Simplified method for measuring concentrations of exhaust gas components

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20140216130
  • Publication Number
    20140216130
  • Date Filed
    February 04, 2013
    11 years ago
  • Date Published
    August 07, 2014
    10 years ago
Abstract
A simplified method for measuring a first property and a second property of an exhaust gas mixture utilizing a first sensor cross-sensitive to a first property and a second property of an exhaust gas mixture, and a second sensor sensitive to the first property, but not to the second property of the exhaust gas mixture. Direct differential measurement between the two sensors quantifies the concentrations of the first property and second property of the exhaust gas mixture.
Description
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

(Not Applicable)


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Previous ceramic NOx sensors exhibit cross-sensitivities to NH3. This cross-sensitivity reduces the accuracy of the reported NOx concentration from a sensor if NH3 is also present in the exhaust gas mixture. The disclosed invention covers a simplified method for measuring concentrations of NOx and NH3 in an exhaust gas mixture. Previous inventions have required the use of more than one type of sensor (i.e. NOx and NH3 sensors), or other catalytic components. One example of recent prior art (U.S. Pat. No. 7,810,313) uses at least two sensors in a system, but still requires complex algorithms and a decoupling observer module in order to quantify the relative concentrations of NOx and NH3 in an exhaust gas mixture. The complexity of the above methods is unnecessary and can be reduced significantly in the non-obvious method of the disclosed invention. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION


The disclosed invention covers a simplified method for measuring concentrations NOx and NH3 in an exhaust gas mixture using a NOx sensor of traditional design, having a known cross-sensitivity to NH3, and a second NOx sensor not cross-sensitive to NH3. The design of the second NOx sensor uses an integrated NH3 pre-filter to eliminate the cross-sensitivity to the second property.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The enclosed drawing is a system level diagram of the preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention. Flow of exhaust gas (indicated with bold arrows) in the system as well as the points used for direct differential measurements in an electrical schematic are shown.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first NOx sensor of traditional design having a known NH3 cross-sensitivity is placed in the exhaust with a second NOx sensor that is not cross-sensitive to NH3. The second NOx sensor integrates a NH3 pre-filter. Direct differential readings between the two sensors are used to determine both NOx and NH3 concentrations simultaneously using the disclosed method: The first NOx sensor, having a known cross-sensitivity to NH3 is placed in an exhaust channel with a second NOx sensor that is equipped with a NH3 pre-filter. A difference in readings from the first NOx sensor (NOx1) and the second NOx sensor (NOx2) is determined (NOx1−NOx2). The resulting value is used to determine the amounts of NOx and NH3 in the exhaust gas mixture. For example: Sensor NOx1 has a known, measurable, cross-sensitivity to NH3 of c1. Possible NH3 cross-sensitivity values range from greater than zero to 1 (100%). A value of 1 would mean that “n” ppm of NH3 would be reported as “n” ppm of NOx. A value of 0.5 would mean “n” ppm of NH3 would be reported as “0.5×n” ppm of NOx. Sensor NOx2 is equipped with a NH3 pre-filter, effectively reducing cross-sensitivity to NH3 to substantially zero.


Turning now to the enclosed drawing, a system with the following properties is used as an example:

    • Exhaust Gas: (50 ppm NOx & 20 ppm NH3) with value c1=0.32
    • Direct differential measurement between Pt.1 and Pt.2 reads NOx=50 ppm
    • Direct differential measurement between Pt.3 and Pt.4 reads NH3=20 ppm
    • Two NOx sensors (NOx1, NOx2) output current (Ia, Ib) that is translated to voltages (Va, Vb) that are used as inputs into the system above.
    • R1, R2, R3, R4 chosen so that: R1=R2=R3=R4
    • Rf & Ri chosen so that:







1

c
1


=

1
+


R
f


R
i









    • Ra & Rb chosen so that:











R
b



R
a

+

R
b



=

c
1





Where sensor NOx1 having a c1 value of 0.32 and a sensor NOx2 pre-filtered for NH3, then NH3 is found:





NH3=(NOx1−NOx2)/c1





NH3=(56.4 —50)/0.32





NH3=6.4/0.32





NH3=20 ppm


To get NOx:




NOx=NOx1−c1 (NH3)





NOx=56.4−0.32 (20)





NOx=50 ppm

Claims
  • 1. A method for simultaneously measuring two properties associated with an exhaust gas mixture, said method comprising: at least a first sensor wherein said first sensor exhibits a known cross-sensitivity to a first property and a second property in said exhaust gas mixture; a second sensor sensitive only to said first property; directly reading, between said first sensor and said second sensor, a differential value indicative of the variant concentrations of said first property and said second property, considerate of the cross-sensitivity of said first sensor to said second property.
  • 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first property comprises NOx and said second property comprises NH3.
  • 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first sensor is a NOx sensor with a known cross-sensitivity to NH3; said second sensor is a NOx sensor having no substantial cross-sensitivity to NH3.
  • 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first sensor is a NOx sensor with a known cross-sensitivity to NH3; said second sensor is a NOx sensor having no substantial cross-sensitivity to NH3; said second sensor integrating a NH3 pre-filter.
  • 5. A method for simultaneously measuring NOx and NH3 in an exhaust gas mixture, said method comprising: the placement of at least a first NOx sensor with a known cross-sensitivity to NH3 in said exhaust gas mixture; a second NOx sensor with no substantial cross-sensitivity to NH3; directly reading, between two of said sensors, a differential value proportional to the concentrations of said NOx and said NH3 in said exhaust gas mixture.
  • 6. A method for simultaneously measuring NOx and NH3 in an exhaust gas mixture, said method comprising: the placement of at least a first NOx sensor with a known cross-sensitivity to NH3 in said exhaust gas mixture; a second NOx sensor with no substantial cross-sensitivity to NH3; directly reading, between two of said sensors, a differential value proportional to the concentrations of said NOx and said NH3 in said exhaust gas mixture considerate of the cross-sensitivity of said first sensor to NH3.
  • 7. The method of claim 3 further comprising: configuring at least one of said NOx sensors to comprise a zirconia-based multilayer sensing element.
  • 8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said sensors among said plurality of sensors comprises an electrically-based sensor.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is submitted with reference to, and claims the benefit of, provisional patent application U.S. U.S./797,151 filed on Nov. 30, 2012. The title of the cited provisional application is “Simplified method for measuring concentrations of exhaust gas components”. The text of the first sentence following the title of the specification of the cited provisional patent application is “A simplified method for measuring a first property and a second property of an exhaust gas mixture utilizing a first sensor cross-sensitive to a first property and a second property of an exhaust gas mixture, and a second sensor sensitive to the first property, but not to the second property of the exhaust gas mixture.”.