Particulate matter amount detection system

摘要

A porous structure including a pair of electrodes disposed in a flow direction of exhaust gas and a solid electrolyte interposed between the electrodes is arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, and the amount of a particulate matter in exhaust gas is specified based on a potential difference generated between the electrodes.

主权项

1. A particulate matter amount detection system comprising:
a first porous electrode provided in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine; a second porous electrode provided in the exhaust passage downstream of the first electrode; a porous solid electrolyte interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; a measurement device configured to measure a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode; a specification unit programmed to specify an amount of a particulate matter in exhaust gas based on the measured potential difference such that an increased measured potential difference correlates to an increased amount of the particulate matter in the exhaust gas; and a temperature controller programmed to adjust a temperature of the first electrode, wherein the temperature controller raises the temperature of the first electrode when the measured potential difference reaches a predetermined upper limit to thereby oxide and remove the particulate matter collected by or deposited on the first electrode and the solid electrolyte, and lowers the temperature of the first electrode when the measured potential difference decreases to a predetermined lower limit.