PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE IN FUNCTION OF THE ACTUAL TEMPERATURE OF A DOWNSTREAM CATALYST

摘要

In a process for controlling an internal combustion engine (1) with an engine control system (2) which obtains and processes a plurality of measurement values through measurement lines (3), converts them to control data for the operation of the engine (1) and sends them through engine supply lines (4) to the engine (1). The temperature of a catalyst (8) connected downstream of the engine (1) is thus measured directly and the measured value is supplied through at least one data line (12) to the engine control system (2) where it is processed together with the other measured values. As the actual temperature of the calyst (8) is measured directly and taken into account, the engine (1) can be operated more frequently in a range which is optimal for fuel consumption and/or expulsion of noxious substances, because deviations from the optimal operating range in order to protect the catalyst (8) from overheating are unnecessary when the actual temperature is known. The engine control system can be optimized in the cold start phase in function of the catalyst temperature. It is important that the temperature be measured by at least one temperature sensor (TF1, TF2) incorporated directly in or on the catalyst (8), and this temperature sensor (TF1, TF2) should preferably measure integrally over a representative region of the catalyst (8).