JP6421864B2 - Exhaust gas sensor heater control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a heater control device for an exhaust gas sensor, which includes a sensor element having a plurality of cells and a heater for heating the sensor element.

  In an internal combustion engine that has been electronically controlled in recent years, an exhaust gas sensor is installed in an exhaust pipe, and an air-fuel ratio or the like is controlled based on the output of the exhaust gas sensor. In general, an exhaust gas sensor has poor detection accuracy (or cannot be detected) unless the temperature of the sensor element is raised to the activation temperature. Therefore, after the internal combustion engine is started, the sensor element is heated by a heater built in the exhaust gas sensor and discharged. The activation of the gas sensor is promoted.

Further, an exhaust gas sensor (for example, an NO _x sensor) including a sensor element having a plurality of cells is known. In a system equipped with such an exhaust gas sensor, the impedance (internal resistance) of one measurement object cell among a plurality of cells is detected as temperature information, and the impedance of this measurement object cell is a target impedance corresponding to the activation temperature. There is one in which the energization of the heater is controlled so as to reach.

  However, since the activation temperatures are different for each of the plurality of cells, the temperature of other cells other than the measurement target cell is raised to the activation temperature only by controlling the energization of the heater so that the impedance of the measurement target cell reaches the target impedance. It may not be warm.

  Therefore, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-69140), the energization of the heater is controlled so that the resistance value of the measurement target cell becomes the first predetermined resistance value. There is one in which energization of the heater is controlled so that the second predetermined resistance value is larger than the first predetermined resistance value.

JP 2009-69140 A

However, in the technique of Patent Document 1 described above, after controlling the energization of the heater so that the resistance value of the measurement target cell becomes the first predetermined resistance value, the second predetermined resistance value that is larger than the first predetermined resistance value. The energization of the heater is controlled so that That is, in order to control the energization of the heater so that the second predetermined resistance value corresponding to a temperature lower than the temperature corresponding to the first predetermined resistance value is controlled, other cells are activated early (up to the activation temperature). There is a possibility that the temperature cannot be increased. If the output of the exhaust gas sensor is used in a state where other cells are not sufficiently activated, control (for example, urea injection control) and diagnosis (for example, catalyst deterioration diagnosis) based on the output of the exhaust gas sensor (for example, NO _X sensor) ) May not be properly implemented.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a heater control device for an exhaust gas sensor that can quickly activate a sensor cell of an exhaust gas sensor including a sensor element having a plurality of cells.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 includes an exhaust gas sensor (17) installed in the exhaust gas passage (12) of the internal combustion engine (11), and heater energization control means (18). It is a heater control apparatus of an exhaust gas sensor. The exhaust gas sensor (17) exhausts oxygen in the chamber upstream of the gas flow in the chamber (40), which is a space for introducing exhaust gas, a sensor cell (22) for detecting a specific gas concentration in the chamber. Or the pump cell (20) to pump in and the heater (37) which heats a pump cell and a sensor cell are provided. The heater energization control means (18) detects the impedance of the pump cell and sets the energization control value of the heater (37) to the energization control value for raising the temperature until the impedance of the pump cell reaches the target impedance. The temperature rise control for raising the temperature of the is executed. When viewed from the stacking direction of the exhaust gas sensor, the heater overlaps at least a part of each of the pump cell and the sensor cell, and the overlapping projected area of the heater overlaps more in the pump cell than in the sensor cell. Provided. The heater energization control means continues the temperature increase control until the extension period necessary for the temperature of the sensor cell to reach the activation temperature elapses after the impedance of the pump cell reaches the target impedance.

