METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR ASH DETECTION IN EXHAUST PARTICULATE FILTER

摘要

A method of detecting ash in an exhaust particulate filter system (22) for an internal combustion engine (18) includes transmitting electromagnetic energy through an exhaust particulate filter (24) containing soot and ash, and sensing a strength of the transmitted electromagnetic energy after having been attenuated in response to the soot. The method further includes electronically storing a filter monitoring history responsive to a difference between the transmitted strength and the sensed strength of the electromagnetic energy, and detecting an amount of the ash based at least in part upon a pattern of electromagnetic energy attenuation defined by the stored filter monitoring history. An exhaust particulate filter system (22) for implementing related methodology includes a microprocessor (46) configured to determine a value indicative of an amount of ash contained within an exhaust particulate filter (24) responsive to a pattern of electromagnetic energy attenuation defined by a stored filter monitoring history.