Controlling the nitrogen oxide storage catalyst of an engine comprises abandoning switchover from one lean burn regime to another in favor of early regeneration if a regeneration request is expected within a predetermined time

摘要

Controlling the nitrogen oxide (NOx) storage catalyst (18) of an internal combustion engine (10) comprising an engine control unit (22) and a NOx sensor (20) downstream from the catalyst comprises switching the engine from one lean burn regime to another lean burn regime depending on the expected NOx storage capacity of the catalyst, the switchover being abandoned in favor of early regeneration if there is reason to expect a regeneration request within a predetermined time.