  In this configuration, when activating the pump cell and the sensor cell of the exhaust gas sensor, first, the pump cell and the sensor cell are controlled by executing temperature increase control until the impedance of the pump cell reaches a target impedance (for example, a value corresponding to the activation temperature of the pump cell). Increase the temperature of Further, even after the impedance of the pump cell reaches the target impedance, the temperature increase control is continued until an extended period necessary for the temperature of the sensor cell to reach the activation temperature elapses. In this way, even after the temperature of the pump cell reaches the activation temperature, the temperature increase control for continuously raising the temperature of the pump cell and the sensor cell can be continued to raise the temperature of the sensor cell to the activation temperature early. It is possible to activate the sensor cell early.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an engine control system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the sensor element. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing an execution example of heater energization control. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the heater energization control routine.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying a mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.
First, a schematic configuration of the engine control system will be described with reference to FIG.
An exhaust pipe 12 (exhaust gas passage) of an engine 11 that is an internal combustion engine is provided with an upstream catalyst 13 and a downstream catalyst 14 such as a three-way catalyst for purifying CO, HC, NO _{x and the} like in the exhaust gas. Yes. In addition, an air-fuel ratio sensor 15 that detects the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is provided on the upstream side of the upstream catalyst 13, and on the downstream side of the upstream catalyst 13 (between the upstream catalyst 13 and the downstream catalyst 14). Is provided with an oxygen sensor 16 for detecting rich / lean exhaust gas. Further, a NO _X sensor 17 for detecting the NO _X concentration in the exhaust gas is provided on the downstream side of the downstream catalyst 14.

  Outputs of these various sensors are input to an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as “ECU”) 18. The ECU 18 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and executes various engine control programs stored in a built-in ROM (storage medium), so that the fuel injection amount and the ignition timing are determined according to the engine operating state. The throttle opening (intake air amount) and the like are controlled.

Next, a schematic configuration of the sensor element 19 of the NO _X sensor 17 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The sensor element 19 of the NO _X sensor 17 is a three-cell sensor element having a pump cell 20, a monitor cell 21, and a sensor cell 22. In the sensor element 19, first and second solid electrolyte bodies 23 and 24 made of an oxygen ion conductive material are laminated at a predetermined interval via a spacer 25 made of an insulating material such as alumina.

  The pump cell 20 includes a second solid electrolyte body 24 and a pair of electrodes 26 and 27 that sandwich the solid electrolyte body 24. The monitor cell 21 includes a first solid electrolyte body 23 and a pair of electrodes 28 and 29 sandwiching the solid electrolyte body 23. The sensor cell 22 includes the first solid electrolyte body 23 and the solid electrolyte body. And a pair of electrodes 28 and 30 sandwiching 23.

  A pinhole 31 is formed in the first solid electrolyte body 23, and a porous diffusion layer 32 is provided on the upper surface side of the first solid electrolyte body 23 on the pump cell 20 side. Further, an insulating layer 33 is provided on the upper surface side of the first solid electrolyte body 23 on the monitor cell 21 and sensor cell 22 side, and an atmospheric passage 34 is formed by the insulating layer 33. On the other hand, an insulating layer 35 is provided on the lower surface side of the second solid electrolyte body 24, and an atmospheric passage 36 is formed by the insulating layer 35. A heater 37 for heating the sensor element 19 is embedded in the insulating layer 35.

The exhaust gas in the exhaust pipe 12 is introduced into the first chamber 38 through the porous diffusion layer 32 and the pinhole 31 of the solid electrolyte body 23. Then, the oxygen in the exhaust gas in the first chamber 38 is exhausted or pumped by the pump cell 20 and the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas is detected. Thereafter, the exhaust gas that has passed through the first chamber 38 flows into the second chamber 40 through the throttle portion 39. The monitor cell 21 detects the oxygen concentration (residual oxygen concentration) in the exhaust gas in the second chamber 40, and the sensor cell 22 detects the NO _x concentration in the exhaust gas in the second chamber 40.

In general, the NO _x sensor 17 has poor detection accuracy (or is undetectable) unless the temperature of the sensor element 19 (cells 20 to 22) is increased to the activation temperature. Therefore, the ECU 18 controls the energization of the heater 37 built in the NO _x sensor 17 by executing a heater energization control routine of FIG. 5 described later, thereby heating and activating the sensor element 19.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, after the engine 11 is started, it is determined whether or not the inside of the exhaust pipe 12 is in a dry state (a state in which moisture in the exhaust pipe 12 has evaporated). If it is determined that the inside of the exhaust pipe 12 is not in a dry state (the exhaust pipe drying determination flag is OFF), there is a possibility that moisture has adhered to the exhaust pipe 12 or the NO _X sensor 17, so the NO _X sensor Preheating control for controlling energization of the heater 37 is performed so that the 17 sensor elements 19 are preheated within a temperature range in which element cracking due to moisture does not occur. In this preheating control, the energization duty (energization control value) of the heater 37 is set to a preheating energization duty (for example, 10%) to preheat the sensor element 19.

