhaust stream with the apparatus.