US 11,885,253 B1
Control of engine enthalpy for catalytic converter light-off
Andrew A. Raftopoulos, Auburn Hills, MI (US); Pratap S. Murthy, Dexter, MI (US); and Vijay A. Ramappan, Novi, MI (US)
Assigned to GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/987,070.
Int. Cl. F01N 9/00 (2006.01); F01N 3/20 (2006.01); F02D 41/02 (2006.01)
CPC F01N 9/00 (2013.01) [F01N 3/2086 (2013.01); F01N 2430/00 (2013.01); F01N 2900/1626 (2013.01); F02D 41/0255 (2013.01); F02D 2200/0802 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of controlling light-off of a catalytic converter in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine (ICE), the method comprising:
identifying, via an electronic controller, a start of the ICE requiring a light-off of the catalytic converter;
regulating an exhaust-flow control valve, via the electronic controller, to increase exhaust gas backpressure in the exhaust system in response to the identified start of the ICE;
regulating combustion inside the ICE, via the electronic controller, to increase enthalpy of the ICE;
detecting, via the electronic controller, the light-off of the catalytic converter;
regulating the exhaust-flow control valve, via the electronic controller, to decrease the exhaust gas backpressure in the exhaust system in response to the detected light-off of the catalytic converter; and
regulating combustion inside the ICE, via the electronic controller, to decrease enthalpy of the ICE in response to the detected light-off of the catalytic converter.