  Thereafter, at the time t1 when it is determined that the exhaust pipe 12 is in a dry state (the exhaust pipe drying determination flag is ON), the temperature rise for controlling the energization of the heater 37 so as to quickly raise the temperature of the sensor element 19. Execute control. In this temperature increase control, the sensor element 19 is heated by setting the energization duty of the heater 37 to an energization duty for temperature increase (for example, 100%).

  Whether the pump cell 20 is activated (heated up to the activation temperature) depending on whether or not the impedance Zp of the pump cell 20 (measurement target cell) is smaller than the target impedance Zp1 (a value corresponding to the activation temperature of the pump cell 20). Determine whether or not.

  Thereafter, at the time t2 when it is determined that the impedance Zp of the pump cell 20 is smaller than the target impedance Zp1 and the pump cell 20 is activated, the extension necessary for the temperature of the sensor cell 22 (other cells) to reach the activation temperature. Set time T1. Then, the temperature raising control is continued until the extended time T1 elapses from the time t2 when it is determined that the pump cell 20 is activated. Thereby, the temperature of the sensor cell 22 is raised to the activation temperature at an early stage.

  Thereafter, at the time t3 when the extension time T1 has elapsed from the time t2 when it is determined that the pump cell 20 is activated, it is determined that the temperature of the sensor cell 22 has increased to the activation temperature, the temperature increase control is terminated, and the sensor Impedance control for controlling energization of the heater 37 is performed so as to maintain the element 19 in the active state. In this impedance control, the energization duty of the heater 37 is feedback controlled so as to reduce the deviation between the impedance Zp of the pump cell 20 and the target impedance Zp1. The target impedance Zp1 for this impedance control may be set to a value corresponding to the activation temperature of the pump cell 20, or may be set to a value capable of maintaining the temperature of the sensor cell 22 at the activation temperature.

Hereinafter, the processing content of the heater energization control routine of FIG. 5 executed by the ECU 18 will be described.
The heater energization control routine shown in FIG. 5 is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle during the power-on period of the ECU 18, and serves as a heater energization control means in the claims.

  When this routine is started, first, at step 101, whether or not the inside of the exhaust pipe 12 is in a dry state (a state in which water in the exhaust pipe 12 has evaporated) is determined. For example, the cooling water temperature Thw is greater than a predetermined value Thw1. Is also determined by whether it is high or not.

If it is determined in step 101 that the inside of the exhaust pipe 12 is not dry (Thw ≦ Thw1), it is determined that there is a possibility that moisture is attached to the exhaust pipe 12 or the NO _X sensor 17. In step 102, preheating control is executed. In this preheating control, the energization duty of the heater 37 is set to an energization duty for preheating (for example, 10%), and the sensor element 19 is preheated.

  Thereafter, if it is determined in step 101 that the exhaust pipe 12 is in a dry state (Thw> Thw1), the process proceeds to step 103 where the impedance Zp of the pump cell 20 is detected. Thereafter, the routine proceeds to step 104, where it is determined whether or not the pump cell 20 has been activated (heated up to the activation temperature) depending on whether or not the impedance Zp of the pump cell 20 has become smaller than the target impedance Zp1. This target impedance Zp1 is set to a value corresponding to the activation temperature of the pump cell 20.

  If it is determined in step 104 that the pump cell 20 is not activated (Zp ≧ Zp1), the process proceeds to step 108 and temperature increase control is executed. In this temperature increase control, the sensor element 19 is heated by setting the energization duty of the heater 37 to an energization duty for temperature increase (for example, 100%).

  Thereafter, if it is determined in step 104 that the pump cell 20 has been activated (Zp <Zp1), the process proceeds to step 105, where the extension time T1 required for the temperature of the sensor cell 22 to reach the activation temperature is set. To do. Specifically, the extended time T1 corresponding to the operating condition and environmental condition of the engine 11 is calculated by a map or a mathematical expression. Here, as the operating condition, for example, at least one of a cooling water temperature, an exhaust gas temperature, a rotation speed, a load, and the like is used. Moreover, as an environmental condition, outside temperature etc. are used, for example. The map or mathematical expression of the extension time T1 is created in advance based on test data, design data, etc., and is stored in the ROM of the ECU 18.

Thereafter, the routine proceeds to step 106, where it is determined whether or not the extension time T1 has elapsed since it was determined that the pump cell 20 was activated.
If it is determined in step 106 that the extension time T1 has not elapsed since it was determined that the pump cell 20 was activated, the process proceeds to step 107, where the temperature of the heater 37 or the temperature of the pump cell 20 is the allowable upper limit temperature. It is determined whether or not there is a possibility of exceeding.

  In this case, for example, the temperature of the heater 37 is estimated (calculated) based on the accumulated electric energy, resistance, etc. of the heater 37, and the temperature of the heater 37 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (a temperature slightly lower than the allowable upper limit temperature of the heater 37). It is determined whether there is a possibility that the temperature of the heater 37 exceeds the allowable upper limit temperature.

  Further, the temperature of the pump cell 20 is estimated (calculated) based on the impedance of the pump cell 20 or the like, and whether or not the temperature of the pump cell 20 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (a temperature slightly lower than the allowable upper limit temperature of the pump cell 20). It is determined whether or not the temperature of the pump cell 20 may exceed the allowable upper limit temperature. Alternatively, it may be determined whether there is a possibility that the temperature of the pump cell 20 exceeds the allowable upper limit temperature depending on whether the impedance of the pump cell 20 is a predetermined value or less.

  If it is determined in step 107 that there is no possibility that both the temperature of the heater 37 and the temperature of the pump cell 20 exceed the allowable upper limit temperature, the process proceeds to step 108 and the temperature increase control is continued.

  Thereafter, if it is determined in step 106 that the extended time T1 has elapsed since it was determined that the pump cell 20 has been activated, it is determined that the temperature of the sensor cell 22 has increased to the activation temperature, and step 110 is performed. Proceed to, and execute impedance control. In this impedance control, the energization duty of the heater 37 is feedback controlled so as to reduce the deviation between the impedance Zp of the pump cell 20 and the target impedance Zp1. The target impedance Zp1 for this impedance control may be set to a value corresponding to the activation temperature of the pump cell 20, or may be set to a value capable of maintaining the temperature of the sensor cell 22 at the activation temperature.

  Note that the temperature of the heater 37 or the temperature of the pump cell 20 may exceed the allowable upper limit temperature in step 107 before it is determined in step 106 that the extended time T1 has elapsed (that is, during the temperature rise control). If it is determined that there is a possibility, the process proceeds to step 109, the temperature rise control is stopped, and the overheat prevention control is executed. In this overheat prevention control, the energization duty of the heater 37 is set to a value (for example, 30%) lower than the energization duty for temperature increase to suppress the temperature increase of the sensor element 19.

In the present embodiment described above, when the sensor element 19 of the NO _X sensor 17 is activated, first, the temperature rise control is executed until the impedance of the pump cell 20 reaches the target impedance to increase the temperature of the sensor element 19. Let warm. Further, even after the impedance of the pump cell 20 reaches the target impedance, the temperature increase control is continued until the extended time necessary for the temperature of the sensor cell 22 to reach the activation temperature elapses. In this way, the temperature of the sensor cell 22 is raised to the activation temperature earlier than when the temperature increase control is terminated at the time t2 when the impedance of the pump cell 20 reaches the target impedance (see the broken line in FIG. 4). The sensor cell 22 can be activated early.

  In this embodiment, when it is determined that the temperature of the heater 37 or the temperature of the pump cell 20 may exceed the allowable upper limit temperature during the temperature increase control, the temperature increase control is stopped and the overheat prevention control is performed. (Control for setting the energization duty of the heater 37 to a value lower than the energization duty for raising the temperature) is executed. In this way, it is possible to prevent overheating of the heater 37 and overheating of the pump cell 20 due to continuation (extension) of the temperature increase control.

  In this embodiment, the extension time is set according to the operating condition and the environmental condition of the engine 11. In this way, the time required for the temperature of the sensor cell 22 to reach the activation temperature changes according to the operating conditions (for example, cooling water temperature) and environmental conditions (for example, outside air temperature) of the engine 11. The extension time can be changed to set the extension time to an appropriate value.

  In the above embodiment, the extended time is set according to both the operating condition and the environmental condition of the engine 11, but is not limited to this, and only one of the operating condition and the environmental condition of the engine 11 is set. The extension time may be set accordingly. Alternatively, the extension time may be a fixed value set in advance.

  In the above embodiment, the temperature increase control extension period is set in terms of time. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the temperature increase control extension period may be set to, for example, the integrated power amount of the heater 37 or the integration of the engine 11. It may be set by any one of the exhaust flow rate (or integrated intake flow rate), the number of fuel injections, the number of ignitions, and the like.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the NO _X sensor, and can be applied to various exhaust gas sensors (for example, an air-fuel ratio sensor) including a sensor element having a plurality of cells.

11 ... engine (internal combustion engine), 12 ... exhaust pipe (exhaust gas passage) 17 ... NO _X sensor (
(Exhaust gas sensor), 18 ... ECU (heater energization control means), 19 ... sensor element, 20 ... pump cell, 21 ... monitor cell, 22 ... sensor cell, 37 ... heater

Claims (2)

A chamber (40) which is installed in the exhaust gas passage (12) of the internal combustion engine (11) and is a space for introducing exhaust gas, a sensor cell (22) for detecting a specific gas concentration in the chamber, and the sensor cell An exhaust gas sensor (17), comprising: a pump cell (20) for exhausting or pumping oxygen in the chamber upstream of the gas flow; and a heater (37) for heating the pump cell and the sensor cell;
The temperature of the pump cell and the sensor cell is raised by detecting the impedance of the pump cell and setting the energization control value of the heater (37) to the energization control value for raising the temperature until the impedance of the pump cell reaches the target impedance. Heater energization control means (18) for performing temperature rise control to be performed;
In the heater control device of the exhaust gas sensor provided with
When the heater is viewed from the stacking direction of the exhaust gas sensor, at least a part of each of the pump cell and the sensor cell overlaps, and the overlapping projected area of the heater is greater in the pump cell than in the sensor cell. Are provided so that many
The heater energization control means continues the temperature increase control until an extension period necessary for the temperature of the sensor cell to reach the activation temperature has elapsed even after the impedance of the pump cell reaches the target impedance. A heater control device for an exhaust gas sensor. A chamber (40) which is installed in the exhaust gas passage (12) of the internal combustion engine (11) and is a space for introducing exhaust gas, a sensor cell (22) for detecting a specific gas concentration in the chamber, and the sensor cell An exhaust gas sensor (17), comprising: a pump cell (20) for exhausting or pumping oxygen in the chamber upstream of the gas flow; and a heater (37) for heating the pump cell and the sensor cell;
The temperature of the pump cell and the sensor cell is raised by detecting the impedance of the pump cell and setting the energization control value of the heater (37) to the energization control value for raising the temperature until the impedance of the pump cell reaches the target impedance. Heater energization control means (18) for performing temperature rise control to be performed;
In the heater control device of the exhaust gas sensor provided with
When the heater is viewed from the stacking direction of the exhaust gas sensor, at least a part of each of the pump cell and the sensor cell overlaps,
The pump cell is provided at a location closer to the heater than the sensor cell when viewed from the stacking direction,
The heater energization control means continues the temperature increase control until an extension period necessary for the temperature of the sensor cell to reach the activation temperature has elapsed even after the impedance of the pump cell reaches the target impedance. A heater control device for an exhaust gas sensor.

Images